AFFIRMATIONS: WHAT ARE THEY AND DO THEY WORK?

Your words and thoughts program the mind in the same way that commands and scripts program a computer.

Over the past few weeks I've been posting a daily affirmation on my facebook page, www.facebook.com/HallsofHealing. However, I've been asked a number of times to explain what an affirmation is and also asked is "Do affirmations work". Well here is my answer based on research and my experience.

Positive affirmations are positive statements that declare a desired situation, such as "I am strong and unwavering in my values". These statements are to be repeated, until they become impressed on the subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind accepts what you repeat as true and attracts circumstances that make your statements true. Affirmations are positive statements that condition the subconscious mind which helps you develop a more positive perception of yourself. Affirmations can help to change harmful behaviors or accomplish goals, and they also help undo the damage caused by negative self-talk, the internal talk where we repeatedly tell ourselves (or others repeatedly tell us) that contribute to a negative self-perception. 

To understand a bit more about the subconscious mind: the mind consists of conscious and subconscious, I think most of us know this. Our subconscious is in control of the functions we do on a daily basis without much thought, such as breathing, However, we are able to take control by training our subconscious mind and lead it in the direction we wish to go. The subconscious likes repetition, it's actions/functions are based on repetition. Your subconscious mind records that message that it is given repetitively and it begins to believe that message and as your mind and body work together simultaneously, your body begins to follow that message. 

The subconscious is a bottomless storehouse of our memories, thoughts, and experiences - good and bad. So in order to over-ride the bad that has been imbedded in our subconscious, which causes the negative thoughts, behaviors and attitudes that we have, we have to repetitively and aggressively (aggressive being a positive thing in this case) use positive statements over and over again to train our subconscious to respond with positive thoughts, behaviors and attitudes.  According to Dr. Phil Shapiro, "positive thoughts act like medicine released from the brain’s own pharmacy. This thought-medicine cannot do its work, however, if negative ideas, beliefs, or attitudes neutralize its healing power. When a positive affirmation is stated, there is often an attack of negative thoughts or beliefs, which emerge from their storage place in the subconscious." Because of this the medicine - positive affirmations- must be taken repeatedly and consistently in order for it to take hold in the subconscious. As a result when something negative happens, the positive actions, thoughts and behaviors will dominate.

To ensure positive results here are some tips for affirmations:

1. State affirmations in present tense as if the goal has already happened such as, "I am happy and healthy, instead of "I am going to be happy
2. Use positive terms: I am healthy vs. I no longer feel sick.
3. Practice and repeat. Everyday say your affirmation throughout the day.
4. Write down your affirmation and keep where you can see it.
5. Be patient. It can takes months even years to transform years of deeply embedded negative thoughts, patterns and behavior.

Affirmations work but it requires time and patience.

When I first began saying affirmations, I would say it first thing in the morning but my immediate response was negative which is the subconscious mind trying to hold onto the negative that we've lived with for so long. That is why is why it so imperative to say affirmations daily but also numerous times throughout the day. I found that they worked really well to relieve stress. Whenever I find myself in a stressful situation I say my daily affirmation, whether it relates to that situation or not, and it helps me calm down enough to reflect on the positives.

When deciding on your affirmations, it is best to concentrate on a just a few to begin. My advice is to start with only 2 or 3 to rewrite those negatives that you most want to remove. Once you have improvement there add more positive affirmations.

There are some who are skeptics about positive affirmations, but my best advice is to do your own research and come to your own conclusions.

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