Once you have written out your life vision and key life goals, you need to go about making your dream life a reality. This requires daily, positive, purposeful action.
Negative, self-limiting beliefs hinder the realization of our life vision. We counter negative, self-limiting beliefs with the daily practice of positive affirmations, followed by intentions to act to make our affirmations a reality. Affirmations coupled with intentions, or commitments, lead to action, which leads to results. By repeating positive affirmations, we re-program our subconscious mind to counter negative, self-limiting beliefs.
Affirmations can transform our lives. Words have power. What we voice, we attract. What you say is what you get. We need to say the reality we want to have. When we do, our unconscious mind inspires and motivates us to act to make our affirmations a reality.
Include the following elements in each of your affirmations:
- Positive affirmations are in the present The brain works in the present. “I have,” or “I am.” Not “I will be.”
- Effective affirmations are relevantto your current situation and relate to the key life goals you wish to achieve.
- Positive affirmations only include positive The brain can’t easily process negatives, such as “I am not fat.” Instead, say, “I am becoming fit and trim.”
- Positive affirmations are spoken as statements of truth.
- Affirmations are realistic. Your affirmation voices what you can be and do today. Don’t make affirmations that are not in accordance with what you can put into practice today. For example, avoid affirmations such as “I am a millionaire” when that is not the case. Instead, you might say, “I am working to double my income over the next year.”
- Make your affirmations active, not passive. For example, rather than saying “money flows to me,” say, “I work hard and exercise my creativity to find ways to increase my income.”
It’s ok if your affirmations are not the truth of who you were yesterday. Affirmations are effective when, through your intentions, you can realize them today.
When you say your affirmations, say them like you mean them. Say them with conviction, authority, and belief. What you believe creates your reality. Say them out loud, with all your heart. Feel them when you say them. Capture the feeling of what you are trying to manifest. Do them in front of the mirror, while looking yourself directly in the eyes. Get still, calm, and mindfully present before you say them.
The more you say your affirmations, the more you will believe them. The more you believe them, the more you will act on them through your daily intentions. Through your actions, your reality with begin to change.
Here are some sample affirmations. Choose 5-10 for yourself, or use them as inspiration for creating 5-10 affirmations of your own! Make sure to pick affirmations that are relevant to your key life goals and that will help you realize your life vision.
Affirmations on self-worth
- Despite my flaws and failures, I am a sacred being of immeasurable value and worth.
- I accept myself just as I am.
- I love myself.
- I forgive myself.
- I am true to myself.
- I treat myself with compassion when I am hurting.
- I mindfully let go of negative self-judgments.
- I deserve to be happy.
- I am worthy and whole despite feelings to the contrary.
Affirmations on love and relationships
- I am loving in everything I say and do.
- Everything I say is loving and kind.
- I don’t take what others say and do personally.
- I love for love’s sake alone.
- Because I am loving, people find me lovable.
- People’s lives are better because of me.
- I unconditionally accept and love everyone exactly as they are.
- I see destructive people as sacred beings who are sick in a destructive way.
- I recognize that if I had another person’s genes and life experience, that I would likely act as they act.
- I am loving my family for who they are without expectations.
- I am developing and maintaining a healthy, loving group of friends.
- I am developing and maintaining a vibrant romantic life with my partner.
- I see love everywhere I go.
- My partner and I have a deep mutual understanding.
- I am nonjudgmental.
- I am compassionate.
- I am empathic.
- I am affirming.
- I am hopeful for others.
- I add value to the lives of everyone I encounter.
- I am patient.
- I am forgiving.
- I am generous.
- I am helpful.
- I yield to other’s wishes.
- I protect myself from harm.
- I only engage in healthy relationships.
- I am kindly assertive. I stand up for myself.
- I care for my partner, my family, and my friends.
- I take time to connect deeply with others.
- I let others know what I am thinking, feeling, and doing every day.
- I ask for help when I need it.
- I am considerate of other people’s needs and feelings.
- I take time to check up on the people I love.
- I build people up.
- I am a channel of love.
- I do what is best for both myself and others.
- I am humble.
- I am respectful.
- Because I radiate confidence and self-respect, others respect me.
- I treat others with reverence, in accordance with their sacredness.
- When I am with others, I look closely and listen carefully.
- I reinforce other people’s positive behaviors.
- I hold others accountable.
- I allow people to experience the natural painful consequences of their unskillful behavior so that they can learn and grow.
Affirmations on work
- I dedicate my work to contributing to others and to making the world a better place.
- I work with gratitude for the opportunity to serve and to make a living.
- I am doing work that I love
- I am working to find a fulfilling job.
- I further my career with every action I take.
- I am working to create financial abundance.
- I bring value to my coworkers and my boss.
- I bring value to those I serve.
- I strive to do the best at everything I do.
- I do quality work.
- My positive attitude, confidence and hard work naturally draw in new opportunities.
- I make thoughtful, careful decisions.
- I treat those with whom I work with consideration and respect.
- I do my work with enthusiasm.
- I radiate confidence and success at work.
- I deal with frustrations with a calm, positive attitude.
Affirmations on well-being
- I take good care of myself.
- I do nothing to harm myself.
- I cherish and care for myself as if I were my own ideal parent.
- I eat only foods that are good for me.
- I get plenty of rest and sleep.
- I have fun every day.
- I exercise every day.
- I take time to relax.
- I engage in a spiritual practice every day.
- Everything I think, say, and do enhances my health.
- I renounce temporary pleasures that are harmful to me.
