Affirmations: what is it and how do they work?

In our difficult world, we are often forced to give up our dreams and suffer disappointments. Sometimes it even seems that there are practically no prospects ahead. At such moments it is very important not to lose heart, not to abandon your goals and help yourself get out of the crisis. One of the available methods of changing your life are affirmations. How to use them correctly and how they can help, and will be discussed in this article.

The term comes from the English word affirm, which, in turn, is derived from the Latin language. Affirmatio literally means "confirmation", "confidence in the authenticity of a fact." In modern psychology, affirmations are successfully used to achieve various goals. Their main advantage over many other psychological techniques is their exceptional accessibility.

Affirmations are short statement phrases. You can make them yourself or use the ready ones. The definition of the subject of positive statements depends on the specific request of the person, the circumstances he wants to change.

Remember how often in everyday life we ​​loudly or in our thoughts exclaim unkind words. In negative situations, we are accustomed to emotionally utter: “Horror!” Or “What a nightmare!”. And what is the result? Nothing good, in general. Thus, we practically program ourselves on that very “horror and nightmare”, allowing trouble to happen again and again in our life.

And here is another very familiar and frequently used phrase, which the majority utters without thinking about it at all: “Wow!”. Of course, this phrase does not have such a negative color, but still understand the meaning of these words. Guess? The phrase says that we do not want anything for ourselves. But to yourself, on the contrary, a lot can and should be desired: health, well-being, realization of talents, love, etc.

Our experiences, unconscious reactions and thoughts have a direct impact on the course of life. Negative, heavy feelings for the most part deplete the psyche, and besides attract negative self-energy. It is as if a person curses himself, setting himself up for the bad again and again, and seriously expecting trouble from every new situation or event.

But the ability to easily let go of the bad, time to switch to positive, confidence in positive changes, on the contrary, can work almost wonders. It is on this principle that affirmations work. They help set the thinking and perception of the world in a positive way, to get results in any sphere. Properly composed and, most importantly, correctly pronounced statements can bring simply magical changes to the life of each practitioner.

Practicing the repetition of affirmations can achieve any realistic goals:

• a person can develop his talents and abilities, succeed in learning a new business or specialty;
• can significantly improve their well-being;
• the practitioner can help himself be cured of diseases, become more beautiful, slimmer, more attractive to others;
• practice will help to cope with psychological problems and complexes: fears, anxiety, apathy, depression, nervousness, self-doubt, etc .;
• attracting success in professional activities, career building;
• the practitioner can get rid of loneliness, attract true love to him;
• getting rid of negative personality traits;
• strengthening volitional sphere, the formation of motivation to achieve goals.

The worldview of each person is formed from early childhood. Due to the fact that very few people are surrounded by very ideal conditions, in adulthood we are overwhelmed with complexes, fears, patterned reactions. All this drives the consciousness into a certain, very narrow framework from which, alas, it is difficult to free it.

Unfortunately, few people believe in the possibility of changing life for the better. After all, around the "wrong" circumstances, "not those" people. Only here circumstances, people and personal problems for the most part attract ourselves, or rather, our psycho-emotional reactions to what is happening. Similar reaches for similar.

Affirmations can be divided into two types. General affirmations help to change the situation around you and life in general, to look at the world with different eyes. They are inspirational phrases containing strong positive messages:

• "I am surrounded by very nice, pleasant, positive people."
• "I am confidently moving towards my success."
• "I get everything that I had in mind."
• “I can find the right solution and do the right thing in any situation,” and others.

The second kind of positive statements suggests a more specific topic. They are aimed at a specific area of ​​life, a situation or a problem.

Useful affirmations for health.

• "I am happy and healthy."
• "My body is working properly."
• “Every day my organs are renewed and getting stronger.”
• "My body is strong and healthy."
• "I feel powerful streams of energy and health spreading through my body."
• "I feel the energy and health emanating from every cell of my body."
• "I am healed by the positive energy flowing through my body."
• "My body is quickly recovering and improving every day."
• "I can and love to take care of my body."
• "I am free from suffering and disease."
• "I am always calm and feel well."
• "I have a lot of energy and vitality."

Here are the affirmations for general body strengthening. This is an important moment in the cure of any disease, since all organs and systems are closely interrelated. For the healing of a particular disease, you can additionally make a positive statement regarding the particular diseased organ. For example: "My kidneys are healthy and working properly," "My eyesight is improving every day," "My joints are strong, healthy."

A short list of affirmations for happiness and fulfillment of desires.

• "My life is beautiful and interesting."
• "Every day in my life more and more joy and prosperity."
• "I am grateful to the Universe for my life."
• "The universe gives me everything I need."
• "I am building my life myself."
• "I succeed in any endeavors."
• "I am filled with the blessed vital energy."

Examples of affirmations for attracting love and improving relationships.

• "I love and love."
• "Love fills me every day more and more."
• "I am a wise, beautiful and desirable woman."
• "I am a strong, confident and beloved man."
• "I express gratitude to the Universe for the great love that fills my life."
• "Every day I grow and cultivate spiritually."
• "I deserve love, care and respect."

Examples of affirmations for the correction of personality.

• "I am confident in myself and look at the world positively."
• "My willpower is growing stronger every day."
• "My positive qualities develop and multiply every day."
• "I am successfully working on myself."
• "I am a purposeful, energetic, comprehensively developed person."
• "I am able to overcome any difficulties."
• “Every day I feel an emotional uplift and spiritual growth.”

