The Power of Affirmations

By Celeste Parler
Web Content Contributor

We all have an inner dialogue that has the power to affect our mood. Even though we may not admit it, our inner dialogue can bring us down in a matter of seconds. A statement like “I’m not worthy of feeling taken care of” has profound consequences on our confidence and thinking patterns. Thus, negative self-talk has the power to affect our behavior and our relationships.

Overcoming negative self-talk must start with ourselves. It becomes our duty to oppose the negative with the positive. While giving thought to negative statements purposely highlight the problems we have with ourselves, declaring positive affirmations aloud rewires the perceptions of ourselves and inspires positive action. 

The Y defines an affirmation to be, “… a sentence of powerful words put together, like a positive statement… aimed to tap into your conscious and unconscious mind to motivate you, to challenge you, to push you to reach your full potential in life.” So an affirmation is meant to change your point of view of yourself and get you to do things you could have never imagined yourself doing.

The practice of writing, collecting and reciting positive affirmations should be designed to bring you closer to becoming your ideal self. Affirmations are also meant to be simple enough to repeat as you go about your day or when you are struggling with negative self-talk. For example, the phrase “I know who I am and my value” motivates someone to love themselves deeper than before. 

Speaking positive affirmations on a consistent basis is scientifically linked to mental health benefits over time. Both our self-identity and the neural pathways in our brain are flexible and can be reworked with time and effort. In some scenarios, what is imagined or perceived from our point of view becomes so real our brain perceives these falsehoods as truth. As we repeat positive affirmations, we create new realities where we have an improved and revitalized sense of self.

At first, it may not seem like our affirmations are getting anything done. But gradually, the positive thoughts you spoke into existence will transform into a self-fulfilling prophecy. This means as our confidence in ourselves grows and we strongly associate ourselves with positive qualities, these once “wishful thoughts” are now how we truly perceive ourselves to be. 

All this information begs the question: how do I start? Because affirmations are meant to be so personal, there is no one way to achieve your goals with affirmations. A jumping-off-point is to determine how you want to see your life improve. Are you looking to become a better student or cultivate self-love and gratitude? 

Next is to search for or write down affirmations that target your circumstances. Affirmations should be set in the present tense and use language that resonates with you. When in need, consult your friends or a trusty Pinterest board. Often, the act of verbally reciting positive affirmations becomes a part of one’s daily routine. Experts recommend saying affirmations throughout the day or when you need them most is the best way to start.

Lastly is to be patient and trust the process. Like all habits, progress comes with consistency and determination. Doubt and pessimism will be your worst enemies and will try to stray you off the path of improvement. When you feel discouraged, find the strength to continue from resources around you and remember that practice makes perfect.

Featured Image by Celeste Parler