My tips and advice section gives you a full explanation on Affirmations and Visualisation techniques. I don’t think there are many people who are dedicated to changing their lives, who haven't looked at something new and thought ‘what a load of hassle, this is going to take ages’…. If you’re one of those people and this springs to mind as you’re reading down the list…Then may I say, to learn and practice what is below will be a very quick route to implementing change…. if you don’t read it…. ask yourself one thing: do I really want to change my life? Because, if you don’t do it now... where will you be in 6 months time? 12 months time? 5 years time? Okay, okay…. I'm trying to link pain to your brain in order to actually make a decision and commitment to achieving the most you can from your life. After all, we all have a right to be happy and content.
Self-affirmations are:
• Healing, positive self-scripts you give to yourself to counter your negative self-scripts.
• Vehicles by which you can free yourself from the over-dependence on other's opinions, attitudes, or feelings about you and feel good about yourself.
• The visualization of a new order and sense in your life, which you can work toward achieving.
• You take personal responsibility for your health and emotional stability.
• You let go of negative emotional baggage you have been carrying. Only then will you be able to deal with your life in a realistic and positive manner.
• The resolution of feelings from the past so that you can face the present with a less obstructed view.
• You give yourself permission to grow, to change, to take risks, to rise up, and to create a better life for yourself.
• You take a healthy `"selfish'' or self-oriented route in your life so that you can "let go'' of these people who drain your resources and keep you from experiencing full personal health.
• The recognition of your rights and affirming your claim on them, giving you an equitable chance of achieving your fullest potential.
• Success prophesies that, when visualized, imagined, or believed in, do come true.
I statements:
"I'' statements are one-line statements that can be repeated to cover three areas:
I am: A statement of who you are
This is a positive affirmation of a real state of being that exists in you. You can achieve a full list of "I am Y" statements by taking a personal positive inventory of your attributes, strengths, talents, and competencies. Examples include:
• I am competent I am energetic
• I am strong I am enthusiastic
• I am intelligent I am relaxed
• I am beautiful I am joyful
• I am a good person I am trusting
• I am caring I am generous
• I am loving I am courageous
• I am smart I am forgiving
• I am creative I am open
• I am talented I am sharing
I can: A statement of your potential
This is a positive affirmation of your ability to accomplish goals. It is a statement of your belief in your power to grow, to change, and to help yourself. I can Y statements are developed after you develop a set of "short-term'' (three to six months) goals.
Examples include:
• I can lose weight I can grow
• I can stop smoking I can heal
• I can handle my children I can let go of guilt
• I can gain self-confidence I can let go of fear
• I can take risks I can change
• I can be a winner I can be positive
• I can be strong I can be a problem solver
• I can pass calculus I can handle my own problems
• I can laugh and have fun I can be honest with my feelings
• I can be assertive I can let go of being compulsive
• I can control my temper I can succeed
I will: A statement of positive change in your life
This is a positive affirmation of a change you want to achieve. It is a positive statement of what you want to happen. It is a "success prophecy.'' "I will Y" statements are developed after you have set your priorities for the short-term goals you have set.
Examples include:
• I will like myself better each day.
• I will gain emotional strength each day.
• I will lose weight each day.
• I will smoke less each day.
• I will control my temper today.
• I will give others responsibility for their lives today.
• I will grow emotionally stronger each day.
• I will smile more at my customers today.
• I will offer my comments in class today.
• I will praise my children today.
• I will feel good things about me today.
• I will sleep easily tonight.
• I will feel less guilt each day.
• I will face my fears courageously today.
• I will take on only what I can handle today.
• I will take care of me today.
• I will challenge myself to change today.
• I will manage my time better today.
• I will handle my finances wisely today.
• I will take a risk to grow today.
I am
I can - Statements of Self-Belief
I will
The daily use of these "I'' statements is another form of self-affirmation designed to counter negative self-concept. It can result in a positive attitude, optimism, and can motivate you toward emotional growth and progress.
There are words, images or pictures and scenario visualizations, all affirming positively.
Step 1: Take any single target word about who you are, your ability, or what you want to accomplish. Write it on a 3 x 5 card.
Step 2: Get yourself into a relaxed state, preferably just before you go to bed. Hold the card about 12" to 24" from your eyes. Focus your eyes on the word and concentrate your attention. Hold this thought for up to 20 or 30 minutes.
Step 3: Do this exercise nightly for at least two weeks. As you continue, you are burning the image of your goal word into your mind. It will be with you in your thoughts as you proceed in your everyday life.
