6 Ways To Use Positive Affirmations To Improve Your Life
Have you felt negative lately?
Have you ever walked into work on speech day telling yourself you couldn’t do it? Or, possibly you looked in the mirror and picked out all of your flaws one by one? This type of negative thinking can have a huge effect on your life.
However, instead of thinking negatively, you can change your thought process into a positive one to affect your life as well – by improving it.
You have heard that “thoughts are things…”
One very easy way to change your life’s situation is to use positive affirmations. These statements are accurate and help you to overcome those negative thoughts right at the source.
Create Your Affirmations
Each situation you face can have a very different statement. Think about something that you would like to improve. Perhaps you struggle with patience. Instead of focusing on the conflict, create a positive affirmation from it. “I can be patient!” or even stronger use the I AM. “I am patient!”
This seems simple and you might feel that nothing is happening.
However, when repeated, it becomes powerful.
“The law of affirmations also lies in their repetition. It’s helpful to recite your affirmations several times a day (have them pop up on your computer screen). You also need to say your affirmation as soon as you start to have those negative thoughts or behavior.”
Make a list of these improvements you feel you need to make and keep a list of affirmations with them.
6 Ways To Use Affirmations:
Here are six powerful ways to use positive affirmations to improve your life.
- Use When Stress Arises
When stressful situations happen, it is important to think positive. Stress has an ill effect on both your mind and your body. WebMD lists some of the consequences of stress on the body as headaches, stomach pain, insomnia, low energy and more.
Instead of these effects taking hold, take a few moments to breathe and repeat your affirmations. By calming your mind and reminding yourself of the positive, you can change your thought process to one of peace during those moments.
- Use When You Have to Speak in Public
It is a proven fact that millions of people have a fear of public speaking. However, for some, it may be something you cannot get out of. Sometimes, it may even be as simple as a conversation with a potential boss. Before you speak, take a moment to look at yourself in a mirror and say your affirmations. Repeat them once or twice more and smile.
You’re programming your mind to think positively. Ronald Alexander at Psychology Today states, “An affirmation can work as it programs your mind into believing the stated concept. This works because the mind doesn’t know the difference between what is real or fantasy.”
- Use in the morning
Wake up energized by using your affirmations. Place a sticky note beside your bed so you see them first thing in the morning. Alternatively, perhaps put them on your mirror and read them aloud to yourself when you wake up. There are numerous ways to incorporate the positive reinforcement into your daily routine. The morning is important, as it is the start to our day. Start it with positivity.
- Use before bed
Just as important as the morning is the night. Before bed, remind yourself of your affirmations. Also, remind yourself of the success you had throughout the day. The way to a restful night’s sleep is through being calm and relaxed before your head hits the pillow. You should try being positive to get you there.
- Use while exercising
While you are running on the treadmill, remember your positive thinking and your little post-it note with your affirmations! Nothing gets you pumped up quicker than an upbeat song and remembering just how awesome you are. You can place an affirmation in front of you to look at and repeat. On the other hand, you can simply run through them in your mind as you work out. This will boost your morale and may even boost your work out power.
- Use while at your work desk in the office or at home
Work can be stressful and hectic. When office work gets to be a little too hard, you can take a mini vacation from it all with positivity. Take a few moments to get up, stretch, and repeat your affirmations. You can place one on your computer screen to remind you or even, as the webpage suggested before, have them sent to you via email daily.
All of these uses involve training your brain to think positively. By using positive affirmations, you can change your outlook on life and your outlook on stress. Although they cannot modify the situation, these positive statements can help you to overcome even the most difficult of times.