Daily Affirmations: Choose with intention how you would like to think, feel & be.
As a vital part of kinesiology sessions, I work with and create tailored affirmations for my clients every day. They are a simple yet effective tool and follow up strategy to consciously connect with (and remind us of) how we want to think, feel and be. Affirmations serve as a prompt to pause, breathe and reset – something I’m sure is helpful for all of us to create a moment of calm in a busy and potentially stressful day.
Inspired by a guided meditation, I’ve been sharing I AM mantras over the last couple of years on Instagram or Facebook. This year, I decided to add on by introducing affirmations and for the start of this new series, I chose the affirmation “I approach each day with joy and ease.”
What is an affirmation?
Let’s look at some official dictionary definitions:
- Oxford Languages defines an affirmation as 1. The action or process of affirming something 2. Emotional support and encouragement
- British Dictionary describes an affirmation as 1. the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed 2. a statement of the existence or truth of something; assertion
With this context in mind and in a practical sense, an affirmation is, typically, a positive statement phrased in the present tense i.e. as if the desired outcome or context of the affirmation is already a reality and true. This supports our mind and importantly, unconscious Self, to align to it right now. After all, we create our future right here, in the present moment – this concept has guided me ever since I’ve read Louise Hay’s book “You can heal your life” over two decades ago (and since then I have been working with affirmations).
Affirmations can be broad yet ideally are specific and/or goal or action oriented. In my clinic, I collaborate with my clients while using a combination of muscle monitoring, my skills, experience and intuition to create a tailored statement to support the relevant focus area.
Over the years, and depending on the person and topic, I learned that there can be value in stating what needs to be left behind so we can start consciously recognising and switching ourselves out of e.g. the emotional state, belief or habit. Kinesiology sessions powerfully support this process i.e. help clear subconscious blocks and patterns. An example of such an affirmation is: “I consciously release and let go of reacting and feeling frustrated and instead I stay calm, clear and focused.”
Recently one of my colleagues shared with me an approach she saw online (she couldn’t recall the actual source so I cannot credit the person) which talked about adding ‘what if’ to the start of the affirmation i.e. "What if I approach each day with joy and ease" – it opens up space and creates possibilities. This may be useful for people who are skeptical or feel stuck in their way of thinking.
Why use affirmations?
When we have a lot going on, feel stressed or overwhelmed, we can easily get tangled up and even stuck in a situation or negative thoughts. We might start over-analysing, ruminating or doubting ourselves, gradually progressing further down the rabbit hole. Sound familiar? Affirmations are a great way to untangle and reset ourselves so we can re-connect with a higher perspective, sense of optimism and clear direction.
Similar to exercising our body and activating our muscles, affirmations activate our mind and I believe, energy. Affirmations aim to:
- Rewire our thought patterns
- Shift our mental focus
- Redirect our brain and neurological pathways
- Realign and re-balance us and mindset
- Uplift our mood
- Change our energy and vibration to a higher frequency
- Create change and choice by focusing on desired outcomes
- Align us to a positive state of being
- Tune us into the prospect of possibility and potential
As Dr Joe Dispenza explains and I recently learned in his NeuroChangeSolutions Training Program 'Change your mind. Create new results', there is a neurochemical relationship between the mind (thoughts) and the body (how we feel). When we think joyful thoughts, the brain produces chemicals that make us feel joyful. This is the same for when we think for example unhappy thoughts, they make us, well, unhappy. Once you feel the way you think, you begin to think the way you feel. This continuous cycle creates a feedback loop called a state of being.
So let me ask you - what type of thoughts do you choose? Give it a try, it is very hard to think about an issue/problem or feel stressed/ down, when reciting a positive statement, right?
How to work with affirmations.
You can say the affirmation out loud, whisper it and/or recite it silently – keep repeating it and do so regularly, allowing it to steadily infuse your inner (and outer) landscape. Based on my personal and professional experience, consider these points:
- Use the affirmation as a moment to pause and reset, take a few deep conscious breaths before saying it
- Recite it in the morning to start your day with intention - ideally combine it with a grounding practice - click here to read The Value of Grounding
- Create space in the evening and/or right before going asleep to work with your affirmation and set positive intention for when you wake up; this way it can percolate and sink in overnight while you are sleeping
- Consider using the affirmation before/during/after exercise/yoga/walking/meditation
- Set reminders in your diaries and/or create screen savers for your devices as prompts
- Try saying the affirmation out loud, several times in a row – it is a powerful as we say, hear, and feel it at the same time, creating resonance on many levels, plus our voice box and throat centre gets activated too. Give it a go right now >>> how does it feel?
In addition to reciting the affirmation, consciously connect with what it means to you and combine it with visualisation techniques – this doesn’t have to be complicated, and I know not everyone does well with visualising. If it’s tricky to imagine what it looks like, try imagining what it feels like in your mind, heart and body.
Like with anything, the key is practice and consistency. Remember, there is no right or wrong way when working with a chosen affirmation – make it your unique way. I encourage my clients to make these tools their own and adjust them as they see fit.
Buddha said
"What we think, we become."
I hope affirmations will become your steady companion and reliable wellbeing tool to help you stay present, positive and centred. And if you need inspiration or guidance, join me on Instagram or Facebook.
Kinesiology is a wonderful way to shed light on (often unconscious) attitudes, beliefs or thought patterns that may get in our way and block us from becoming the best version of ourselves. If you need support to gain more clarity and create a tailored support strategy - please call me for a chat or book online.
With ease and grace,
Lexi :)
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