Using Positive Thoughts to Shape Your World
“I AM. Two of the most powerful words; for what you put after them shapes your reality.” - Unknown
Take a moment to reflect on that quote. Consider some of the ways you have completed the sentence “I am…” What kinds of thoughts do you have about yourself? What types of things do you tell yourself? What do you believe about yourself?
It’s easy to focus on the negative - the I’m not enough, the I can’t do anything right, the why can’t I be like so and so. In fact, sometimes we focus so much attention on these negative thoughts that they become part of our core beliefs. The good news is: core beliefs can be changed. What we tell ourselves about ourselves is called self-talk. If we tell ourselves something about ourselves enough, it will begin to feel true, but that does not necessarily make it true. Positive thinking can change the way we see ourselves and the world around us.
You may not realize it, but people have thousands of thoughts every day. If a majority of those thoughts were negative, what would your self-talk sound like? Now what would it sound like if a majority of your thoughts were positive?
Positive affirmations are positive phrases or mantras that are used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts and promote positive changes in your life. Positive affirmations, when repeated over and over, can help you alter your subconscious thoughts. Affirmations help us reach for better feeling thoughts. Setting affirmations is one of many tools you can use to overcome negative thinking and self-talk.
It may feel disingenuous to force yourself to think positive about a negative thought that has been bothering you or maybe even had a significant impact on your life. Remember, the goal here is to combat negative thoughts that may have worked their way into your core belief system. Simply shifting to a slightly better feeling thought can be incredibly powerful. If you feel stuck, try listening to music, going for a walk, driving with the windows down, creating something new (drawing, writing, crocheting, building), or spending time with people who inspire you.
Here is a step-by-step guide to setting affirmations:
Create Positive Affirmations
Start with “I am…”
Remember, YOU are shaping your reality. Affirmations do not have to start with “I am”… it’s a good starting point.
Use the present tense
Set your affirmation as though it is already true. This will help your subconscious focus on the now.
Phrase your affirmation with positivity and optimism
The goal is to direct your self-talk towards what you want, not what you don’t want.
Keep them personal
Your affirmations are for YOU, not others.
How to Use Positive Affirmations
Find 2-3 times a day to focus on your affirmations. You can repeat them or even visualize them coming to life. Try to hold your positive thought for 17 seconds or longer.
Place your affirmations where they can be seen often. You may want to write them on sticky notes and set them on your nightstand, put them in your planner or attach them to your bathroom mirror. You can also set them as notifications on your phone.
Make sure your affirmations are meaningful and current. As you grow and make change, your affirmations may also grow and change. Swap out affirmations as needed!
Benefits of Positive Affirmations
Improve mood
Reduce anxiety
Increase motivation and self-efficacy
Shift negative thoughts to positive thoughts
Boost self-confidence
Highlight personal strengths
Positive Affirmations
I am loved
All is well
I am worthy
I am allowed to feel all of my feelings
I am grateful to my body
I belong
I can do hard things
I am calm
I find solutions to my problems
I believe in my dreams
I have good ideas
Positive affirmations are an opportunity to have a fresh, new outlook on our experiences and feelings! We get to pick the thoughts we have about ourselves and that is incredibly empowering. Happy affirmation setting!
