How to Write Affirmations that Really Work!

During our second Self Care Sunday session with Kandace and Caroline of the fall series, we worked with applications to affirm our intentions. In case you missed it, check out these tips for creating meaningful affirmations and developing a regular affirmation practice. 

Want to know how to write affirmations that really work?

The following easy tips will help you to create affirmations that are extremely powerful and effective.

There are a few important do’s and don’ts when it comes to writing affirmations for yourself, so take a moment to review these step-by-step instructions and you’ll be writing positive affirmations that are supercharged in no time at all! Let’s start with the basics…

Step 1: Getting Started

The simplest way to start writing affirmations is to write a series of “I am” statements that describe what you want to have or experience.

• “I am happy”
• “I am wealthy”

Simple enough isn’t it? Notice that we did not use the phrase “I want” in any of these affirmations. There’s an important reason for this. If you begin any affirmations with phrases like “I want” or “I need” then what you are affirming to yourself is the feeling of wanting and/or needing. Instead, you should aim to affirm the feeling of already having what you desire.

Close your eyes and imagine that you are already experiencing the wonderful things that you desire, and write your affirmations as an expression of “grateful having”, rather than wanting or needing.

Here’s just one example:
“I am so happy and grateful for my wonderful new house!”
You can also begin your affirmations with words such as:

• “I know…”
• “I have…”
• “I love…” …or any other positive, affirmative statement.

Step 2: Write Your Affirmations in the Positive

Write your affirmations in such a way that they focus on what you want, rather than what you are trying to avoid or eliminate from your life.

For example, rather than writing “I am not addicted to cigarettes,” a better choice would be something like, “I am completely free from cigarettes.” In the second example, we have removed the word “addicted” and replaced it with the word “free.”

Here’s another example: Rather than writing “I am getting out of debt now,” a more positive choice would be “I am wealthy and prosperous.” Notice the difference?

If you’re feeling uncertain about how to write affirmations in the positive, then imagine that you have already accomplished whatever it is that you wish to achieve, and then describe yourself in that positive light. If you find yourself starting an affirmation with the words “I am not…” please take pause and think about a more positive way to express yourself.

Step 3: Write Your Affirmations in the NOW

When you write your affirmations, write them in the present tense. Write as though you are experiencing what you desire right now.

Do not use words like, “Within the next two months…”. Why? Because every time you use this affirmation, you are saying that you are still up to two months away from achieving your goal! After one month of using this affirmation, you will still be saying “within two months…” Use your affirmations to create an inner experience of having what you desire right now.

• “I am healing”
• “I am a wonderful and gifted artist”

Notice that these two example affirmations make no reference to dates or times? They are simple, powerful affirmations of already having.

Step 4: Be Yourself!

Use words and phrases that are typical of your own way of thinking and speaking. You are not writing affirmations for someone else’s benefit, you are writing affirmations for your own self…so be yourself! You can be as silly or as serious or as plain or as colorful as you like…just be you!

Step 5: Write Your Affirmations with Passion and Feeling!

Think about how good you will feel when you achieve your goals, and how good it feels to know that positive changes are taking place. Add affirmations that describe these positive feelings of success. For example, if you have just written, “I am experiencing great success in my business,” you might like to follow it up with something like, “I am so excited to be enjoying all this wealth at last.”

If you have written, “I am a creative genius and I am always discovering amazing new ideas,” you might like to add, “I feel so grateful for all the inspiration that comes to me.”

If you want to know how to write affirmations that are really effective, keep this in the front of your mind. When you describe your feelings about your affirmations, you connect with them more deeply. Your affirmations will actually have more power if you experience them on both a thinking and a feeling level.

Listening to music while you recite your affirmations can be of great benefit. Music helps to engage your emotions so that you are more able to tap into the feeling of what you wish to affirm. Try listening to some inspirational music or some relaxing music…whatever helps to get you “in the zone.”

Step 6: Don’t Get Caught Up in the “How”

If you are setting goals in your life, it’s always a good idea to have an action plan. However, you should not create affirmations that describe all the details about HOW you will achieve your goals.

Be as specific as you like about what you want to manifest with your affirmations, but don’t try to define how these things will show up. All you need to do is put yourself in the frame of mind of already having what you want, and then let the universe figure out the most efficient and harmonious way to bring it to you. It may or may not come via the plan you had in mind!

Step 7: Affirm Your Current Successes As Well!

Your affirmations don’t all have to be about things that you want or that are currently absent from your life. Consider your positive attributes and the things that are already working well for you. Think about the things you like about yourself and the things that you are already grateful for. Include some of these in your affirmations as well.

So often we forget to give ourselves credit for the things that we like about ourselves, so when writing affirmations, feel free to describe some of the things that you already appreciate about yourself and your life. By doing so you will reinforce your positive feelings about who you are today, and you will be more open to accepting affirmations that describe who you would like to become.

Step 8: Feel Free to Write Affirmations About ANYTHING!

Think about what you would really like to change about yourself and your life, and be confident about affirming your truest desires.

• What thinking patterns or perceptions would you like to change?
• What circumstances would you like to improve or transform?
• What experiences would you like to have?
• What feelings would you like to enjoy?
• What do you want your life to be like?

You can use affirmations to effect change on many different levels, so take a moment to think about not only the things that you want, but also the experiences you would like to have, and the way you would like to feel about them. You can choose to manifest whatever you want in life!

Step 9: Lots of affirmations, or just a few?

You know what? There are NO RULES when it comes to creating your own affirmations.

Every person is unique, and every affirmation script is unique. When writing affirmations, some people like to constantly affirm just a few simple lines that are particularly significant to them. Other people prefer to create a substantial list of affirmations that describe many of the changes they would like to see in their life.

Step 10: Enjoy Yourself!

Writing affirmations for yourself can be an exciting and empowering experience. Enjoy the process and try not to get too caught up in the nitty-gritty details of what you are writing. If you find yourself second-guessing your affirmations or scrutinizing minor details, it’s time to take a step back and relax. If in doubt, go with what feels right to you. Making affirmations is supposed to be fun!

Three More Tips on How To Write Affirmations that are Supercharged.

• If you find that some of your affirmations are a bit difficult to believe, then consider adding “I choose” to them. For example, rather than writing “I am fit and healthy,”  you could write “I choose to eat well and to exercise today.”
• It’s a great idea to express gratitude in your affirmations. Consider starting some of your affirmations with the words, “I am so happy and grateful that…”
• Another excellent idea for writing affirmations that work on a deep level to transform your thinking patterns is to write about your expectations. Here’s an example: “I expect to be successful in everything I do.” This feels quite different from an affirmation of “I am successful in everything I do.”

Every now and then you may find yourself writing affirmations that feel like a bit of a stretch of the imagination. Perhaps you like the sound of it but you find it a bit difficult to buy into. Writing about what you expect to happen helps to dissolve any underlying doubts you may have about your affirmations and is a powerful technique for writing successful affirmations.

Article by Christopher Lloyd Clarke from www.The-Guided-Meditation-Site.com. View original content here.