Emily* had always been insecure. She was constantly worried about what others thought of her and whether she was good enough. This caused her to doubt herself and hold herself back from achieving her goals.
One day, she decided to try affirmations as a way to boost her confidence. She started by writing down a few positive statements about herself, such as, "I am smart," "I am strong," and "I am capable." She read these statements out loud every morning and evening, until they started to become true for her.
With time, Emily began to feel more confident in herself. She became more assertive and started pursuing her dreams with determination. She began to believe in herself and realized that she could do anything she set her mind to.
(* = name changed for the privacy of our coaching client)
Everyone has heard of affirmations, but what do they actually do to change your brain?
An affirmation is a way to describe a belief that you want to integrate with your mindset. An affirmation is something that can change your mindset to focus on the good.
People who use affirmations know that by focusing on a positive mindset, they can change their brain in a way that makes it easier for them to reach their goals.
A 2016 study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience used MRI to reveal that practicing self-affirmation activates the reward centers in your brain. It fires up your neural pathways and makes changes to those areas of the brain that make you more positive and more determined.
Get rid of a mindset that you have that is limiting you, and create a mindset that's empowering. Once you generate an empowering mindset, or "affirmation," you can change your thinking and behavior around it.
Where do they come from?
Affirmations are made up of different parts:
Some affirmations make use of positive words like "I am" (for example: I am resilient) while others utilize negative words such as "I release" (for example: I release negativity).
The most powerful affirmation comes from what people think about themselves deep down - not the things they say out loud, but rather what they tell themselves in their minds when no one else is listening.
So, do you want to change your life?
You can start by changing the way you think. Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. These positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think – and act – differently.
Neuroplasticity, or your brain’s ability to change and adapt to different circumstances throughout your life, offers a clue to help understand not only what makes affirmations work, but how to make them more effective.
The power of affirmations are for anyone who wants more out of their lives than they currently have. Using affirmations in conjunction with neuroplasticity changes the brain’s wiring so it becomes easier for us to become successful.
Our desire is for you to be equipped to live your best life!
You don’t have to be an expert in neuroscience or psychology to utilize affirmations; just someone who wants a better life by intentionally changing your thoughts.
Focus on translating your best thoughts into actionable steps towards success.
Tap into who you truly are and your potential for greatness.
Today's examples will give you an easy-to-follow guide on how you too can use this powerful tool in order to achieve your goals faster.
Here’s a framework to get started with affirmations:
What would your best self write after each of these 3 phrases?
I am…
I can…
I will…
Here are some examples:
“I am blessed and highly favored.”
“I can rest in the fact that everything happens for a reason.”
“I will always look for the good in every situation that comes my way.”
“I am capable of learning what I need to learn to succeed.”
“I can achieve more in the future than I can currently imagine.”
“I will remember that I am worthy of more success and joy.”
We encourage you to share the “I am, I can, and I will” framework with a family member, friend, or teammate this week in order to promote accountability.
Use Your Gifts!
Melanie Massey Groves and Brian Russell with MoCo: Leadership, Strengths, and Culture Coaching
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