For starters, many use already-made affirmations. At the first stage, you can start with this.

Before you start writing affirmations, you should know some rules. Above, we have already touched upon the question of the importance of the meaning of each word spoken out loud or silently. Therefore, in a positive phrase, you need to pay attention to all the details. After all, with repeated repetition of these words will acquire very powerful installation properties. Remember that we make a phrase for self-suggestion, programming yourself for positive changes. Even incorrectly inserted interjections and prepositions can significantly weaken the effect of affirmation.

So, making up positive statements for yourself, follow these rules.

• In your phrase you can not wish evil to others, demand punishment or revenge for something.
• The statement should concern you personally. It is you who convince yourself of your well-being, work with your consciousness. For example, the affirmation "My boss appreciates and respects me" is incorrect and will not work. For career growth you must program yourself, let's say: “I am doing my job well and correctly”.
• The phrase should be positive. That is what is stated in it, has a positive color.
• Thought must be directed to what you desire., and not on what you do not like, and what you want to get rid of. An example of an incorrect affirmation: "Diseases are leaving my body, I stop feeling pain." In this case, a positive result should be affirmed: "My body is healthy, I am full of energy."
• It is better to avoid using the word "I can." Replace it with verbs that represent a specific action. Instead of “I can make myself happy,” we use a slightly different phrase: “I become happier every day” or “I am happy and thankful to God for my life.”
• Do not put the particle “not” in the statement. It is negative and will require you to mention something you don’t like. And this contradicts the rule of positive content of the statement.
• Do not make too long sentences. Affirmation should be relatively short, easy to remember and as specific as possible. If you have a long phrase, it means that you have not decided on the goal and are trying to fit into one statement several unsolved problems or wishes. Analyze your query and focus on what is most important to you at the moment. About this and make an affirmation.
• The statement must relate to the present, the current moment. Phrases like “Next year I will have a lot of money” are not specific and do not contain the necessary message.

Affirmations affect the practitioner's subconscious. Thus, they help to make the necessary changes in the way of life and in the personality of the person himself.But this can be achieved if you use this psychological method of self-help correctly.

• It is best to say the phrase out loud, clearly and confidently. This should be done at least 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening. If you have the opportunity during the day to retire in a quiet place where no one will disturb you, it is permissible to practice affirmations more often. Some people find it hard to voice their statements, especially in the early stages of the practice. In this case, you can pronounce the affirmations mentally.
• Also, statement phrases can be read from paper and written on paper. Psychologists recommend trying to deduce words with both hands: both right and left. This will help activate and activate both hemispheres of the brain.
• Affirmations should be used regularly. Breaks for several days greatly weaken the effect of self-hypnosis and postpone the result.
• Connect your visual image while talking affirmations. Be clear about what is stated in the phrase. In your imagination a clear and vivid picture of the changes to which you direct your efforts should arise. The phrase you uttered during the practice should be translated into reality for you.
• Do not focus on constantly waiting for the result. After the session of uttering affirmations, gently release your desires and requests. Changes will come into your life naturally.
• In the pronounced allegations need to sincerely believe. Our rational thinking makes us skeptical of such phenomena, which greatly hinders the practice and personal growth. Try to push the inner “skeptic” to the second or even third plan. During the repetition of affirmations, trust the practice wholeheartedly and free yourself from doubt.
• Sometimes it happens that a person has made a statement that actually contrary to his true goals. This happens when a practitioner has not yet learned to listen to himself and draws requests from generally accepted norms and fashion trends. In this case, the affirmation may either not work at all, or translate into somewhat unsatisfactory consequences.
• During the pronunciation of statements you need to monitor your posture and facial expression. Phrases are positive, life-affirming, therefore, they should be pronounced with a confident smile, straight back and raised chin. The physical condition and posture of the body are closely related to the subconscious, so that if they resonate with repeated statements, the effect of the latter will be greatly weakened.
• Do not rely on affirmations alone, while completely inactive in real life. Agree, it is foolish to wait for a salary increase or transfer to a higher position if you do not care about your work, do not fulfill your duties, are often late and quarrel with colleagues. Also, your body will not become slim if you overeat, inactive and abusing bad habits. Affirmations are undoubtedly our allies, but their practice does not exempt from real actions aimed at achieving the goal.
• Do not contradict your affirmations in everyday life. Speaking positive phrases, we change our perception of the conditions around us. Therefore, having believed in the affirmation during its pronunciation, do not destroy the new attitudes that have begun to line up with you.

For example, a girl works on her body and repeats the statement: "I become slim, beautiful, attractive to others and self-confident." During practice, she even manages to create a visual image of herself as new. However, going out for a walk or on the way to work, she again turns into a “gray mouse”: slouches, hesitantly looks away, minces with an awkward pace. As a result, during the next practice, she will have to start everything from scratch.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that, of course, the effect of affirmations on different people is by no means universal. Two different people, asking for the same, may well get opposite results. There are many reasons for this: an unclearly formulated request, lack of involvement in the process of pronouncing phrases, discrepancy between desires and real goals, excessive laziness and inaction in everyday life.

On websites and various forums you can find the stories of real people who practiced this method of self-hypnosis. And there is never a definite review. Someone's affirmations helped, and someone abandoned them after several attempts, without waiting for signs of approaching their goal.

Well, there is no universal panacea for body and soul. However, in every work on oneself there are basic and very important points: a clear goal setting, a positive attitude, regularity of classes, involvement in practice.