The benefits of positive affirmations
Our internal dialogue, that is, the dialogue with ourselves, influences our decisions and our (in)actions. We can tell ourselves positive things about ourselves which will be rather beneficial for us and will help us to move forward. And on the contrary, we can dwell on our fears, our doubts which will be counterproductive and will tend to paralyze us in action.
That is where positive affirmations come in!
Positive affirmations are short phrases that sound like self-suggestions or even wishes. When repeated often, they can also become an anchoring tool, a mantra that helps you stay on course through trials, change processes or steps towards achieving your goals.
As Buddha wisely said: "You become what you think".
Science has repeatedly validated the power of positive affirmations. Positive affirmations are a form of autosuggestion that, when practiced intentionally and repeatedly, strengthen the brain's structural and functional capacities. This is called "neuroplasticity" or "neural plasticity". David J. Hellerstein, professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University explains, "In short, we have come to understand that 'neuroplasticity,' the reconfiguration of brain structure and function, occurs throughout life. The brain can be modified as much by life experiences, genes, biological agents as by behavior, and thought patterns."
Some quick tips for creating affirmations for yourself:
Write in the 1st person: "I."
Use the present tense. "I am / do / believe / become ..."
Do not use a negation in your sentences.
Keep the sentence short and effective.
The next step is to write them down and put them in a place where you will see them every day: your bathroom mirror, your desk, as the wallpaper on your phone, etc... and read them over every day several times a day.
Start with small doses, like one sentence a day.
Remember, it takes at least 21 days to anchor a new habit, so do you want to take the challenge? What if we used our phone notifications wisely?
