In our quest to live a happier and healthier life, I think we often start in the wrong place. As much as we want it to, signing up at a new gym, buying healthier food, or even joining a Feel Great in 8 Challenge won’t lead to lasting change. Longterm change really needs to start inside and the best way to do that is to ditch the negative thoughts that have been on endless repeat in your mind. The great thing is, making this change won’t cost you anything! All it takes is a little bit of time and effort each day.
Just like working on improving the shape of your body takes regular workouts, the key to changing your thoughts is through regular mental exercise {i.e. daily affirmations}. Simply put, daily affirmations train your brain to think positively. They give your mind and spirit uplifting truths that you want to believe about yourself. They are one of the most effective ways to change the way you think and I promise if you put time and effort into them daily you will notice a difference. I started my own daily affirmations just a few months ago thanks to the beautiful Kallie over at Smitten By and I can’t believe the difference it has made in my daily attitude.
Okay, now that I’ve talked you into giving daily affirmations a try, let’s get into the details of writing and saying your own.
Writing Your Affirmations
The words you use and what you include in your affirmations are very important. They should be specific to your life and the way you would like to think. The best way to start writing your affirmations is to identify your most common negative thoughts and write the opposite. For example, if you often think, “I am fat” one of your affirmations should be “I love and appreciate my body.” Remember to write them as if what you want is already true by using I am, I have, etc. Use only positive words {avoid not, don’t, won’t, etc.}, and include feeling words.
You can write as many as you need and add to them any time you notice another negative thought pattern. So far, my list has 14 affirmations, and growing. 🙂
Saying Your Affirmations
Pick a time {or two} each day to read your affirmations. Mine are saved on my phone and I read them each morning before checking my email and each night when I set my alarm in bed. You want to read them slowly and with feeling. Say them like you really mean it {even if you don’t}! Try to visualize the things that you are saying.
You aren’t going to notice changes in your thinking immediately, so don’t give up! It may take weeks, or even months to ditch those negative thoughts, but you will see a difference if you are diligent in reading them with feeling every day.
A few examples to get you thinking….
I love my life and I am so blessed.
I am valuable, worthy, and enough exactly as I am.
I love my body.
I am beautiful!
I am loving and lovable.
I am kind.
I choose to honor my body by making healthy choices daily.
I love and accept all parts of myself.
I chose to think thoughts that make me feel good.
I always do the best I can and that is enough.
I am at peace.
Life if full of joyful and exciting moments.
All things are possible when I have faith.
I can accomplish any task I set my mind to with ease.
I am successful.
These are great Tiffany! I’ve really focused this challenge on saying my affirmations twice daily and I’ve noticed SUCH a difference in my life. I’ve learned to love myself fully and truly. I’ve found that I do things because I WANT TO, not because I have to. Learning to love myself means that I make healthy choices because I love my whole self and it feels good to do those things. It doesn’t mean that everything is perfect now and that I am happy all the time, but I find myself being a lot more positive in general. I feel like I know myself much better and can acknowledge issues and deal with them in a healthier way. This is pretty cool stuff!
Thanks for sharing Kimm! I have found the same thing and hopefully adding affirmations to the challenge will help others find their power too. Keep up the great work!
These are great suggestions. I think since I was widowed young I have a difficult time loving myself and seeing the positive in my life. This is a great assignment and I am excited to try it out I will tape these to my mirror to recite daily
Gaye, I am so sorry you had to deal with such a difficult trial. I hope these help you recognize your strength and beauty!
I love this. Once, when I was a part of a camp for young women we had each of our youth leaders privately step in front of a big mirror and say, “I am beautiful.” There were several of them who had a really hard time doing it. Telling ourselves that we are of worth and believing it are so essential to the joy we feel in this journey and the impact our lives have on others. Thank you.
That is so true Lori!! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!!
These are great I am so glad you mentioned saving them on your phone I saved mine right on my home screen so I will see them every time i use my phone
I LOVE that idea Mary! I’ll definitely be saving mine as my home screen now too. Brilliant! 🙂
I’m curious to see the effect this will have in my life. I almost feel guilty thinking them. Which I’m assuming is Normal 🙂
Haha! Yep, totally normal. Keep at it until you believe them. 🙂