Your mind is a powerful thing.  Once you fill it with positive thoughts, your life will start to change.  Yes, I realize that sounds “out there” to many of you, and I probably would have agreed with you just a few years ago.  But now, I so firmly believe in the power of the energy you project to the world.  When you are ready to achieve success in your business, and you project that energy into the world while taking specific and appropriate actions to achieve your goals, the success you seek often comes to you.  When you are ready to find love, and you have truly done the work on yourself to get yourself ready for a relationship, you may just meet “the one.”  No, I don’t believe that all you have to do is affirm that you’re ready, but I still believe in the power of affirmations.  Let me tell you why, and then I’ll tell you how to write affirmations.

Why affirmations are so powerful

Think of your #1 goal right now.  For some of you, that exercise in itself was hard (which likely means you’d benefit from a good goal setting session!  Here are several goal setting tips to start with!).  For others, you are aware of your goals, but they’re residing deep in the back of your mind, and not guiding your day-to-day actions.  Well, how do you expect to achieve these goals if they’re not top of mind every single day, and if you’re not taking action to achieve them?  It’s nearly impossible!  When you remind yourself of these goals through affirmations every single day, though, you ensure that you are acting in the direction of your goals every single day.  You get inspired by tapping into that awesome feeling of empowerment and self-belief that affirmations can create.  And you start projecting the energy to the world, and the confidence to yourself, that you are ready to achieve these goals.

How to write affirmations

• Write affirmations in the present tense. Even if it’s something you wish to accomplish in the future, come up with a way to put it in the present.  For example, instead of “I will feel amazing on my wedding day,” try “I feel amazing, and am prioritizing my health daily so that I radiate the joy I feel on my wedding day.”
• Adopt a positive tone of voice. Rather than “I don’t emotionally eat,” try “I am free from the temptation to emotionally eat because I find peace and joy in friendship, meditation, or self-care.”
• Make them believable. The example I always give to my clients is a silly one, but it works.  If you want to write an affirmation about abundance (money!), saying “I am a billionaire” only makes your brain think “uh, no you’re not, idiot.”  This is called cognitive dissonance, and reduces the effectiveness of your affirmations.  Instead, affirm something that you can do daily to get to your goals, like “I work every day to bring value to others, and I am paid appropriately for that value.  I am a careful steward of my finances, and my wealth is steadily amassing.”
• Ensure they accurately reflect your priorities. If what you really want to achieve is a better relationship, don’t write your affirmations about being competent at work or getting to the gym each day.  It’s OK to have well-rounded affirmations that touch many areas of your life, but be sure they are important to you.
• Really feel them. The words need you resonate with you, and you only. Your goal is to light yourself up every day, inspire yourself to take action, and center yourself around what is truly important.  So ensure that the words you choose do that.

How to use your affirmations

Some people prefer to create new affirmations each day, but I like to land on a set of affirmations that really resonate with me, and repeat these daily until I feel they are no longer serving me.  For me, that means that each January 1, I redo my list of affirmations, and I repeat the same ones each morning of the year.  On some occasions, I’ll cross them off midway throughout the year or create new ones, but this year, I’ve stuck with my same 13 affirmations daily.  They are a critical part of my morning routine (for more, see Part 1 and Part 2 of my morning routine series!), and I read them intentionally.  Honestly, most of the time I read them silently (in my head), but I find that when I say them out loud, the effect is amplified.  Do what is comfortable for you.

10 Affirmations to Try Out Today

1. I treat myself with genuine self-respect and compassion every day. I tell the negative voice in my head to take a hike and make space only for loving, compassionate self-talk.
2. I prioritize my health, and think about what is truly serving me with each decision I make to take care of my body.
3. I know exactly what needs to get done today to grow my business and myself, and I am committed to getting it done in a productive and efficient way.
4. I forgive myself for being imperfect, because I am human. Every perceived failure provides an opportunity to learn and grow.
5. I am kind, compassionate, and genuine to others. Listening and holding space for them is a powerful gift.
6. I feel amazing when I wake up early, dedicate a few moments to myself, and move my body. I am committed to this habit and proud of myself for upholding it.
7. I constantly remind myself to be present. Maximizing the now is more important than ruminating on the past or agonizing over the future.
8. I prioritize water, because I know my body needs it. I am a water drinking machine! (see? They can be lighthearted, too!)
9. My goals are valid, and I am fully equipped to achieve them. I believe in myself and take the necessary steps every day to fulfill my dreams. (It’s better to be a bit more specific here.  I’m trying to generalize for you, but if you can fill in a specific goal, your actions will be more targeted!)
10. I am enough. I am enough. I am enough. Right now.  Just the way I am.

Want more?  In my Revitalize Health Accelerator, I walk you through every step of what it takes to be a well-rounded healthy person.  This covers everything from affirmations to emotional eating, from supplements to sleep quality, from macronutrient balance to meal planning.  If you’re curious, set up a free call with me here to discuss!

Now it’s your turn … Have you tried saying affirmations?  What is an affirmation you love to use?