Do you have trouble turning off the “Ms. Negative Voice” in your head from the second you wake up in the morning to the moment you conk out at night? Then it maybe it’s time you find the right daily affirmations, or positive mantra, to replace all that negative talk in your head throughout the day. So how does repeating these words of affirmation to ourselves actually work in our heads? Our brains contain a Reticular Activating System (RAS), which is like a filter that lets in the information that we need and filters out the information that we don’t. According to Eva Hogan from Spirituality and Health, “When you say an affirmation over and over again, it sends a very clear message to your RAS that this is important to you. When you do that, it gets busy noticing ways to help you achieve your goals. If ideal weight is your emphasis, you will suddenly begin to see every gym and weight loss product. If money is your goal, investment and earning opportunities will move to the forefront of your awareness. In essence, the affirmation can kick your creativity into high gear.”
Daily affirmations are easy to create and use, but you’ll need dedication to make them work. Choosing one or two over a significant period of time is best. Too many can deter from the work and concentration, so start by focusing on what you want or want to believe in. For instance one mommy blogger who knows how stressful juggling a normal life with motherhood is suggested mantras such as: “I’m not the perfect mother, but I’m exactly the one my children need.” As well as, “If I do nothing today besides hug my kids, then I’ve done enough.”
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When searching for the right daily affirmations Ronald Alexander, Ph.D. , and contributor to Psychology Today, suggests making a list of what you’ve always thought of as your negative qualities and include criticisms others have made of you. We tend to hold on to these negative thoughts and comments and start believing they are true, when in fact they are not the whole picture of who you truly are as a complex human being. Alexander recommends making a note of these negativities and searching for a common theme, such as ‘I’m unworthy.’ “This will be a great place to start making a shift in your life,” he says. “Then write out an affirmation on the positive aspect of your self-judgment. You may want to use a thesaurus to find more powerful words to beef up your statement. For example instead of saying, ‘I’m worthy.’ You could say, ‘I’m remarkable and cherished.’ After you have written your affirmation then ask a close friend to read it to see if they have any suggestions to make it stronger.”
Speak the words of affirmation out loud for about five minutes three times a day. An ideal time to do this is when you’re putting your make up so that you can look at yourself in the mirror as you repeat the positive statement. Another option is to write out the affirmation several times in a notebook. Some people like to tape record their voices saying the mantra and play them in their cars as they drive. While this useful, it’s not the best sole method since the purpose is to train your mind to say and think the positive message constantly. When the affirmation-saying starts feeling boring and you feel like it’s being said without any impact, do not give up! It means you’ve reached a turning point and that you must continue saying your affirmations because your subconscious is ready to act on them. It takes time, effort and patience, but hell, aren’t you worth it?
