How to Create Positive Affirmations
By Daniel Britton

Many of us grow up with a set of beliefs about ourselves or
comparing ourselves unfavourably with others. As we grow up we
begin to put ourselves down for any slight failure, whether real
or imagined. Our parents, teachers and other influential adults
can inadvertently create a diminished self image and install a
number of limiting beliefs. This is compounded by the numbers of
times we think or talk to ourselves everyday in negative terms.

The use of positive affirmations is a powerful technique to
change that negative self-talk into something more positive.
Leading thinkers and researchers on the use of affirmations
include Jack Canfield and John Assaraf. Research on the
effectiveness of positive affirmations as a life enhancing tool
has led to the formation of the following eight step system for
setting positive affirmations.

1. Affirmations should start with the words I AM. These are two
of the most powerful words in the English language as they send
a command to the subconscious part of our minds.

2. Positive – our minds like to work in pictures, therefore we
cannot not think about something. So trying not to think of a
pink elephant will undoubtedly bring up an image of a pink
elephant. An affirmation such as I am enjoying breathing clean
air will be more effective than I am no longer a smoker.

3. State in the present tense. This sets up an imbalance in the
subconscious which it will then seek to correct. For example if
you want to gain a particular position at work, state I am the
regional sales manager, rather than I want to be or I will be.

4. Specific – Our subconscious minds require clear specific
instructions which allow them to accurately pursue what we have
programmed in the form of positive affirmations. So “I am rich”
is not specific enough, better to say “I am earning $100,000 per
year”. You may also like to add the phrase this or something
better, because if you are too limiting in your desires, such as
“I want to marry Susan”, she might not be interested, available
or the best match for you.

5. Contain an active verb – without getting into high school
grammar mode, an active verb is a do-ing word such as living,
having, achieving, earning and so on.

6. Contain a feeling – this magnifies the power of your
affirmations by adding the fuel of emotion. Consider including
feelings such as joyful, excited, thankful or freedom.

7. Keep it brief- to be most effective, your affirmation should
be easily remembered and repeated often. By keeping it brief you
are far more likely to remember it. As a fun exercise you could
consider trying to make it rhyme. In this way, similar to
advertising jingles, your affirmation will stick in your head.

8. Make it personal – your affirmations should be about you.
You will not be successful in trying to change another person,
neither are you likely to be fully engaged with words that
someone else has suggested for you.

A suggested format might look something like this:
“I am so thankful for the freedom that being a millionaire
brings me” or “I am so proud to be accepting my diploma in front
of my family and friends”

The final thing to remember about positive affirmations is that
they must be repeated frequently to reprogram your subconscious
into accepting they are true. Some teachers suggest 100 times a
day, others recommend putting your affirmations on your bedside
table and reciting first thing in the morning and last things at
night.

Like many things we don’t fully understand, it would be easy to
dismiss the power of affirmations, but enough respected and
highly successful people use them that, this writer, for one,
will be stepping up his affirmations game.

About the Author: To dicover more about the power of positive
affirmations we have put together a free video min seminar for
you. Please visit
http://www.siteproweb.com/positive-affirmations

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