- I manage pain with love.
Affirmations on self-confidence
- With daily effort, I am achieving all my dreams.
- With practice, I am becoming more and more capable.
- I let go of perfection and practice authenticity.
- I value failures, setbacks, and obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow.
- I face my fears and do what I need to do with courage.
- With positivity, patience, practice, and perseverance, I will achieve my dreams.
- I am just as worthy of success and happiness as anyone else.
- I believe in myself.
- Though I have room to grow, I still like myself.
- I love myself for just who I am, with all my flaws and imperfections.
Affirmations on finances
- I am learning how to earn, save, and invest money.
- I am frugal.
- I spend money wisely.
- I value money for the security it provides and for the capacity to help others.
- I purchase only what I need.
- I practice contentment; I refrain from purchasing everything I want.
- I am working to increase my income by delivering more value to others.
Affirmations on success
- Every day, I act to realize my key life goals.
- I am 100% committed to doing what I need to do to succeed.
- I am dedicated and disciplined.
- I schedule my priorities and follow through on my commitments with discipline.
- I practice my self-improvement rituals daily.
- My actions are in alignment with my life purpose.
- Because of my attitude and efforts, life is getting better every day.
- I am thoughtful, careful, and wise in my actions.
- I take time to reflect on the best course of action.
- I look for the opportunities in difficult situations.
- I am creative.
- I do the next right thing; I act with integrity.
- I am honest, but take care not to use truth as a weapon.
- When I fall, I get back up and persist. I do not give up.
- I am responsible for my life.
- I allow others to help me achieve my goals.
- One way or another, I persist until I accomplish my goals.
Affirmations on Adversity
- I know that pain is temporary, and that difficult times will pass.
- I do not let my trauma define me.
- I recognize that pain is a great teacher, and can transform me into a wiser, more compassionate, and more acceptant person.
- I look to the present moment to help me grow and learn what I need to learn.
- I see that while distress is inevitable, suffering is optional with acceptance.
- I accept all that is outside of my control.
- I see that everything is just as it can only be.
- I see that everything is perfect in its seeming imperfection.
- I am acting to change what I can to improve my situation.
- I am asking for help from others.
- Because of my positive attitude and positive actions, life is getting better every day.
- I am hopeful for both myself and others.
- I am a survivor.
- I choose my attitude and the way I respond to what happens.
Affirmations on joy, happiness, and fulfillment.
- I am grateful for all that I have.
- I wake up grateful for the gift of another day.
- This moment is enough, and enough is a feast.
- My life is a blessing and a miracle.
- My life is meaningful.
- I have a purpose.
- Each day, I find reasons to be joyful, to smile and laugh, and to be happy.
- I radiate love, joy, and happiness.
- I practice being mindfully present throughout the day.
- I am at peace.
- I feel connected to all that is.
- I am content.
- I feel connected to a power greater than myself.
- I live a simple life.
- I enjoy learning and growing.
- I enjoy new experiences.
- I experience awe and wonder at the miracle of existence.
- I see the miraculous in the mundane.
- I experience the extraordinary in the ordinary.
- I see that life is sacred.
- I see the sacred in everyone and everything.
- I see beauty everywhere I look.
- I realize that life is about life, and not just about me.
- As I put good out into the world, good comes back to me.
- There is a loving intelligent life force that flows through me.
- My life is filled with grace.
Affirmations for weight loss
- I am grateful for my body.
- I am becoming fit and trim.
- I only eat healthy and nourishing foods.
- I eat fewer calories than I burn until I am down to my ideal weight.
- I am physically active.
- I welcome hunger as a sign my body is burning up fat. I smile at my hunger.
- I do not let myself get too hungry.
- I count my calories every day.
- I eat mindfully, stopping just before I am completely full.
- I am excited and hopeful about losing weight.
- I love myself completely, regardless of my weight.
- I enjoy looking good and feeling good.
- I manage my weight to stay healthy and fit.
Write your affirmations on a card or a piece of paper. Carry them with you to refer to throughout the day.
Practice your affirmations daily to create change. Make these practices a priority. Schedule them into your morning ritual. Be patient and persistent. New habits take about 30 days to take hold, with the first two weeks being the most difficult. If you can get through 30 days, continuing the habit will be much easier.
Expect your brain to rebel. When your mind resists, don’t worry. Persist. Let your critical mind go. It will take several weeks to several months to begin to see results. Have a faith! Know that if you do the work, your daily practice will pay off.
Affirmations are most effective when they are coupled with intentions. After you say your affirmations, you will need to also say your intentions for the day as to what you are going to do and how you are going to behave to be in harmony with your affirmations. Always follow your affirmations with your intentions.
Changing the brain takes repetition. You will need to practice your visualization, affirmations, and intentions over and over for a lifetime. Also, the brain does not delete. As you build new neural networks, the old, negative ones grow dormant, but they don’t go away. You will need to keep practicing your visualizations, affirmations, and intentions every day for the rest of your life to keep them dominant. Otherwise, they will die down and you risk going back to your old, default mode of being, seeing, and doing. Visualize your dream life, followed by stating out loud your affirmations and intentions every morning.
Constantly update your affirmations as you learn and grow. Add to them as you encounter new sources of wisdom and inspiration.
You can heal, change, grow, and have the most successful and rewarding life possible! You can harness the power of visualization, affirmations, and intentions to reprogram your brain and thus your life. Change is an inside job. Do the work on the inside to get the results you want on the outside.
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More messages of hope, healing and growth at drmichaelmcgee.com.