Affirmations

Affirmations are statements, made in the present tense - that positively state that something we want is happening now.

They can include a "feeling" word. And they usually feel good to the person who is speaking or writing them.

Here are some examples...

I love my work.

I am abundant in all areas of my life.

I am joyfully cleaning my home.

1. To identify blocks and transform them with Affirmation Playtime.
2. To activate new neural pathways.
3. To create cognitive dissonance.

Sometimes it seems like affirmations don't work...

Most people use them because they want to activate the Law of Attraction and manifest an experience, a state of being, or an object into their lives.

Many people get frustrated with them when they say their positive statement a few times and nothing changes - or they feel worse after having said it.

Well - affirmations will bring up our blocks or resistance.

Most of us when - we start using them - will have a thought process like...

"I love my work... yeah right like that is ever going to be possible. Nobody loves their work. Work stinks and I can't stand what I'm doing...

Well these affirmations aren't working. I still hate my job. And just saying this stupid affirmation isn't going to do a thing. I'm stuck and I might as well learn how to accept it."

Sound familiar?

If not, either you've never tried them or you've been using them for a long time and forgotten your initial frustration.

With practice - affirmations can change your thinking for good!

Here's how to use them effectively...

...Say or write your affirmation and then say or write the first thought that comes up. Usually it's a block - a negative thought or belief that doubts or doesn't believe what you want can be possible.

For example...

I love my work.(No I don't. I hate how I have to be available for others at their beck and call. I want my own schedule. I want to be able to work when I want to work. I am so tired of having to deal with others and what they want.)

Then say or write a new thought that counteracts your block like...

*You can change your schedule. You can create a schedule that you love - with flexibility and open time for creativity. You can block off time to work with people when you want to.)

I love my work.
(Yeah but what about all those days you wake up grumpy - not wanting to do anything.)
*That's not always true. There is a lot that I love about my work. I love the flexibility and creativity. I love making a difference. There are some days I can't wait to work!

I encourage you to do this process multiple times at one sitting and then again every day or every other day for a few weeks. You'll be surprised... at some point your first thought will be positive... like...

I love my work. Yeah it really is great. I do so many fun things every day. I love what I do.

2. Activate new neural pathways...

If you don't like your job and often think or say things like... I wish it were Friday... Oh boy, another day at the daily grind... Why do I have to go to work?... I hate my job....

You can use the statement - I love my work - to activate new neural pathways every time you hear yourself saying the old messages...

... And then stretch your imagination... like...

I love my work. It is so much fun to do what I do. I am so grateful to do work that I love...

Or I love my work AND THIS MEANS... (then say whatever comes up) and then again say... I love my work AND THIS MEANS (and say the next thing that comes up) like...

I love my work... and this means I get to work when ever I really want to work - I can make my own schedule... And this means I am free to live how I want to live and do the work I really want to do... and this means I'll really be providing the services that I really want to provide and in the ways I really want to provide them...

When you use your imagination in this way - instead of reinforcing what has been true for you...

...You create new neural pathways and send out a different vibration to the Universe. This activates both cognitive dissonance and the Law of Attraction.

Make sense?

3. Create Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is a really cool concept...

Basically how it works is that if you make a statement like "I love my work" and you don't really believe it... in a sense your brain feels "uncomfortable" because it knows it isn't true.

But if you say or think the statement enough, your brain gets creative and starts to figure out how to make it true.

And you don't have to do anything special. It's as though one day things have changed in your life and the affirmation is true.

This is a fun way to use affirmations - though it can take time...

Post them in places that you'll see - like on your refrigerator or your computer - and just leave them there. Don't do anything with them... except if your eyes land on them - you could read them.

Then one day - sometimes sooner, sometimes later - you'll read each of your statements and be stunned to realize they have become reality - just because of cognitive dissonance.

In a sense your brain helps you find ways to come to agreement with your new statement. It creates new behaviors and situations that manifest your affirmation.

Sometimes affirmations really don't work because...

...we need to do deep healing. If you have a strong core negative belief - like "I don't deserve what I want" or "I'm not lovable" - then it's a good idea to do some transformative healing work in addition to the affirmation process.

Our core negative beliefs are NOT true. We just believe that they are.

Core negative beliefs can be stuck in our body-mind system because they were learned very early in our lives. Deep transformational healing work using movement or breath can help you access and heal early childhood experiences.

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