What do you think of when I start to talk about how to use daily affirmations? Perhaps you immediately reject the idea as something that someone weak needs. Or perhaps you've met people who have yellow post-it notes dotted around their homes to remind them of the state of mind they are striving to achieve.
Norman Vincent Peale's famous book "The Power Of Positive Thinking" uses some of the most famous affirmations that people know. But one of his most famous affirmations is "I can do all things through Jesus Christ our savior who strengthens me...". The fact that it's quoted from Philippians 4:13 gives away more about what the essence of an affirmation is and where they come from. It shows that some of the most fundamental positive statements we use are derived from ancient texts and thoughts.
But, surely, the point is that someone who uses this affirmation on a daily basis will find some relevance in it? They are likely to be someone who follows a western religious doctrine and takes comfort from the Bible. You would be unlikely to find someone of an eastern faith using this particular form of words as a source of strength.
I recently visited Nepal and had the privilege of seeing many Buddhist followers repeatedly chanting the mantra "Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum" as they walked trance-like around the Boudhanath in Kathmandu.
What about the real estate salesman who wakes in the morning, stares himself in the mirror and affirms "I have the inner strength to make this sale today"? He affirms it again and again until it is ingrained in his subconscious and his lips murmur it while he brushes his teeth... While he drives to work... He's like an automaton, trance like as he operates the car.
Two things are noteworthy. Firstly, these phrases are short and have a context of relevance to the participant. Secondly, they are repeated in such a way and with such regularity that their incantation becomes an almost mindless (and I mean that in the most positive way!) act. It's not so much the content of the words that matters so much as their emotional relevance and their sound.
Find some time to repeat some positive statements that have meaning to you each day and see how your mood changes.
- Make it relevant
- Make it short
- Repeat it regularly for a set amount of time each day
- Make it automatic
Namaste.
I have been on a spiritual journey for the last 30 odd years of my short 45 years on this earth so far. The idea of spirituality has appealed to me from my early school days when I found solace in the fortress of my own thoughts. If this article has interested you and you'd like to read more then you can see related articles at http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-use-affirmations.
No comments:
Post a Comment