As a child, our parents or guardians taught us the basics of personal care. Today we repeat these steps without thinking twice. The act of redundancy in personal care is what taught us the steps of taking showers to smell good, we brush our teeth for fresh breath, but most importantly, dental hygiene, and of course other bodily function basics…you get the drift.
Our actions and how we present ourselves to others, can give impressions on how others may see us. Are we aggressive or self-confident? Are we grateful or condescending? Do we come across as narcissist or humble? How do we interact with others? Do we treat them with respect, or disregard their presence.
In this day and age of digital technology, people are quick to judge others by looks even before anyone opens their mouths. People have become conditioned to assume way too much about who other people are and how they are living, just by looking at them.
Our growing up periods, we have learned life’s lessons through unpleasant and pleasant experiences. Those experiences make us who we are. If we can go back and delete one of those experiences, it may not make us who we are right now. We may be an entirely different person or may react differently to specific situations where we may not be as empathic, depending on the scenario. And while we may have not like recalling certain events, keep in mind, these are the events that continue to shape you and make you a stronger person because of it.
We have all heard the saying, “actions speak louder than words”. Words put into action are the power of making changes in your life.
So, are affirmations the power of words we need to create the action?
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements or phrases repeated to oneself in order to reinforce positive beliefs, boost self-confidence and promote personal growth and development. They are often used as a technique in self-help and personal development practices.
The basic idea behind affirmations is that by regularly affirming positive thoughts and beliefs, individuals can reprogram their subconscious mind and create a positive mindset. Affirmations are typically used to counter negative self-talk or limiting beliefs and replace them with empowering and uplifting statements.
That being said, anyone can turn around and say, “but look at how successful I am” or “I don’t need affirmations, I’m know how to direct my life with actions”.
Sure, anyone can make that statement and feel they may not need to change anything about themselves. While the power of affirmations can ‘will’ us the positive attitude we need to defeat the negative self-talk, the actions of redundancy can also become boring.
I think about an episode of Spongebob, when Squidward becomes upset with Patrick and Spongebob with the constant and unexpected games, which cause catastrophe at Squidward’s house. This lead Squidward moving to a place called Squidville. At Squidville, everyone who lives there, repeats the same activities day after day. While Squidward initially was excited at all the activities he found in Squidville, which isn’t readily available at Bikini Bottom, after a while the activities have now become mundane and boring.
Can we be trapped in a warped sense of success, yes, we can. Most times, people will find they are trapped when reality comes to a screeching halt and you’re sitting there asking yourself, “what am I doing?”.
Affirmations aren’t only used for when one is feeling hopeless or having anxiety about a situation. Affirmations can be used as part of everyday self-care.
The more you use your affirmations, the less anxiety you will feel.
If you’re asking will affirmations remove anxiety permanently…NO!
Affirmations will not remove any normal human emotions, like fear or anxiety, - affirmations may give you a sense of confidence about something you are pursuing, like a new job, an upcoming interview, a date with someone you’ve been courting. Affirmations help in the way of not giving in your fears of uncertainty.
When using affirmations, it is important to phrase them in the present tense, as if the desired outcome has already been achieved. For example, instead of saying, "I will be successful," one would say, "I am successful." By repeating these positive statements consistently and with conviction, individuals aim to cultivate a positive mindset and attract positive experiences into their lives.
Affirmations can cover various aspects of life, such as self-esteem, health, relationships, abundance, personal goals, and more. They can be tailored to individual needs and aspirations. Some people find it helpful to write down their affirmations and repeat them aloud or silently in a focused and relaxed state, such as during meditation or as part of a daily routine.
While affirmations can be a valuable tool for self-improvement, it's important to remember that they work best when combined with proactive efforts, such as setting goals, taking action, and making positive changes in one's life.
Keep in mind, no one ever arrives at a point in their lives, where affirmations become the cure to all of your pain and uncertainty.
On the contrary, the joy is in the journey.
The journey of self-discovery.
Your affirmations are yours and yours alone. We can use a guide book of affirmations but the beautiful part of affirmations, is you can make them all your own.
Until then, Take care of You.
