To affirm something is simply to declare that it is true. So, creating and using affirmations should be a breeze, right?
Actually, the true art of the affirmation is both subtle and profound. Despite the popularity of this technique, some people use affirmations that are bland and perhaps even self-defeating.
When creating your affirmation, remember that even minor variations in wording can make a huge difference in the results you get.
Since your words literally have the power to create your circumstances, invest a few minutes now to take your affirmation skills to a higher level.
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Consider the following statement:
I will quit smoking with ease and joy, remembering the effects on my physical and mental health and preparing to live a longer life.
By using the guidelines found below, you can transform limp affirmations like that into mantras for manifesting a huge change in your life!
The following points are key:
Five Guidelines to Follow
1. Enter the “now”
Start your affirmation by entering the present tense. Take the condition you desire and declare it to be already true.
2. Be positive
Our sample affirmation keeps the focus on smoking—the condition that you do not want. Instead, shine a light on what you do want—to be smoke-free.
A related reminder: Our subconscious mind skips the word not. So, delete this word from your affirmations. “I am not afraid of public speaking” gives the message that you are afraid. Use, “I feel at ease as I speak in public.”
3. Be concise
Shorter is better. Affirmations with fewer words are often easier to recall, especially in situations when you feel some stress. Rhyming makes your affirmations even more memorable. For example, “I am feeling alive at 185.”
4. Include action
Whenever possible, affirm yourself as a person who takes action. For example: “I am gratefully driving my new Porsche along an open highway.” Action engages the Law of Attraction, creating new results in our lives and opening us to further inspiration.
5. Include a feeling word
Powerful affirmations include content and emotion. Content describes the specific outcome that you desire. Emotion gets to the heart of how you feel about that outcome. For a more potent affirmation, add both elements.
Consider this affirmation:
I am supporting my children to fully come forward into the world.
The content of this statement is clear. Yet it lacks an emotional charge. Breathe life into this affirmation by adding an active expression of feeling:
I am lovingly supporting my children and encourage them to fully express their unique talents and gifts.
You will know that you have a powerful affirmation when you feel a surge of emotional energy. The force of feeling jumpstarts you into action.
An Affirmation Makeover
Now, get some direct experience with “affirmation transformation.” Return to the first example mentioned in this article:
I will quit smoking with ease and joy, remembering the effects on my physical and mental health and preparing to live a longer life.
Playing with the guidelines listed serves up some more exciting options, such as:
I am breathing effortlessly with lungs that are pure and clean.
I am celebrating how easily I breathe through strong, healthy lungs.
Also consider the following affirmations on a variety of topics:
I am joyfully celebrating my graduation from college with a master’s degree.
I am effectively delivering my first talk to an audience of over 1,000 people who affirm my message with a standing ovation.
I am confidently checking the balance of my bank account as I make a deposit of $1,000,000.
I am walking up on stage to receive my first Emmy award and receiving a roar of applause.
When you’re satisfied with the wording of your affirmation, start using it right away.
Repeat your affirmations at least three times daily—first thing in the morning, midday, and just before you go to sleep. Regular repetition will gently return your focus to manifesting the life of your dreams.
As the beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, Jack Canfield fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre—and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success. Jack is America’s #1 Success Coach and wrote the life-changing book The Success Principles: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be and speaks around the world on this subject. Follow Jack at www.jackcanfield.com and sign up for his free resources today!
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*Image Courtesy of creativelenna.
