Certain words and phrases can help you change your speech and motivate you.
Positive affirmations are short phrases that sound like self-suggestions or even wishes. When repeated often, they can also become an anchoring tool, a mantra that helps you stay on course through trials, change processes or steps toward your goals.
Your brain, the most important organ
Your brain is a machine that looks for evidence of what your thoughts are saying (or repeating!). Many researchers support this fact. More than that, the brain notes negative experiences more often. Perhaps it’s a hangover from our long human history that prehistoric man had to remember dangerous things to avoid repeating them. But don’t panic! – you can change this and see more of the positive.
Your brain is malleable and you can train it to notice happier moments.
According to author and neuropsychologist Rick Hanson, it is possible to reactivate particular methods of thinking such that our brain looks for support for what we say. These facts demonstrate that our thoughts have an impact on every aspect of our lives. Our brain will take note of every piece of information to the contrary if we believe we will fail (or if we tell ourselves we won’t be able to achieve it, that it will be too difficult, etc.). On the other hand, we have a better success if we repeat encouraging words like “I am confident” or “I can handle this difficulty.” Nothing is actually magical! But it does boost our self-esteem and, in addition, our brain will highlight small details that prove we are on the right track.
The benefits of positive affirmations
Positive affirmations…
- change your vocabulary. It is always more positive to use affirmative sentences than negative ones. See the difference between “I don’t think it will be easy” and “I think I can do it.
- help you see the good side of things instead of just the dark or difficult side.
- reduce stress. Athletes are often adept at visualization and positive affirmations. Skiers, for example, “imagine” a run in a multitude of details before they make it. They imagine the best run. Affirmations allow you to do the same thing: see how well everything could go!
- affirmations act like a magnet that attracts evidence of what you are saying. Since you’re thinking positive thoughts, you’ll have a necessarily more positive day-to-day life, too.
- change thinking habits. Thinking positive creates new mental behavior. You may be able to see more solutions instead of only problems!
- allow you to see the future with more optimism. As a result, those around you (family, friends and colleagues) will also benefit from your transformation.
- influence your body language. In the long run, you will smile more and your whole body will give off a new energy.
Learn about positive affirmations
- Read about it. In books or magazines. Another good idea is to “listen” to an audio book or a lecture on the subject on YouTube. Multiply the techniques to access these affirmations.
- Start with small doses. Choose one phrase per day or week and put it in different places to read or repeat often.
- Create a notebook of positive affirmations. You write them down, but you can also – draw around them or make collages. You can also buy our affirmation cards set.
- Choose your words. Pay attention to the vocabulary you use, because it also influences your thoughts. Totalitarian words like “always” and “never” often put pressure on your approach.
