Affluent Savvy
Photo by Ivan Samkov Pexels Logo Photo: Ivan Samkov

What is the best time for affirmations?

Step 3: Speak the affirmation out loud for about five minutes three times a day, morning, midday, and evening. An ideal time to do this is when you're putting on your makeup or shaving so that you can look at yourself in the mirror as you repeat the positive statement.

Why is money so valuable?
Why is money so valuable?

It is valued because it is legal tender and people have faith in its use as money. There have been many forms of money in history, but some forms...

Read More »
Which zodiac signs overshare?
Which zodiac signs overshare?

They are an open book and wear their heart on their sleeve: Aquarius. This zodiac sign couldn't care less about what others think. ... Gemini....

Read More »

Affirmations (meaning statements said with confidence about a perceived truth) have helped thousands of people make significant changes in their lives. But they don't always work for everyone. How can one person have great success using this tool, while another sees no results at all?

An affirmation can work because it has the ability to program your mind into believing the stated concept. This is because the mind doesn't know the difference between what is real or what is fantasy. When you watch a movie, and you start to laugh or cry, your mind is empathizing with the characters on the screen even though it is only Hollywood magic. There are both positive and negative types of affirmations. I'm sure many of us can remember being told as a child by a teacher, parent, or coach that we didn't have the ability to do something (we were fat, clumsy, etc.). These unwholesome statements can stay with us in the conscious or unconscious mind, which we then reinforce throughout our lives. For example, the fear of failure, according to Heinz Kohut, the grandfather of psychology of the self, is often intimately connected to a childhood fear of being abandoned, either physically or emotionally. When we fear failure, we tend to overestimate the risk we're taking and imagine the worst possible scenario—the emotional equivalent of our primary caretakers deserting us. What we picture is so dreadful that we convince ourselves we shouldn't even try to change. We avoid opportunities for success, and then when we fail, the unwholesome affirmation we unwittingly re-confirm is "Success just isn't written in my stars," or "It's just not in my karma!" If an unwholesome belief is deeply rooted in our unconscious mind, then it has the ability to override a positive affirmation, even if we aren't aware of it. This is why, for many people, affirmations don't seem to work: Their afflicted thought patterns are so strong that they knock out the effect of the positive statement. So how can we add more muscle to an affirmation, so that it has the power to triumph over our negative thinking? Here are some suggestions on how to make them work for you.

5 Steps to Make Affirmations More Effective and Powerful

What color means tranquility wisdom and truth?
What color means tranquility wisdom and truth?

Blue Blue. Blue is the color of the sky and sea, so it symbolizes depth, stability, trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith, truth,...

Read More »
Can dogs eat broccoli?
Can dogs eat broccoli?

Yes, dogs can eat broccoli. Dogs can eat the vegetable both cooked and raw, as long as there are no seasonings or oils added. However, this...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Step 1: Make a list of what you've always thought of as your negative qualities. Include any criticisms others have made of you that you've been holding onto—whether it's something your siblings, parents, or peers used to say about you when you were a child, or what your boss told you in your last annual review. Don't judge if they're accurate, and remember we all have flaws. This is one of the beauties of being human. Simply make a note of them and look for a common theme, such as "I'm unworthy." This will be a great place to start making a shift in your life. When you write out the recurring belief, notice if you are holding on to it anywhere in your body? For example, do you feel tightness or dread in your heart or stomach? Ask yourself if this unwholesome concept is helpful or productive in your life—if not, what would be?

Step 2: Now write an affirmation on the positive aspect of your self-judgment. You may want to use a thesaurus to find more powerful words to beef up your statement. For example, instead of saying, "I'm worthy," you could say, "I'm remarkable and cherished." After you have written your affirmation, ask a close friend to read it to see if they have any suggestions for how to make it stronger. Step 3: Speak the affirmation out loud for about five minutes three times a day, morning, midday, and evening. An ideal time to do this is when you're putting on your makeup or shaving so that you can look at yourself in the mirror as you repeat the positive statement. Another option that helps to reinforce the new belief and would be easy to do at work is to write out the affirmation several times in a notebook. Notice over time as you write it if your style of writing changes. This could be a clue as to how your mind perceives the new concept. I call this exercise using the mindfulness journal to forward the agenda of the positive affirmation. Step 4: Anchor the affirmation in your body as you are repeating it by placing your hand on the area that felt uncomfortable when you wrote out the negative belief in Step 1. Also, "breathe" into the affirmation while you are saying or writing it. As you reprogram your mind, you want to move from the concept of the affirmation to a real, positive embodiment of the quality you seek.

What not to do when you are manifesting?
What not to do when you are manifesting?

4 Common manifesting mistakes Expecting instant results. Lacking clarity in what you want. Remaining rigid in your desired outcome and pathway to...

Read More »
What do you do when you retire with no money?
What do you do when you retire with no money?

Many seniors without adequate retirement funds will need to take a part-time job if they're physically able to. What Happens When You Don't Save...

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Step 5: Get a friend or coach to repeat your affirmation to you. As they are saying, for example, "You are remarkable and cherished," identify this statement as "good mothering" or "good fathering" messages. If you don't have someone whom you feel comfortable asking, then use your reflection in the mirror as the person who is reinforcing the healthy message. Affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you change your mood, state of mind, and manifest the change you desire in your life. But they work best if you can first identify the unwholesome belief that is opposing them. If these suggestions are still not helping, seeing a professional therapist will help you uncover what is buried deep in your unconscious, and/or start a mindfulness meditation practice. Mindfulness meditation is a very effective method to help you uncover your unconscious thought patterns. It allows you to categorize them, identifying what is wholesome or negative and afflicted. Mindfulness is not about change; rather, it's about the power and ability to accept first what is, then to transmute towards what is possible. Try it and see how your life can improve.

What do rats destroy most?
What do rats destroy most?

Rats and mice can cause structural damage to homes, apartments, offices, and virtually any type of building through gnawing, nest-building, and...

Read More »
Can mantra change your life?
Can mantra change your life?

Practicing mantras can be an effective way to change habits and alter your life for the better. Jan 26, 2018

Read More »
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly
Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »
What is it called when you sell everything in your house?
What is it called when you sell everything in your house?

Estate sales: 7 things to know to sell everything in your house. Aug 23, 2016

Read More »
How long can a baby remember a person?
How long can a baby remember a person?

When your baby's only a few weeks old, his memories usually last for up to two days. A research investigation confirmed that by the time he reaches...

Read More »