Fake It Till You Make It? A Take On Positive Affirmations
You might have come across this quote regarding positive affirmations at least once in your life. Perhaps, you didn’t pay much attention to it as it may sound rather profound.
“The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
Buddha
Let’s take a moment to take this in…
In my personal interpretation, it says that your mind is everything. Meaning, it is very powerful. More often than not, what you think is what you do. What you do determines your behavior and your actions. These actions now create your reality… that’s how you become.
On a lighter note, we also hear this every now and then: “Be careful of what you wish for” – because you just might get it!
That’s how powerful our thoughts are. The energy that we give out is being honored by the universe and it usually manifests… whether it be positive or negative. Let’s focus on the positive, shall we?
Positive affirmations don’t usually come in handy as we want. It needs conscious effort and discipline to cultivate a lifestyle of affirming yourself.
What are Positive Affirmations?
Positive affirmations are statements that help you go from struggling to thriving and to eliminate negative thoughts and beliefs. Repetition is the key. When you keep repeating them, they will materialize and will start to make positive changes in your life.
In order for them to manifest, however, they need to be accompanied by ACTION. Words without action may not have the effect you desire as they will be half-baked. Your words and actions must be in sync.
Consistency is another factor for positive affirmations to exhibit. Changes that are brought about by positive affirmations don’t happen overnight. They’re not like magic potions that can take effect in a snap of a finger. They have to be worked on.
Positive Affirmations + Action + Consistency (over time) = Positive Manifestations.
I am a living testament to this.
What are the benefits of practicing positive self-affirmations?
Besides the fact that it is a mood enhancer, regular self-affirmation benefits you in more ways than you can imagine.
1. It helps boost your self-confidence
Positive self-affirmations help you feel more confident about yourself. This is because affirmations enhance your self-love by converting negative thoughts to positive ones. This enables you to see the best version of yourself.
However, in order for this to work, these affirmations you say to yourself must be attached to your own personal values. This is so that when you are confronted with information that contradicts or threatens your sense of self, you are less likely to feel discomfort and respond defensively as explained in the self-affirmation theory. Self-affirmation gives you a sense of assurance if this is aligned with how you perceive yourself.
2. It helps boost your health
The science behind positive affirmations states that positive affirmations activate your neural connections and cause changes in the parts of your brain that make you feel good. Some studies back up these assertions stating that self-affirmations help in reducing health-damaging stress, increasing people’s exercise levels, and encouraging them to eat healthier.
Rachel Robins mentioned in her Positive Affirmations book that by using positive affirmations, you can sustainably upgrade your health, heal your body and mind and approach happiness day by day.
Remember that your body obeys what your mind dictates. This is especially true in this situation.
3. It helps steer you in the right direction
Positive affirmations are specifically helpful especially if you are not your best self. They can be a way to redirect and refocus your energy when you feel discouraged.
The affirmations you say to yourself are a constant reminder of the goal you want for yourself. It sets the course where you are supposed to be heading. On occasions where you feel somewhat lost, these positive affirmations will pull you back on track.
The real challenge then is: How?
How do we start saying positive affirmations for ourselves?
1. Visualize the life you want to have or the self you want to be
It will always start with SELF. You need to have a vision for yourself.
What do you want to achieve? What future would you want for yourself?
By having a clear vision for yourself, you can devise an action plan toward that vision. When you visualize the things you want to happen, it makes the entirety of you move in synchronicity. Your thoughts, actions, and ideas move towards one common goal. Once you make this vision clear for yourself, start to make positive affirmations for it. The more you visualize that which you need – the more adjusted your considerations, convictions, and activities will be.
2. Begin with easy, achievable steps
Affirmations do not need to be big right away. Start small – baby steps, as they say. Begin with small things that are applicable and achievable for you. Affirmations are of no use if they feel unreal or unachievable. Modify them until you feel comfortable repeating them.
If, for example, “I am wealthy” feels off because it is not your current reality – but you would like it to be, try something more generic such as “I give myself permission to be wealthy” or “I am worthy of being wealthy.”
The key point is, the affirmations you choose must be ‘real’ for you. This is so that these affirmations you recite, will not feel awkward to you.
3. Deal with your past
Past experiences, especially the unpleasant ones, sometimes make us feel stuck. This can hinder the affirmations we want for ourselves. When this happens, consider making a “mind shift.” Acknowledge your past. It’s okay not to be okay. Then, move on.
If you get stuck in your past, you make yourself a victim. Break free from yourself, from your past. Have a conscious effort to not play the victim. Positive affirmations make you feel victorious.
4. Start with a positive thought as soon as you wake up
Every positive thought has to start somewhere. The best place to start is right after you wake up in the morning. Do this every day and it will build positive habits.
Positive affirmations – Fake it till you make it?
I say, YES… (given point 2 above has been taken into consideration).
View the Instagram post below for an example of generic positive affirmations (and go ahead and follow my page there!):
Every beginning is difficult. Fake it until you make it means taking the effort to change. Change may be challenging but if you do it every time – even if you’re faking it – will become easier until it becomes a part of your system. Then you don’t need to fake it anymore because you already made it. It becomes a part of you.
Here are some affirming statements that can give you a jumpstart:
- I am blessed. I am on my way to being successful.
- Today, I feel powerful. I can get through the challenges I face.
- I am getting better and better every day.
- All I need is within me right now.
- I am unstoppable. I can have all that I need.
- Today will be a fruitful day.
- If I can see it in my mind, I can hold it in my hand.
- I am not defined by my past. I am in the process of making my future.
- Abundance flows to me every day.
- Today, I choose to be happy.
- I am a work in progress.
- I am worthy of the things I need and desire.
- Anything that is applicable to you
Have a blissful week!