Jun 7th 09
Posted by Aldohas in Affirmation
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photo credit: TheeErin
Affirmations are spoken statements that can be of a positive or negative nature. In the popular sense of the term they are spoken commands made purposefully in order to change some aspect of our life. In order to fully understand how affirmations work and the science behind their use we must first look at the way our minds work!
When we are born our brains are like empty computers waiting to be fed information. As we grow our peers act as our programmers, they supply us with the knowledge which we channel through the conscious mind into the subconscious (our hard drive). The subconscious mind is the biggest hard drive ever developed – it stores everything we come in contact with and by no means is all of this information of a positive nature.
All that we have heard, touched, smelt, tasted and seen are stored in the recesses of our minds. The subconscious mind holds on to this information until we need to recall it. For example when you were young your curiosity lead you to investigate your surroundings. When you approached a substance that was dangerous, such as fire, your parents or guardians would most likely have rebuked or scolded you if you ventured too near the flame. Perhaps you may even recall an incident when you were physically burned. Your subconscious mind then began to relate scolding (or pain) with the intense heat of the fire and would therefore feed the feelings of the scolding incident back to you whenever you got too close to fire again, thus acting as an early warning system.
This is the mechanism used by our brains to learn. It is also the same method employed by the mind in every situation. The subconscious mind has a tendency to emulate what it sees – it tends to replicate its environment. This is why so many people find themselves in similar relationships and situations that they saw their parents in while they were growing up. Most people also hold very strongly or similar views of their parents.
Think of a time when you gave yourself praise. What words did you use? Do you use the same words that your parents or peers used when they were praising you? The same is applicable when you scold yourself.
Watch your internal dialogue. Look at it closely. It takes diligence to change the way you think. When you notice yourself thinking a negative chose to think the opposite. This way you neutralise the negative thought. Now the think the positive thought again! You have just reversed the negative thinking in that moment and remember you only have this moment. No other time exists! You are in the NOW.
The whole point of affirmations is to convince the mind that what you are repeating is the truth. As you verbalize your desire you will find negative emotions and contrary statements entering your conscious awareness. You must deal with these negative thoughts as they arise in order for your affirmations to work! Many people use affirmations with EFT or the Sedona Method in order to eliminate the negativity that comes up as a result of affirming something that feels untrue.
During your normal day daydream about what might be. Imagine things the way you wish them to be. If you catch yourself thinking “this is just a daydream – a fantasy” then stop! Think the opposite. It is not a daydream it is your reality. Now think it again. Release the resistance as it arises in whatever ay you can.
If you just repeat affirmations with no feeling, or worse, feeling that it isn’t true, then you are actually affirming the opposite in your own mind! This is why some people find their situations actually getting worse when they work with affirmations. You must release the resistance by creating the feeling that the affirmation is true.
Bob Doyle goes into this approach indepth in his wealth beyond reason audio & video courses. I have found that affirmations will only work for me if I use EFT or the sedona method.
By creating the feeling of ‘having it now’ while repeating your affirmation you will begin to retrain your subconscious mind to think positively and you will ultimately begin to consciously create a life that dreams are made of!
Read the review of affirmware – the company behind a powerful affirmation software tool that can really boost the effectiveness of your affirmations!
Jun 6th 09
Posted by Aldohas in Affirmation
photo credit: gordasm
Imagine what would happen if you approached someone and insulted them.
“I hate you! You’re ugly! No one likes you! You’re a really miserable person!”
Well, apart from receiving a slap on the face or punch on the nose, you’re also quite likely to hurt their feelings.
What about saying something positive? Perhaps something like this:
“You are so beautiful. You’re a really great person and a wonderful friend.”
Would you agree that this statement should produce a very different result? It will empower the recipient. It builds their self-esteem and feeling of self-worth.
Let’s change the scenario slightly. In this case consider how you would feel if someone else approached you with the negative statement. Would you likely be hurt? I imagine so. Now consider your feelings if someone approached you with the positive statement. How wonderful would that feel?
Words are incredibly powerful! There is no truth at all to the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.” Negative words cut deeply, creating wounds that can last a lifetime. Positive words on the other hand have the power to heal those wounds, and rebuild you better than ever before.
Let’s change the scenario again. This time, imagine you’re standing in front of a mirror and repeating a negative statement to yourself over and over again. “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!” How does this feel? Not very nice, is it? How about a positive statement? “You are so beautiful! You are so beautiful! You are so beautiful!” Now, that’s much better.
I know what you’re thinking though. You wouldn’t do that to yourself, would you? You wouldn’t expose yourself to such negativity on purpose.
Well, I’ve got news for you. Your subconscious mind is already exposing you to tens of thousands of thoughts per day. And if you’re not already totally happy and completely successful, then your thoughts are most likely negative.
Take notice of your thoughts for the next 24 hours. If you’re like most people, you’ll be quite shocked at the negativity that comes from your subconscious mind.
And that, my friends, is affirmations at work!
An affirmation is simply a statement which you of the repeat to yourself over and over again. The statement may be positive, in which case it empowers you, or it may be negative, in which case it hurts.
Whether you like it or not, you are currently using affirmations. Unfortunately though, you’re not controlling the process and your subconscious mind is subjecting you to a constant barrage of negativity. Negative statement after negative statement after negative statement!
Years of negative thoughts have led you to have negative beliefs about yourself and your life. These negative beliefs led to negative habits. And these negative habits are what led you to the life you live now.
So if you’re not totally happy with your life, what can you do about it?
It’s really quite simple. You need to take conscious control of your thought process, and replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.
