How Can Affirmations Transform Your Life?

From the blog of John Assaraf:

Affirmations are so simple and yet so effective. An affirmation is a statement, often repeated in our heads—that’s it. There isn’t much concentration or focus required. The affirmation’s power, however, lies in its ability to re-shape our thinking and perspective drastically and quickly. Here are 4 ways affirmations can help you.

1. Affirmations quiet our ego’s mental chatter

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to many of the difficulties and complexities we face is mental chatter. It is this constant stream of thinking and ideas that distracts us from being able to focus on what we want—be that stillness and serenity or a specific goal. Mental chatter is the voice in the head that screams, “I can’t do it! I can’t do it!” or “I’m ugly. I’m fat.” Affirmations soothe this wailing like a pacifier to a baby. In moments of fear, panic, or anxiety, repeating to yourself, “I can do this! I can do this!” or “I am beautiful. I am attractive,” is incredibly powerful at helping you do an emotional 180.

2. Affirmations can begin to transform our thinking instantaneously

When we are focusing on “I can do this,” instead of nerves and jitters, we have immediately taken control of ourselves. When we are in control, we immediately feel at ease. Sigh! When we feel powerless is when our fears and worries tend to spiral out of control. Instead of focusing on the fear, saying affirmations gives us a new focus. It is the same concept as women doing deep breathing when they are giving birth—it gives them something else to focus on than the pain they are feeling. A slight change in focus can and does make a world of difference. This tiny little mental trick is a powerful one.

3. Affirmations put us in the driver’s seat

Affirmations can transform our lives by giving us a sense of power and control. Often it doesn’t take much to remind us of how powerful we are. Simply saying, “I am calm. I am cool. I am collected,” before a job interview can take us from nervous to confident in no time.

4. Affirmations can be effective when change is most difficult

True change comes in this manner: first our thoughts, then our words, then our deeds. First we get an idea like, “I’m tired of being overweight.” This gains momentum and turns into saying things like, “I am going to go to the gym 3 times this week.” What follows? Three trips to the gym. The problem arises when our thoughts still want to be couch potatoes. Stating affirmations like, “I go regularly to the gym. I exercise. I workout,” can shape our reluctant thinking. When change seems hardest, that is a sign that one needs to be using affirmations constantly to help change their lagging thinking. As you know, if you hear something often enough, you will start to believe it.