The Power of Positive Affirmations - What are They and How to Use Them? Most of the time, we do not realize the power of our thoughts and internal dialogue. However, like any other muscle in the body, a repeated thought grows and strengthens in the mind. Over time what we repeat to ourselves mentally becomes our mindset.

Still, how do positive affirmations come into play? And how can these repeated positive thoughts help to change our lives? In this post, I’ll be exploring the power of positive affirmations. You’ll learn what they are, how you can use them, and how they can change your life for the better!

What Are Positive Affirmations?

Many people promote the use of positive affirmations, especially self-help gurus. But, what exactly are positive affirmations and how are they used?

In short, positive affirmations are a type of intentional thought pattern. Positive affirmations are a set of thoughts that are intentionally chosen and then repeated by a person each day. Through repetition of these positive phrases, it is believed that you can change the way that you think and even behave.

Primarily, a positive affirmation can be used to dispel negative thoughts and ruminations. They are also used to motivate or encourage an individual.

What Are The Benefits of Using Positive Affirmations?

There are many benefits to using positive affirmations on a daily basis. However, you want to be deliberate and realistic when affirming certain thoughts to yourself.

I’ll talk more about how you can use positive affirmations effectively in your life. But, in this section, I will go over some of the potential benefits of this practice first!

Positive affirmations do have scientific backing. So, the benefits of this intentional practice can be quite powerful when done right!

Promotes Positive Thinking

In the modern world, negative thinking is pervasive and impactful. Many people have taken on a more cynical and realistic outlook on life in this modern age. In addition, mental health issues only continue to rise. This causes people all over the world to suffer from negative and damaging thoughts and belief systems.

Still, this does not mean that we can’t change the way our mind operates. In fact, positive affirmations are a great way to reprogram your mind and get yourself feeling more healthy and balanced through positive thinking!

Improves Your Wellness

Many people brush off positive thinking and its power. They might even say you are deluding yourself when you affirm something positive in your mind each day. However, positive affirmation is firmly rooted in sound psychological theory. And, it is backed up by plenty of scientific research!

Positive affirmations are founded on the ideas of self-affirmation theory. According to this theory, people affirm positive things about themselves in order to maintain their beliefs and sense of self. By doing this, we are able to stay happy, sane, and healthy. Research also backs this theory up.

Improves Mental Health

Scientists have found that people are happier, less stressed out, and less depressed when they repeat positive self-affirmations to themselves daily. In particular, we become more resilient and less stressed out when we believe positive things about ourselves through affirmations.

Considering the effects of positive thinking and positive affirmations, it is possible for your mental health to improve through positive affirmations. Positive affirmation is not a cure for mental illness. But this type of repetitive thinking does have the potential to increase self-confidence and improve your self-image. These effects can lead to better overall mental health and wellness.

Better Quality of Life and Health

Finally, your quality of life naturally increases when you use positive affirmations regularly. This is because affirmations allow you to change the very way you think about and process the world. In particular, when you are able to view yourself in a more positive light and have reduced levels of stress, you become more content.

Stress and self-doubt wear the body down. And over-time you become more susceptible to mental and physical illness. However, when you actively try and stay positive your stress response becomes more muted. You will still get stressed out, this is perfectly normal.

But with affirmations, you have the tools and mindset to reframe your thinking and stay level headed. With less stress, you are less likely to have health problems like cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Your risk for mental illness also decreases.

How Can You Use Positive Affirmation to Improve Your Life?

In this section, I will talk about how you can use positive affirmations in your life. There are several ways you can use affirmations. But, these are just some helpful tips and suggestions that will get you started!

1. Find a Phrase That Means Something to You Personally

Positive affirmations can be effective. However, you need to choose the right set of words to truly see a change in your mindset. In truth, empty words will do you no good. You need to say something that is realistic and believable.

For instance, just saying you are awesome and that you can do anything you set your mind to, won't be so effective These types of vague statements are hard to wrap your head around. Especially if you have low self-esteem.

Instead, start affirming positive things that will help you challenge any negative beliefs you have. Make your affirmations specific and uplifting for your specific situation.

For example, if you notice that you call yourself stupid a lot or have doubts about your intelligence, begin denying this. You can say that you are smart and capable. At the same time, think back to all the times you have proven your intelligence.

You can even incorporate that into your positive affirmation, by saying something like “I am smart and capable, I did really well on that last test”. Do this with other negative thinking, and make up more phrases to say to yourself. Then repeat your affirmations throughout the day to really let them take hold.

2. Repeat Your Phrase(s) to Yourself Daily

Positive affirmations have to be repeated daily, and often in order to work. Simply saying something positive to yourself on occasion is not enough. Positive affirmations aren’t magic, they don’t instantly make you a happier or healthier person. You have to work on them to make them effective.

In fact, it takes time and patience to really let positive thinking sink into your mind. So, I recommend being diligent and kind to yourself throughout this process. Figure out when you will say these phrases to yourself.

Maybe a few times when you wake up in the morning and a few times when you go to bed. You can also use them regularly whenever you notice yourself getting negative.

3. Write Your Chosen Phrase and Other Phrases Down to Reinforce Them

You do not have to limit yourself when it comes to positive affirmations. Mentally saying your positive affirmation is useful, of course. But, there are other ways to enforce your affirmations. In fact, writing down your affirmations can help you further reinforce your new positive beliefs.

Many studies have shown that writing down something positive can create change in your outlook and attitude towards life.

4. Challenge Negative Thoughts With Positive Affirmations

I mentioned this briefly, but you want to try your best to challenge your negative thoughts with your affirmations. This can be hard at first, especially for people who are used to letting their negativity fester or wash over them.

Still, positive affirmations are not a passive force. They are repeated for a reason, and they can help turn your negative thoughts into something more rational and reasonable.

5. Reframe Your Way of Thinking

Positive affirmations will only work if you believe that they have the power to work. It can be hard to believe that a simple set of positive words have the ability to fundamentally change the way you view the world. Still, think about it this way, your thoughts are what created your current beliefs and worldview.

A simple and repeated negative thought (I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I’m useless…) changed the way you viewed yourself. So, why can’t simple positive thoughts help change your self-image? This change doesn’t come overnight, of course.

But, positive affirmations have the power to redirect negative ruminations. Reframing your mind is no simple task. But when you start to realize just how powerful your mind is, it becomes possible to make lasting improvements.

6. Be Patient and Seek Help If You Need to

Start small, and slowly modify how you view your negative and positive thoughts. And, try to start believing that you have the ability to control those thoughts! It takes a while to reprogram years of learned behavior.

But it is not impossible to do this. And, if you need help, there is nothing wrong with going to a professional. Counselors or licensed therapists can help you develop and use positive affirmations!

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About Flow Total Wellness:

Flow Total Wellness is a blog that focuses on self-improvement and personal growth, as well as mental health and wellness. The goal of the blog is to help people understand themselves better in order to improve their lives. Learn how to be more productive in life and at work. Topics include positive mindset, stress management, and tips for mental well-being.

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