Step 1: Create or find an image of an object, person, or thing that embodies your goal for who you are, what your abilities are, or what you want to accomplish:
Step 2: Get yourself into a relaxed state and either look at the picture or imagine you reaching your goal. Do this for 20 minutes each night for one month.
Step 3: Get copies of your picture or a simulation of your goal, and tape them in places where you will see them as you go through your normal day.
Step 4: Continue to keep your images in place until you have accomplished the "goal'' feelings of success and/or achieved the "object'' success. The important thing is to believe that it is possible to achieve. This motivation is the most important step on your journey to success.
Step 1: Once you have a goal in mind for yourself, daydream a full color movie in your mind of what your life would be like if you achieved the goal.
Step 2: Get a tape recorder and talk out the whole movie on tape. Be fully descriptive, colorful, positive, and uplifting. Use your imagination to the fullest and describe how positively you will be handling the change resulting from your goal attainment. Describe how key "significant others'' in your life will cope successfully with your change. Save this tape for future reference.
Step 3: Write out a description of the goal attainment scenario, and keep it handy for future reference.
Step 4: When you are in a relaxed state, listen to the tape and read your description of the scenario every day for two weeks.
Step 5: Refer back to the tape and script as time goes on until you have reached full attainment of your goal.
These forms of affirmation are words, phrases or statements written on 3 x 5 index cards and placed where you can see them daily and be reminded of positive aspects about yourself. Every time you see these affirmation cards they will remind you to affirm yourself about these positive qualities or attributes. State all affirmations in a positive way.
Suggested places for affirmation cards:
• mirror in bathroom - dashboard of car
• mirror on dresser - desk at office
• closet door - desk at home
• refrigerator door -in your wallet
• front door - in your brief case
• bedroom door -in books you use at work or school
• at your telephone
Affirmation word examples:
• bright; capable
• creative; strong
• intelligent; beautiful
• smart; giving
• quick; peaceful
• loving; hopeful
• caring; responsible
• successful; problem solver
• calm; quiet
• pretty; handsome
• relaxed; enjoyable
Affirmation phrase examples:
• think happy - take it easy
• be calm - think wisely
• take action -work smart
• do it - take the time
• do it now -have fun
• be a winner -relax and enjoy
• take a risk - sit back
• dare to be different -step back
• seize the opportunity - take the lead
• get in control - give them space
• let go - believe in me
• let them be - trust in me
• let it be - enjoy good health
Affirmation statement examples:
• I can be a winner.
• I am the best friend I have.
• I have solved problems like this before.
• I have the ability to handle this.
• I am a capable human being.
• I deserve to love and to be loved.
• I am a skillful and artistic person.
• I can show others a good example.
• Letting go is best for them and for me.
• They will thank me in the future.
• Nothing is worth losing my sanity over.
• I am responsible only for my own feelings.
• I owe no one explanations for my behavior, which is legally, morally and ethically correct.
• I deserve to have my rights recognised.
• I am a deserving human being.
• I deserve to enjoy the fruits of my labour.
• I deserve to be rewarded for what I do.
• I love myself for who I am.
• It is OK to be selfish if I don't hurt anyone.
• I like the way I handle problems.
• I am able to handle any problem I face.
• I have the right to feel the way I do.
• My children will benefit from my healthy changes.
• My children will survive my healthy changes.
• My family will benefit from my relaxing more.
• I deserve to relax more and take it easy.
• There are beautiful things happening in my life daily.
• I experience the excitement of growth daily.
• Change is a blessing I am working toward.
• Taking risks is the path to growth.
• I grow in love daily.
• I face each new day as a race to be won.
• I am winning in the race of life.
• I am a rich treasure ready to be found.
• Let others know who I am.
• Say hello to a new person today.
• Open up to be loved today.
• Be responsible. Relax!
• Letting go is loving
• Be free of guilt today.
• To be loved I must love.
• God does not make junk.
• There are opportunities in life to be tried.
• My possibilities are endless.
• Success is to be enjoyed.
• Open myself up with one new person today.
• Belief in self is a step toward personal growth.
• I can handle all changes that come my way.
• There is nothing I cannot handle.
• Smile and let others in on the secret.
Write a single positive affirmation on thirty 3 x 5 index cards. Take one card a day for each day of the month. This card is your affirmation for the day. When you get to the last card start again.
To make this daily affirmation process grow, write out thirty different affirmations for each month of the year. Keep the 360 cards in a recipe box and continually use the collection year after year, adding new affirmations, as you need them.