A few years ago, I was sceptical of the efficacy of positive affirmations. This isn’t a problem that I’m dealing with alone. They’re despised by the majority of my social circle. It’s just like those cheesy self-help audiotapes from the 1980s and 1990s that you used to listen to. Many of those cheesy statements are still in use. ‘I radiate beauty, charm, and grace,’ read a picture of a sunset I came across the other day. That’s just not my cup of tea.
Affirmations, on the other hand, are based on sound theory. It’s backed by research, too. There is an issue with their reputation. Make sure you do it in a way that doesn’t give you the creeps. This article is for you if you’re sceptical of affirmations. I’ll show you how I put this tried-and-true method to use in my own life.
You can use affirmations to affirm your core values.
In the eyes of academics, self-affirmation is the act of expressing one’s deepest values through words or thoughts (Falk et al, 2015). Negative thoughts can be overcome by affirming your self-worth through affirmations. Not all self-affirmations are self-deprecating or self-deceiving. People with low self-esteem or depression should avoid this approach. False affirmations will only exacerbate your current state of mind.
Self-affirmations that come from the heart serve as a constant reminder of your core values, the actions you want to take, and the results you desire.
The power of self-affirmation
When it comes to affirmations, the most important rule is to be honest with yourself. That’s it! Telling yourself things you don’t believe isn’t going to help you in any way. As an example, “I’m the greatest person on the planet.” Even if we tell ourselves that a thousand times, it won’t make a difference unless we actually put it into practise. The following is a list of affirmations that I’ve found to be effective. They’re yours to use as you see fit. Affirmations can be as simple as picking a few that resonate with your core values, or they can be more complex.
First and foremost, “You’ve done it before. So why not now?
When I’m working on something difficult, such as a book or a course, I tend to become overwhelmed. Nevertheless, I keep telling myself, I’ve already written a book; why can’t I do it again? That’s an all-purpose tool. The more articles you write, the more likely you are to be able to write an entire book. And so, on and so on. Begin small and work your way up. My researcher, John, and I were discussing this idea of relying on small successes. As an adult, he could barely complete a 10-kilometre race. I was on the verge of passing out by the time we got to the end! Even though I was among the last to cross the finish line, I made it. And even though it was a difficult victory, I gained the confidence to complete another 10K. Eventually, I was able to complete a 12K, a 25K, a marathon, and an ultra. That’s a great illustration of how one can gradually improve over time. As a result, he is now competing in ultra-marathons (marathons lasting over 50 kilometres on rough terrain). If you’ve never done something, telling yourself, “YOU CAN DO IT” doesn’t work. When we tell ourselves a lie, our internal bullshit detector goes off. Rely on your accomplishments and refine your skills instead.
“Don’t put it off any longer”
We all have days when we want to skip the gym, not finish our work, or hit the snooze button. Everyone procrastinates. We use excuses like “I’ll do it tomorrow” or “I’m too tired” to avoid responsibility. When we put off completing a task because we don’t want to, we are procrastinating. Excuses are the word of the day. When the going gets tough, we all have a tendency to give up. The more you postpone your tasks, the more difficult it will be for you in the long run. “Do it today, not tomorrow” is a phrase that frequently enters my mind.
Learn to enjoy it
For some reason, I’m prone to rushing my work in order to meet a deadline. I’m a stickler for results. To avoid missing out on important details, don’t always rush through your work. Consequently, your work will suffer in quality. If you can identify with that, remind yourself to also enjoy the process. It’s critical to set goals and see projects through to completion. Then again, it’s important to have fun at work. Finally, you’re working for long periods of time. So, you’ll have to get used to it.
“It’s time to move on.”
I tell myself to get it done and move on when I’m doing mundane tasks like paying bills, cleaning my apartment, or buying groceries. Dishwashing is not my favourite chore, despite what Buddhist monks tell you.
Being more present is one of my favourite things to do, but not in that context. Get it done and move on to something more enjoyable. Our lives are full of things we don’t want to do. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Done is better than perfect. There is still a long way to go!
“We’re almost there,”
There’s a point in every endeavour when we’re ready to give up. What if you’re on a run and your lungs are on fire, or you’re trying to start a business but life keeps getting in the way? In order to succeed, you can’t give up in the middle of the process because quitting can become a habit. We are often disappointed when we fail to accomplish our goals. It’s a dreadful recurrence. In order to become a finisher, you must tell yourself you’re almost there, so that you can keep going.
Isn’t it ridiculous?
This one is fantastic. Because it’s so direct, it has a lot of impacts. I’m exhausted. This person made some negative remarks about me, I responded. It’s not like there aren’t a million blogs on the subject. Every minor thing in life, as well… What’s the point? What’s the point of all this nonsense, anyway? Don’t make things even more difficult for yourself by taking everything so seriously. Simply use the phrase “so what?” more frequently.
“Let’s go!”
To avoid getting into your car in the rain and making the drive to the gym, you say, “Maybe I’ll go some other time.” Even if you’re ready to start an internet business and have completed all the necessary steps, you’re still afraid to publish your website. Always keep in mind that there is only one exit: through. It’s time to move on after all your hard work. Do not worry about being perfect and overthinking everything you do. Stop dithering, say, “Let’s go,” and go.
Pay attention to the task at hand.
The purpose of using self-affirmations is to serve as a constant reminder to yourself of your guiding principles. To become more confident, it’s not a matter of “tricking” yourself. In any case, the vast majority of us are far too sceptical to believe such a thing. However, the threads that bind it all together remain. Self-affirmations may help you feel more confident, but do they actually make you more confident? Because humans are so complex, it’s impossible to say for sure. You must find a way of reminding yourself of your identity and your desires. When we don’t have those reminders, we tend to go back to our old ways of doing things. That’s what you’re trying to avoid, at the end of the day.
