“You’ve been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.”
Louise Hay
I see affirmations as multivitamins or investments for the mind; they are not quick serving, but rewarding in the long term. Affirmations are an incredibly effective technique to transform how you view yourself.
Our beliefs about ourselves and the world have been influenced by external forces. When we were younger, we obtained our information from the adults and others around us, and often, what we hear is not always true. Yet, it becomes the foundation of our reality. These ideas become ingrained into our subconscious and, without being aware of it, we place limits on our lives because of who we were told we are. If we had an adult telling us ‘you are worthless’ or ‘you can’t do anything right’ during your childhood years, it is likely you will grow up believing you aren’t capable of anything worthwhile.
As we get older and grow awareness, it is our responsibility to take ownership of our beliefs and mindset. We must start questioning what it is we believe about ourselves and the world, and we must find where they are stemming from. Imagine if we said to ourselves: ‘I am powerful, I am capable, and I am strong’ every day. Soon enough, these thoughts will override our initial negative self-beliefs, and likewise, become ingrained in our subconscious.
We are powerful, strong beings with the capability to do anything we put our minds to. We just need to convince ourselves to believe it. That demands rewiring our brains (the science behind this is called neuroplasticity. I highly suggest reading into this to provide the backing for what I am stating).
In a dark headspace, we cannot see our value. We feed our minds with negative thoughts about ourselves and create a toxic environment that makes it impossible to change. Whether you believe it or not, you are a valuable part of this world. The likelihood of you being born is so slim, that it truly is a miracle you are here. It is time you start seeing that for yourself.
When we design a house, a firm foundation is required before we can start building. Likewise, when we rebuild our minds, a strong foundation is needed, which can be provided through self-affirmations.
Louise Hay is my role model for self-affirmations. She has fantastic insight, tips, and ideas in her books (I would recommend giving them a read).
After meditating, my mind feels blank, and given the nature of our ‘thought-hungry’ mind, I feed it with the best foods by saying my affirmations. Some include:
– ‘I am strong, I am powerful, I am resilient, and I am unstoppable’.
– ‘I am at peace. I am calm’.
– ‘I am grounded, I am supported, I am safe, and I am secure’.
– ‘I trust my journey’.
Every month, I add some more.
The benefits:
– Changes the way we see ourselves and the world.
– Important gateway for self-love –> higher self-esteem.
– Offers insight to past traumas.
– Ability to see the best in others.
– Rewrite the narrative on ourselves.
My Story
I remember how stupid I felt when I first started doing affirmations. They felt like I was convincing myself that I was someone that I was not. It took me months to realise I was not lying to myself; I was finding my truth. It had just been buried under the lies that my ‘dark self’ had been convincing me for years. I had become so accustomed to that voice, I thought it was the truth.
It didn’t take long before my self-affirmations became my new self-beliefs. I began to embody what I was saying, which created a stronger and more resilient mind, and most importantly, I learnt to truly love myself. I remember the day I subconsciously smiled during one affirmation; it was amazing. My body had responded to what I was saying and was showing physical proof of that. To this day, I cannot help but smile every time I say my affirmations.
You are valuable. It’s time you started believing it.
Up From The Well 