How does affirmations work-

According to researchers, spending just a few minutes thinking about your best qualities before any performance or important event in your life, practicing affirmations can calm your nerves, increase your confidence, and improve your chances of a successful outcome.

We are experiencing tremendous stress due to environmental factors, and many times our thinking patterns are linked with unpleasant thoughts which have a direct impact on our mood. Affirmations can help to shift unhealthy thinking patterns to healthy patterns, which reduces stress level, improves our focus, concentration and self-esteem.

How to derive on affirmations- 

Step 1- Make a list of things which you consider unpleasant and negative. It can be any criticism which someone gives you or you give it to yourself which holds you back, if that is troubling you put it in the list.

Step 2- Look for themes in those statements. For example- “I am worthless”.

Step 3- Write an affirmation on the positive and pleasant aspect of yourself- You can use a dictionary to find more powerful words which make you feel comfortable. Instead of “I am worth enough” you can say  “I am valued and precious”.

Step 4- While repeating your affirmation, try to place your hand on the body part which feels discomfort when you write unpleasant beliefs. 

Important points to remember while using affirmations- 

• Do not overuse the affirmations- Use only 3-5 times in a day motivate yourself. 

• Choosing your affirmation wisely- Randomly picking any affirmation which doesn’t go with your personality, there is no point in practicing that affirmation. It might have a contrary effect. 

• Research states that Self-affirmation may also help to reduce the effects of stress. 

Tips to make appropriate affirmations-

• Appropriate words- use words like “I” and  “me” or using your first name in the sentence will be more powerful. Using native language to frame a sentence and use present tense. By doing so we are giving personal touch to our affirmation which seems more real and authentic. 

• Journaling- Noting your affirmations regularly in your journal to remind yourself. 

• Practicing with mindfulness- Repeating affirmations when we are focused on yourself, the best time to practice affirmations are in the morning and at night. In morning this will create pleasant mood and remind your unconscious mind about affirmations throughout the day and motivates towards goal. At night, it helps to improve sleep as we feel more content after repeating affirmations. 

• At a time have only 2 affirmations to practice, whichever affirmation you choose be consistent in practicing for a long period of time. 

Affirmations do not take away our daily stress and unpleasant thoughts overnight, instead this technique helps us to stay calm, relax and make us manage our own stressors. It is like a coping strategy which is healthy and can be part of our lifestyle.