by Aimee Wojtowecz
You’ve probably seen positive affirmations across social media, posters, and cards. They’re all over Facebook and Instagram, and they can seem a little cheesy sometimes. But did you know that positive affirmations can actually be powerful tools for change?
Positive affirmations have been shown to decrease overthinking, increase satisfaction, happiness, and the success rate of reaching your goals.
What are affirmations? And How do they work?
Simply put, affirmations are anything you say or think. They make up a large part of the mind-talk that everyone has running in their heads all the time. We all use affirmations, though we don’t do it consciously. This allows our default, negative thoughts to run our lives.
Think about the messages that are part of your regular self-talk. Do you have kind, positive, encouraging self-talk, or does your Inner Critic dominate with harsh words of criticism? Many of your messages will have taken root during your childhood. Were you encouraged and supported to give it your best shot, or were you told you were lazy, or no good? Those messages might still be affecting your current mindset.
Whether you have a positive or a negative script running through your mind, those thoughts and beliefs shape your reality. Negative thoughts feed self-doubt and discourage you from trying to reach your full potential. If you believe you’re no good at giving presentations, you’re not going to feel confident enough to give it your all.
Change up your self-talk
The good news is that you can change your self-talk by choosing to use positive affirmations to rewire your brain to have a positive mindset.
The process is pretty straightforward if you stick to some basic guidelines:
- Always use the present tense. Your brain reacts in the moment, so make that moment as positive as you can.
- Keep it positive and simple. Saying short, positive phrases like ‘I am calm’ is much more effective than telling yourself, “I mustn’t get upset.’
- Use repetition. If you repeat your affirmations regularly and consistently, you will strengthen those neural pathways in the brain. Your habitual patterns of thought and belief will become more positive. Try to repeat your chosen affirmations three times a day for at least five minutes.
Affirmations that may help both in the gym and with your nutrition
- I am fit. I am strong. I am powerful.
- I am empowered to create the life I want to live.
- I will accomplish {insert your goal} because I want {insert your why}.
- My body is my responsibility, and I will do what’s best for me.
- The food I choose to eat does not impact my self-worth.
- Consistency is healthier for me than extremes
- I will become the best version of myself one healthy step at a time
Choose to Change your Life
You have the power to choose your life experience.
Whatever you tell yourself affirms what you want to have more of in your life. If you’re confident and hopeful, if you expect things to go well, then that’s precisely what will happen. Using conscious affirmations is a great way to start making those positive changes today.