This week, we are taking a new step along the path to “Becoming”. Affirming ourselves. This involves not only declaring and supporting ourselves, but also how we will arrive at creating our own specific affirmations to strengthen us along our daily paths.
Earlier I defined that while daily affirmations are simple, positive statements which declare your specific goals as already behind achieved, they are very powerful tools. Tools of focus, strength and clarity.
To prepare yourself for today’s discussions you must be fully Accepting of who you are and where your momentum is aimed. As you know by now, I believe that momentum always needs to be both forward and upward!
Let go of all negative thoughts and release your subconscious to heal itself with new beliefs, foundations and visions which are positive and boldly declared as already taking place right here, right now.
Why should you do this? Keep reading and find out.
To use affirmations, identify thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that you truly desire to change. Then take action. Develop positive growth focused, achievable affirming declarations. When you’re ready to put them to use, realize it will require a daily practice. No one and done, it takes work to retrain your mind and align it with your heart’s desire.
These affirmations should always start with the same two words: “I am…”
Two simple words can hold such power over our lives, internally and among the world. These two simple words give us power, direction and create focus. This week I’ll be referring to a great study on this concept, it’s the book by Joel Osteen entitled “Two Words That Will Change Your Life Today”.
In this simple easy to read and comprehend format I have found it to be a great resource, when working on my own affirmations or sitting others, like you, with developing our own personal, unique declarations.
Words have meaning; and those meanings combined with the tone and the intent behind them, become power. In making affirmations you are asserting who you are, what you are “Becoming” and the fact that no one ( or anything) will stop you or deny you.
This is a fact echoed by Joel Osteen in the book;
“Words have incredible power. Whenever we speak something – good or bad – we give life to it. Out loud, our thoughts and beliefs become entities of their own. Recognizing this allows you to harness that power and change your life. Take charge with two simple words: I am.”
Notice he did mention that the incredible power the meaning of the words you choose to speak work both ways; positively and negatively. So an important part of this exercise is to focus on the good. Improving your self-talk, coming from that place of positive self esteem, make the decision to select the right words and then put them into action.
He also speaks about the Scripture in Romans 4:17: As it is written:( “I have made thee a father of many nations”), in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which are not, as though they were.
As Pastor Joel wrote, “ That simply means you shouldn’t talk about the way you are. Talk about the way you want to be. If you’re struggling in your finances don’t go around saying, ‘oh man business is so slow. The economy is so down. It’s never going to work out.” That’s calling the things that are as if they will always be that way. That’s just describing the situation. By Faith you have to say, I am blessed. I am successful. I am surrounded by God’s favor.”
So let’s review, so we can move forward.
What are Daily Affirmations?
They are developed intensive exercises for our minds.
Research has proven that repeating affirmations improves the level of success for bringing our mind and our heart into alignment. They also eliminate negative and limiting beliefs and transform your comfort zone from a limited one keeping you trapped in mediocrity to a more expanded one where anything is possible.building positive momentum that is both forward and upward. They guide you to replace all those “I can’t” with “I cans,” building confidence, boosting self esteem and catapulting you towards “Becoming”.
So how do they do all this?
Repetition of your daily affirmations allows for reminding your unconscious mind to remain focused on your goals, desires and the ultimate big picture. They also inspire the mind to seek and discover solutions to challenges that might initially appear as obstacles.
They also create higher levels of energy to fuel happiness, joy, appreciation, and gratitude which then allows for the right people, places and things necessary to achieve goals, to come to you. Removing limitations and strengthening resolve are important steps along this path we call “Becoming”.
Whether or not you realize it, you are probably already using affirmations, however most of them may not be positive. When you are affirming self critical defeatist thoughts like the following, you are bringing those experiences to you.
Stop saying things like:
- “Everything I eat goes straight to my ______”
- “Everyone is against me.”
- “No matter what I do, I will not succeed.”
So How Do We Create Positive Affirmations?
Good question. I’m so glad you asked. Here are some guidelines for creating effective affirming statements.
- Always start with the words “I am.” They are the two most powerful words in the English language and can change your life today.
- Always use the present tense.
- Always affirm what you want, not what you don’t want.
- Always keep it simple.
- Always be specific.
- Always make it a call to action. Affirming is moving forward and upward now, not last week or maybe, some day.
- Always involve your positive emotions
- Always make the declarations for yourself, not others.
Do you notice a pattern here? Always. Yes Always follow these steps, follow the pattern and always be “Becoming”.
Photo by Andrew Neel on Pexels.com
As we create our own, personal Daily Affirmations here are some suggestions on how to take yours to the next level.
Transforming your transformation:
1. Affirm in the most important moment; this one, right now.
Your affirmation should always be in the present tense. Describe the situation you are seeking, your desired result and boldly declare it as already being true.
2. Be positive
Our subconscious mind ignores or blocks out the word “not”. So, get rid of it. Rather than writing “I am not afraid of sharing in public”, which gives us the message that you are afraid. Instead assert, “I am completely comfortable publicly sharing my thoughts below.”
3. Be concise
Shorter is better. Affirmations with fewer words are often easier to recall, especially in approaching stressful circumstances. Rhyming also makes your affirmations easier to recall and habitually recite.
Here’s an example, “I am in accord with the Lord!”
4. Include action
Affirm yourself as a person who takes action. You are your own action hero! Definitive Action manifests new results in our lives and opens us to further inspiration.
Building on the example, “I am in accord “Becoming” with the Lord!”
5. Include a feeling word
Powerful affirmations include content and emotion. Content describes the specific outcome that you desire. Emotion gets to the heart of how you feel about that outcome. For a more potent affirmation, add both elements.
Another revision, “I am in accord and loving “Becoming” with the Lord!”
Simple differences? Not really. God is in the details. One word more, or less can be multiplied exponentially.
Yesterday I mentioned that in a Bible Study which I’ve been leading in my “pod”, by utilizing this process that I’ve been putting forth here, we then took time to each write seven different, unique affirmations for ourselves. We then shared and compared. Nurturing and supporting each other as we worked on revisions. In the end our shared goal is to develop three strongly crafted affirmations for each of us and then begin using them along our own paths to “Becoming”.
As promised here are some examples from what we developed:
“I am living expectantly, knowing the Lord is providing all I need.”
“I am grateful that I am Forgiven: forging forward in Faith.”
“I am glorifying God’s goodness in all acts of kindness which I am performing.”
Now remember affirmations work better when they are empowered by you. They should be intensely, (sometimes painfully so) personal. About yourself. Your needs. Your desires. Your best life. Declare them as soon as you have the inspiration, then review and continue their “Becoming”
Meanwhile as we continue tweaking, fine tuning, improving, growing, learning, “Becoming”! You can use this space to put into action as your new covenants. The daily, consistent declarations of your new found truths. Go ahead and share them below, adding to the level of boldly declaring your new focus, intentions, aspirations and raising the volume on your receptivity to their success.
Have a joy-filled weekend and empower yourself to boldly declare to the new you, that you are “Becoming”. And yes there are some clues to where we’ll be, when we meet on this path next week on “Becoming Today”.
Becoming Today with Rochelle Jeanette 