Positive affirmations and their potential power and benefits are something that is heavily debated, especially as we shift towards a more wellness-focused, spiritually inclined society. In a post-pandemic world, COVID-19 shone a light on self-development, growth and healing from the collective trauma that the pandemic caused for many. 

 

Needless to mention, we are designed to survive and therefore negativity can creep into the picture more often. Many of us live and become stuck in survival mode, meaning our thoughts and the internal world can become a difficult place to live in. Developing a mindset towards encouragement and support for yourself and others will develop self-confidence. Changing how you talk to yourself can be truly game-changing!

 

So how do positive affirmations work and how can you tap into their power? In this blog, we unpick how they work, and how you can weave them into your life and reap their benefits. 

 

 

Defining positive affirmations

 

Positive affirmations are simply positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. Practising them is easy – simply pick out a phrase that resonates with you and repeat it to yourself. There are numerous reasons and affirmations – you can affirm anything positive you want to bring into your life. If you find yourself caught in a negative cycle of unhelpful thoughts, affirmations can help with these patterns when practised frequently. 

 

Affirmations are the seed to start cultivating thoughts for the higher good. 

There are a multitude of options out there from apps to books or calendars that can be used to help us with affirmations, but they can be done completely alone or with a simple pen and paper!

 

Affirmations are encouraging statements and positive words that help you achieve a mindset directed towards your goals or desired outcome. Once the affirmations are oriented towards the higher good, they begin to work. The difference between something being positive and something being negative can simply be explained by how it feels in your body and whether it gives you the outcome you want. If it doesn’t feel good in the body and you don’t get the result you want then you might want to look into it a bit deeper. 

 

Affirmations are a great way to start changing the inner dialogue, followed by consistent and confident action. The feeling of being empowered from the inside, well supported by a structure and a great values system, affirmations can literally change your life. By changing the thoughts that don’t honour you with thoughts that establish new, more positive patterns you can start changing the world around you. 

 

You will consciously start to create from a place of peace, confidence, kindness and abundance. The more one complains the less one will have and the more grateful one is, the richer one will feel.  

 

 

How do they work? 

 

Positive affirmations need to be practised regularly to be effective. Think of it like brushing your teeth – brushing them once here and there won’t keep them clean, but a daily habit is what makes it effective!

 

So how do affirmations actually work? By understanding neuroplasticity, or rather the brain’s ability to change and adapt we can gain an understanding of how affirmations work. The brain can sometimes get confused about the difference between reality and imagination – which can work to our benefit! 

 

For example, picture yourself doing an activity that scares you (like bungee jumping) – when we think of an activity like this, it activates many of the areas in the brain as it would if you actually did it! So, looping back again to affirmations, by practising regular affirmations, you encourage your brain to take these positive affirmations as a practice. Having the belief you can truly do something makes it far easier for your actions to follow. 

 

 

Self-affirmations theory

 

One of the core psychological theories behind positive affirmations is the self-affirmations theory (Steele, 1988). 

 

This theory centres around three key ideas:

1) Self-affirmation is a global narrative about ourselves. This narrative means we are flexible and adaptable to different circumstances acting in a moral way. This creates our self-identity.

 

2) Our self-identity, which we are constantly seeking to maintain, is not the same as having an inflexible, rigid or self-concept that is strictly defined. Our self-identity is flexible, and we can define success in a number of different ways. What is wonderful about the self-affirmation theory, is that it argues that maintaining self-identity is not about achieving perfection or excellence (unlike the picture or ‘hustle culture’ depicted on social media that centres around affirmations/motivational speeches). Instead, the theory just focuses on being competent or adequate in the different areas that we personally value, in order to act morally, be flexible and feel good. 

 

3) Finally, the theory follows that we maintain self-integrity by acting in ways that authentically merit acknowledgement and praise. 

For example, when it comes to positive affirmations, we don’t say them because we want to receive praise – we say them because we want to deserve praise for acting in ways that align with our values and true authentic self.

 

 

How should I practice affirmations?

 

Establish and record your statements, repeat them out loud in your mind and feel it as a truth in your life, sense it in every part of your being. Absorb these uplifting ideas in the morning and in the evening and especially in a moment where you know you can use extra support in your life, as you might have a busy day or important events coming up. 

 

When you talk badly to yourself, you don’t show up for your needs and wants and you hold yourself back, as opposed to when you talk to yourself mindfully and beautifully you bring yourself forward. Words are the way you connect with the world, with yourself, with people, with what is available, and words are ultimately energy. Look after the words you are speaking to yourself as that will reflect what you bring forward to the world. 

 

It is important to note, that if you struggle with lots of negative or intrusive thoughts – you do NOT need to worry that these thoughts are acting as affirmations for manifesting these. It is the intention behind our positive affirmations that make them powerful when practised daily. 

 

Positive affirmations sentence starters

 

• I am/ deserve/ do/ enjoy/ make/ create/ recognise …. 
• My (body, partner, love)… is/ knows/ ….
• I am grateful for/ thankful for…

 

Powerful Positive Affirmations 

 

‘I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing.’

– Louise Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life

 

‘I am deliberate and afraid of nothing.’ 

– Audre Lord

 

‘I am worthy of what I desire.’

– Gabby Bernstein, author of The Universe has your back

 

‘Nothing can dim the light that shines from within.’

– Maya Angelou – memoirist, poet and civil rights activist

 

‘The ultimate truth of who you are is not I am this or I am that, but I Am.’

– Eckhart Tolle

 

‘I am worthy. I am loved. I am enough.’ –

– @therefinedwoman

 

‘My presence is my power.’

– Gabby Bernstein

 

‘I have the power to create change.’

– @iamruby