Jane was out for a long walk on this sparkling spring day. Others had the same idea, including one huffing and puffing woman who jogged past saying...out loud..."Yes, I can." Every few paces she said it again, sometimes with different emphasis. "YES, I can." "Yes, I CAN!" This might have been deliberate or it might have been the result of huffing and puffing and affirming all at once. The point is, she was giving herself a boost with those words. Jane loves a good affirming kind of moment and she jumped in with applause and some of the "You go, girl1 Yes, you can!" stuff. "Twenty miles," the runner responded. "Twenty miles!" That called for more applause.
So there it was, an affirmation in action. Something declared to be true. A positive statement. There is a lot of power in affirmations, a whole big lot. What, you might wonder, is an easy way to incorporate them into your own life? Funny you should ask. Jane felt like discussing that very topic.
First of all, the strongest affirmations are in the present tense. If you say "I will" you are creating an event in the future. And it's always the future. So instead of "I will learn to control my anxiety issues," affirm that your goal is happening right now. "I control my anxiety issues." And because positive language is always more inspirational than negative, how about switching that up to "I am calm and peaceful. All is well in my world. I am safe."
Once more, with feeling. Yes, that's the second point. Affirmations are meant to inspire. Wishy-washy bland kinda sorta statements aren't fooling anybody, particularly your subconscious mind. Mean it, feel it, wrap it around you. Own that affirmation. It's yours. Speak it in a strong voice. Concentrate on the words and don't just hear them, feel them. Jane tried a few affirmations in front of a mirror, speaking them right into her own eyes. Not easy, she discovered. Not easy at all. And the ones that were the most difficult were the very ones she continued to say, because she recognized that those were what she most needed to hear.
Next point? Make time. Jane has said affirmations while walking her bestest buddy and finds that works very well. She also uses this time for gratitude. Either way, the approach is the same. Every few steps she is either thankful for something or affirming something. By the time she gets back to her house, she has had a good physical workout and is feeling on top of the world emotionally.
Does this all sound too simple and not worth your time? Ahhh, that's because you haven't tried it. There is a wealth of power and potential here, people. A wealth. You can pull yourself out of the deepest of emotional depths with affirmations. And before you say "well, Jane, how do YOU know?" stop and think for a minute. Yes, Jane does know.
ACTION
BELIEFS RESULTS
Now, imagine an arrow leads from BELIEFS to ACTION and from ACTION to RESULTS and from RESULTS to BELIEFS. Which one starts the never-ending cycle? Who knows for sure? Affirmations lead to beliefs, right? That much makes sense. So if affirmations lead to beliefs, then the cycle starts and you get action and results and...it goes on and on. Jane offers this in the hopes that it sounds more logical and less woo-woo.
Jane writes her affirmations on index cards. Hers have been specifically intended to pull herself up after emotional hurt, but they can be as unique and personal and individual as the person creating them. What works for you? What is an area in your life where you need some help? What part of your life might benefit from affirmations that lead to beliefs that lead to...you get the idea.
Louise Hay is an excellent source for exploring the concept of affirmations. Shakti Gawain is another. Once you get comfortable with the concept, you'll find that your own affirmations come as readily as you need.
One of Jane's favorites...
I rejoice in my unlimitedness and know that before me lies the totality of possibilities in every area. I trust totally in the One Power and I know all is well in my world. So be it!
That's more to say, of course. It doesn't have to be that long. After all, for some people all the moment calls for is the very basics. "Yes, I CAN!"
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