Positive affirmations in New Age language and thought to go hand in hand with the growing practice of meditation and spirituality. According to the Dictionary of Modern Positive Thinking, "the power of positive affirmations is to develop a personal feeling of well-being or vibrancy, and to the extent that it can affect behavior." Positive affirmations in New Age language and thought also refer generally to the process of self-empowering and positive thinking through the use of mantras, visualizations, and creative visualizations.
A common mistake among many who learn to meditate is the mistake of using repetition as a form of positive affirmations. Repetition, in and of itself, should not be used as a mantra, because the repetition has no controlling effect on the universe beyond the mind. For example, when you are saying a specific affirmations, such as I love myself, do not say "I love myself more." Instead, repeat the affirmation as many times as you need, in order to attain its maximum strength and meaning. This may mean practicing the affirmation in your own voice, using your own voice instead of someone else's, or simply saying it out loud, repeating it silently in your head.
There are many forms of positive affirmations and visualization techniques that can help a person to delve deeply into his subconscious to uncover his true nature and desires. Affirmations have been around for thousands of years, ever since the first person spoke and have always had a profound effect on the emotions and feelings of humans. The idea of using affirmations, however, goes far beyond personal development. It has always been the basis of every type of spiritual practice and belief.
As with most things in life, there are good positive affirmations and bad negative affirmations. There is no middle ground. Positive affirmations must be used with wisdom and awareness to combat the negativity that clouds our minds and spirits. Negative individuals are constantly battling inner fears and struggles. They believe and feel that they are somehow inadequate, and this negativity influences all aspects of their lives including their relationships with others, their work, and their self-esteem.
Individuals who are prone to depression may benefit from writing positive affirmations. For instance, if a person is feeling down about his job and relationships, writing positive statements that encourage him to feel better can make a dramatic difference. Writing and repeating positive affirmations is also an excellent way to combat negativity from replacing negative thoughts with positive statements. The repetition of positive statements works on the subconscious, replacing negative beliefs with positive ones.
It can be difficult for people to convince themselves to change when they have a deep-rooted negative belief. However, the power of positive affirmations can be used to combat these problems. In order for these statements to be effective, they must be used with humility. Positive statements should be spoken out loud rather than written down, because they will be more powerful if they are spoken by the individual instead of recited silently in their head.
People who have low self-esteem have a hard time adopting new behaviors or changing old behaviors. Using affirmations that create a sense of self-worth in these individuals can help them become more effective at making changes. People who have high self-esteem are able to adopt new behaviors and change old behaviors with ease. Positive self-esteem gives individuals the confidence and motivation necessary to use positive affirmations to achieve their goals. Because of their self-esteem, they are less likely to procrastinate or hold back from acting when it comes to achieving their goals.
If you are suffering from low self-esteem and are finding that your life is spiraling downward, using affirmations can be an effective way to motivate yourself to turn things around. When used in a concerted effort, positive affirmations can give you the confidence to overcome any challenge that may come your way. Negative thought patterns will be replaced with positive thoughts that will give you the drive you need to move forward. Using affirmations alone won't solve all of your problems; however, when used in conjunction with other ways of improving your lifestyle, it can make a significant difference. You don't have to keep living in a state of defeat if you can take steps to turn things around with the power of positive affirmations.
