Affirmations - How to Make Them Effective

There has been some speculation as to whether using affirmations is helpful in pursuing personal development and setting goals.

In a word, yes.

Affirmations are repeated positive statements designed to bring about a desired result.

The repetitious aspect influences and triggers the subconscious mind into positive action.

It's no surprise that we often unconsciously repeat negative statements to ourselves about different situations in our lives daily. In doing so, we often bring about the undesirable circumstance itself.

We might say to ourselves, "I can't do this," "I'm not good enough for that," or "This will never work."

As a consequence, our proclamations become self-fulfilling prophesies.

The reverse can also be true.

If we turn the negative statements we frequently utter into positive ones, we will bring about more favorable outcomes.

Take Muhammad Ali as an example. Who hasn't heard his famous declaration?

"I am the greatest; I said that even before I knew I was." Muhammad Ali 

Is there any question that Ali's repetition of that phrase helped him achieve the status of being "the greatest"?

Another one of his famous maxims was "I float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." No doubt his opponents shuddered at the mere mention of it.

Another interesting illustration of the effectiveness of affirmations comes from the auto-suggestion work of Emile Coué (1857-1926), the French psychologist and pharmacist who introduced the now-famous phrase:

"Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better". 

As a tool for self-improvement, he recommended that we begin each day by stating it firmly and convincingly.

Coué felt that, as stated in his "Law of Concentrated Attention," whenever attention is concentrated on an idea repeatedly, it spontaneously tends to realize itself. In working with his patients, he utilized this law to help them build their self-image.

Since then, affirmations have also been used in cognitive therapy and have been found to work quite well. There's no magic to it, and there are limitations. Indeed, you wouldn't make an affirmation that is unrealistic or makes no sense. Ultimately, they are meant to serve as another helpful tool in furthering your personal development.

The Benefits:

• When used correctly, affirmations can change your attitude and behaviors. 

• Can change negative thinking into positive.

• Helps you stay focused.

• Helps you relax and release tension.

• It can motivate you to achieve your goals.

• Have been found to reduce stress and increase feelings of wellness.

• Helps you feel in control of your moods and state of mind.

Tips On Use:

1. Make up memorable, meaningful phrases in your own descriptive words. This will make them more credible and, therefore, more effective.

2. Write them down so you can remember what they are and use them repeatedly.

3. Constantly affirm them, for example, say, "I am good at this," instead of "I will not be bad at this."

4. Find a specific time and a quiet place and repeat them at least twice daily.

5. State them with conviction, enthusiasm, and desire.

6. Live them. Practice what you affirm.

As you can see, employing positive phrases and assertions during your personal development can be a valuable and productive tool. Anything you can believe, you can achieve.