We’ve all felt encouraged or discouraged by someone’s words. And whether we realize it or not, we often discourage ourselves with our own. However, you can turn your negative talks into positive ones through affirmations.
Chuck Gallozi, author of the article, “Writing Affirmations,” said that by repeating your affirmations consistently, you will create new beliefs that will in result in new behavior. If you are being held back your negative thoughts, it’s time to take control by using affirmations and positive self-talk.
Have Goals
Before writing down your goals, you need to have goals first. Fran Briggs, author, energy educator and motivational speaker, said that when you set a goal, you are creating a map that will lead to achieving specific results, identified in advanced. She noted that this saves time, money, headaches and frustration.
“Goals command us to use concentrated power — which in effect, helps us create a dynamic vision to passionately move forward” Briggs said. “Instead of just ‘winging it’ or letting their destiny be determined by other people’s interests, the goal-setter makes the choice to consciously decide exactly where they want to go and what (they want to do).”
According to Briggs, writing down our desires has spiritual meaning; it is found in the Bible. Writing down goals also activates the reticular activating system, or RAS, a group of cells in the back of our brains that serve as a ‘control center.’
“It keeps what we write down in the front and back of our conscious and unconscious mind,” Briggs said. “That means we will eventually attract and connect with everything we write down and focus upon.”
And Briggs knows a thing or two about getting her desires by logging her goals. Through her positive affirmations and goal settings, she sold her house for a great price.
“Four years ago, I wrote down on paper that I would sell my house in three weeks for $280,000, and the new owners would be first-time owners, not investors,” Briggs says. “My house sold in 11 days and for $19,000 more than the asking price. The new owners are a happy family of three and are very happy in their first home.”
Stefanie Gunter, a 32-year-old entrepreneur and creative artist, has a goal of starting her a Christian, inspirational magazine. Though it’s not near completion, things are coming along nicely since she put her desires in writing.
“It’s important to write your goals down because it helps you chart your progress,” Gunter said.
However, it can be a challenge to determine what’s next when it comes to recording your goals, especially when you’re completely overwhelmed by the thought.
“You must be willing to be honest with yourself,” Briggs said. “Be sure the goal is something that you truly desire and not something someone else wants.
She suggested asking some important questions: What are your values? What are you willing to give up in exchange? What will be evidence that you reached your goal?
Gallozi also recommended the following for writing down your affirmations:
- Focus on what you want, not what you want to avoid. Instead of saying, “I want to stop eating too much,” say “I want to live a healthy lifestyle.”
- Keep the affirmation short, use the present tense and be specific. For example, ‘I am losing 20 pounds by December 18,’ instead of ‘I will lose weight.’
- Take immediate action when performing your affirmation. You can’t say, ‘I am more confident and confident speaking to others,’ and not actually start speaking to other people.
Briggs says that when the goals are written down, “read them frequently, and then take big daily actions until the goals are attained.”
“Write down where you are, where you want to be and how you are going to get there,” Gunter suggested.
Don’t Resist
Finally, one of the most important things to remember is that your resistance is the only thing that can keep you from reaching your goal, according to Briggs.
“Your resistance includes all of the excuses you use to tell you why you can’t — and you know what those are,” she said. “Setting a goal will initially require a little effort up front.”
Once you start, you will likely try to impede yourself; but your success is worth a little planning and effort, Briggs explained.
“Each and every one of us has the ability to create and connect with all of our desires. Dump all of your disempowering thoughts and beliefs. It’s time to clear things up on the inside. Only then will you manifest what you truly desire on the outside.”