Conscious repetition of positive affirmations will in time lead to your subconscious mind also producing positive and empowering thoughts. These positive thoughts will lead to positive beliefs about yourself and your life. These positive beliefs will lead to positive habits. And positive habits will lead you to a life of happiness and success.
And that’s a wonderful way to live!
So using affirmations for personal growth and self-improvement is simply a matter of repeating positive statements to ourselves over and over again. To make this most effective though, here are some simple guidelines:
- Make the affirmation positive! Say, “I am happy!” rather than “I am no longer depressed!” Can you see how the first is positive while the second is a double negative statement?
- The affirmation must be in the present tense. Don’t say, “One day I will be happy!” Instead say, “I am happy now!”
- The affirmation must result in good feelings. The more intense the feelings, the faster you will see a positive change in your life.
I personally find that the easiest way to create affirmations is to first write down my current negative thoughts. I then write the opposite of that thought, ensuring it is positive and in the present tense.
For example if you wrote down “I am feeling sad”, you could replace that with “I am feeling happy. I live a happy and joyful life with complete peace of mind. I constantly attract opportunities for happiness into my life.”
You would then repeat this as much as you could, until your subconscious believes it, and starts reinforcing your new way of life.
Try placing a copy on the wall beside your bathroom mirror, so you see it each morning and evening. Place a copy on an index card which you carry in your pocket, and refer to several times a day.
Partner up with an affirmation buddy. Arrange that every time you see or speak to that person, you will say an affirmation to them. And they’ll say one to you. Imagine how good it would feel to hear someone tell you several times a day, “I love you and I value your friendship so highly. You’re a wonderful person.”
If you’re serious about creating rapid change in your life, consider recording yourself saying the affirmation over and over onto a tape or MP3 player, and then listen to this whenever you have a chance. While getting ready for work, while driving to work, during your lunch break, driving home, and while relaxing in the evening. (Don’t do it while your partner is trying to talk to you though. I learnt that one the hard way!)
Commit to this for the next 90 days, and see the changes it makes in your life. I promise you it is incredibly powerful. Remember though, that this is simply one tool in your happiness tool-kit. Don’t neglect your other tools. Continue with your Gratitude Journal, your meditation, your EFT practice, or whatever else you enjoy. And ensure you use your affirmation correctly. Like any tool, if you use it correctly you’ll get great results. If you use it incorrectly, you’ll get poor results. So keep up the repetition until it is subconscious! Repeat the statements with intensity, and really feel how great it would feel to have that affirmation manifest in your life right now.
So, get started now. Create some positive happy affirmations for changing your life.
“I am a happy and cheerful person.”
“I attract joy into my life, all day long.”
“I am deserving of love, and I love myself unconditionally.”
“I accept my body as it is, with gratitude and love. I am a beautiful person.”
“I am a caring and compassionate person.”
“I attract only good people into my life, and build relationships based on mutual respect and love, for the betterment of all concerned.”
Whatever it is, go for it. Enjoy the process! It can be great fun.
Lance Beggs
Jun 4th 09
Posted by Aldohas in Affirmation
photo credit: dno1967
Our thoughts create our reality. Here are some Affirmations which create a more positive, happier more fulfilling reality.
A. About Ability and Security
1. Anxiety solves no problems – actions do.
2. Some problems are problems only because I believe them to be.
3. I have the inner power and strength to deal with whatever life brings me.
4. I am capable of handling any possible difficulties which might occur.
5. I feel safe and secure in every situation.
6. While making my own sincere effort, I entrust my life, my family and the results of all my efforts into God’s (the Universes) wise and just judgment.
7. Life gives me in each moment exactly what I need in every situation in order to be happy, perform my life and purpose and grow spiritually.
8. I am intelligent and capable enough to succeed in any endeavor which is important to me.
B. About Self-Worth
1. My self-worth is a function of my inner being (0f who I am) and not what others think of me or how much I accomplish.
2. The results of my efforts depend on many different factors including also my efforts.
3. My self worth is totally independent of any external factors such as: intelligence, wealth, my home, appearance, talents, professional success, my children’s success, being attractive to the opposite sex, making friends, disciplines, “spiritual” activities.
4. I am worthy of love and respect even when I am not perfect in what I do and even when I make mistakes.
5. My self-worth is totally independent of whether others agree with me or are satisfied with me.
6. My self-worth is totally independent of how people behave towards me.
7. My self-worth is totally independent of how much others work or how they work or what they believe about me.
8. My self-worth is a reflection of my divine nature and not my gender, religion, social class etc.
9. I am a good person, a worthy person.
C. Freedom and Love
1. I respect and love all persons (especially my parents and family) without feeling any need whatsoever to live my life according to their beliefs or values. I live my life in harmony with my inner values and beliefs.
2. I am in no way responsible for others people’s reality but only for my own motives and behavior towards them.
3. No one else is responsible for my reality. I am totally responsible for what I feel and experience in life.
4. I am responsible for my purity of my motives and quality of my efforts and not for the results of my efforts or their affect on others.
5. All beings deserve my love and respect, including myself
6. I understand the fears behind each person’s negative actions.
7. I am free in each moment to be myself.
8. No one can limit my freedom unless I need something from them.
9. Real freedom is freedom from fears, needs and false limiting beliefs.
10. Real freedom is the ability to do what ever is in my best interest as a soul in the process of evolution.
11. Real freedom is the freedom to experience peace, love and happiness regardless of what happens or others’ behavior.
For further work on this and many other subjects log on to www.HolisticHarmony.com
(Adapted from the “The Psychology of Happiness” by Robert Najemy)
