Affirmations are great tools to use to help train your brain to think the way you want it to. We chatter to ourselves all day every day and even in our dream life. If we can use the concept behind CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and apply it here, you can see how positive affirmations can change the landscape of your mind. Louise Hay is the affirmation Goddess, check out her work and affirmations here.
Your body believes what your mind tells it, so if you're constantly thinking punitive thoughts, your body will follow suit. If you shower yourself with love and positivity, your body will respond in kind.
It is most helpful to create affirmations that directly contradict your Inner Critic.
You might start by writing down the mean or critical thoughts your Inner Critic tells you.
Here are some examples:
- I'm fat and ugly
- I'll never recover
- I Don't even bother trying to change because I'm too stupid to learn how to get better
Awful, right? I'm cringing as I'm writing these! And many of you say these things to yourself all day every day! No wonder you feel defeated!
Once you have your top offensive criticisms written down, then see if you can find the opposite, compassionate, counter affirmation.
For example:
- "I'm fat and ugly" becomes "I am a beautiful child of the universe, inside and out"
- "I'll never recover" transforms to "I am already in recovery, I've taken the first of many steps towards true freedom and love for myself and my body"
- "I don't even bother to change because I'm too stupid to learn how to get better" is turned around to "Each small change is a success. I celebrate my victories and continue to grow towards health and well being"
Here are some other affirmations you can use:
- I deserve to heal
- I am a being of light and love and I deserve happiness
- This food is nourishing and I need it to fuel my body
- My body gives me many gifts - walking, holding, creating, hugging. I love my arms because they help me to hug. I love my legs - they take me on adventures. I love my hands that create the meals I serve to my family.
I think you get the idea. You can always make new ones or change the ones you have to fit better.
Now you try some!!
Once you have some good affirmations, write them in beautiful handwriting. Pin them up on your wall, on your bathroom mirror, in your car - anywhere you look often. When you see them, say them out loud. Try saying certain affirmations out loud every day for a week, a month or just a few days and see how you feel after you've tried it for a while.
If you need help coming up with affirmations, please feel free to contact me at 610.314.8402. I'd be happy to help.
Please comment below and tell us your affirmations!