Are you skeptical about reciting positive affirmations that you don’t quite believe yet? Does the thought of repeating affirmations such as ‘I can do anything I put my mind to” or “I am a vessel of love” induce serious eye rolling? I can relate.
But after consistent practice I started to notice, I actually feel better after doing my morning affirmations. And I couldn’t help but wonder, how do positive affirmations work? *cues Sex and the City theme music*
Positive affirmations work by altering the way your subconscious mind works. They have been scientifically proven to provide benefits such as reduced stress, increased awareness to notice mistakes, heightened ability to receive feedback from others, and even rewire how you interact socially.
According to orthopedic spine surgeon Dr. David Hanscom, our minds and bodies are remarkably similar; the repetition of affirmations can strengthen our mind akin to the way exercise strengthens our muscles. Dr. Hanscom even incorporates affirmations into treatment plans for patients dealing with chronic pain.
What is a positive affirmation?
Positive affirmations are statements created to invoke changes in the person saying them. They have many different use cases, but they are generally used as inspiration for future growth, reminders for newly set goals, and even to help sustain and cement recent accomplishments.
A well-formed affirmation has a 4 key characteristics:
1. Affirmations are written in first person
Identity statements are the key to making change with positive affirmations. Your identity consists of all the values and morals you hold, targeting them directly by saying affirmations in first person is the most effective way to reshape it. It’s the foundation of a good affirmation. So beginning affirmations with things like “I”, “I am”, or “I will” is critical.
2. Affirmations are written in the positive
You can say the same thing very differently. For affirmations to be most impactful, they need to be written in a positive context. So avoid negative words like “not”, “can’t”, “don’t” and replace them with positive words such as “can”, “will” and “am”.
3. Affirmations have an emotional charge
Remember the eye-rolling from “overly positive” affirmations I mentioned earlier? Turns out it’s not all fluff, it’s intentional and it works!
Affirmations are most effective when they include the emotions you intend to feel. This is because of the deep connection with our emotions and physical experiences.
This means expressing the feelings that you get accomplishing your goals will bring you that much closer to achieving them.
4. Affirmations are written in present tense
This point ties everything together into how affirmations really work. It’s the difference between saying an affirmation versus a goal. Your subconscious mind needs to hear what is, not what will be, in order to be reshaped effectively.
A natural question is to wonder “how is this possible if the affirmation is not true yet?”. The secret to being able to comfortably affirm statements that aren’t true (yet 😉 ) is to regularly include positive affirmations that you feel confident in its truth.
Slowly working in your aspirational, goal-oriented affirmations with affirmations you feel confident about helps reduce the threat of your subconscious not being receptive of your new goals.
How long before self affirmations begin to work?
The time frame in which affirmations start working will vary from person to person. The most important indicator of effectiveness is consistency. Doing affirmations daily and preferably in the morning have been proven to reduce stress and heighten awareness throughout the day.
On top of reaping these benefits by simply practicing positive affirmations a few minutes a day, you also are more likely to accomplish the statements you are affirming by keeping them top of mind.
Who wouldn’t want to feel better everyday as they work on what they truly want to achieve? It’s like working out without getting sore.
So the next time you are saying affirmations or you’re writing your own, be intentional in remembering how they work. There is overwhelming evidence that shows this daily practice can make a significant impact on your life.
Sources:
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/anxiety-another-name-pain/202001/affirmations-and-neuroplasticity
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/smart-relationships/201403/affirmations-the-why-what-how-and-what-if