Having released a thought, immediately turn your attention to a more affirmative one. The simplest substitute is its direct opposite, for example:
Don’t worry it feels like you’re lying to yourself. Your feelings are not reliable indicators when you are attempting any form of personal change. Think of this method as a tool to help you change your way of thinking rather than a literal statement of truth.
Alternatively, use an affirmation. Affirmations are planned self- suggestions which can be used for many purposes. For example:
■ To change negative attitudes into positives, e.g. ‘I now release with ease all my old negative attitudes,’ ‘I think, talk and act positively at all times.’
Change… Into…
I can’t I can
I won’t I will
I’m stupid I’m clever
I’m weak I’m strong
I haven’t I have
I don’t I do
I’m ugly I’m attractive
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■ To foster self-approval, e.g. ‘I accept, love and approve of myself,’ ‘I deserve success. I have confidence in myself.’
■ To speed your personal growth, e.g. ‘I am willing to change and to grow, and every day in every way I get better and better.’
Either compose an appropriate affirmation when you need one, or use a favourite ‘off the shelf’.
Choose half a dozen affirmations that appeal to you from this list and memorise them.
■ Every day I keep my thoughts positive, because I am the result of what I think.
■ I always maintain a perfectly healthy body and mind.
■ I’m happy, healthy, wealthy and whole.
■ I only think about and visualise what I want to happen.
■ I have balance and harmony in my life.
■ No matter what has gone before, I now take charge of my life.
■ I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.
■ I can achieve anything I want, and if I apply myself and persist, I can do it.
■ I have all the personal qualities required to manage and motivate others.
■ I will persist until I succeed.
■ I am now reaching a place where every thought I have is loving and caring.
■ I am in radiant, vibrant, dynamic health.
■ I do it now in the most relaxed and efficient manner, with inner calmness and purposeful activity.
■ I feel warm and loving towards myself.
■ I am worthy of all the good in my life. I deserve the best.
■ I think, talk and act confidently at all times.
■ I believe in myself. I can do anything I choose.
■ I like myself.
■ I am a strong and worthy person.
■ I am cool, calm and in control.
■ I am successful in everything I do.
■ I am whole, perfect, strong, powerful, loving, harmonious, prosperous and happy.
You now have some ‘off the shelf’ affirmations that you can use whenever you need.
Making up your own affirmations: when composing your affirmations, there are certain rules you must observe for maximum effect.
■ Personalise them. Affirmations are powerful tools for changing
yourself, but your affirmations cannot change other people or influence their behaviour.
The best way to make them personal to you is to start them with the pronoun, ‘I’. For example, ‘I accept, love and approve of myself’; ‘I am determined, patient and persistent,’; ‘I am calm, peaceful and relaxed.’
■ Put them in the present tense. This is important because the
subconscious takes everything literally. If you were to use the future tense, it would assume that what you want is not an immediate priority.
■ Use only positive words and phrases. Otherwise, you might
inadvertently end up with the opposite of what you intended. This is because the subconscious overlooks a negative word if it occurs in the middle of a sentence. For example, ‘I do not fail’ registers as ‘I fail’ and ‘I am not fat’ as ‘I am fat’. Instead, affirm, ‘I succeed’ and ‘I am slim’.
■ Write them on small cards and carry them with you. Use CAPITAL
LETTERS (they have greater impact on your subconscious). Write them on post-it notes and stick them to your bathroom mirror, dashboard, fridge and other prominent places. Read them frequently throughout the day.
For this exercise, simply sit in silence and affirm what you desire. Close your eyes, take a deep breath and relax, think of your goals and affirm that you already have them. If you wish, incorporate statements such as:
■ I can be what I choose to be.
■ I can achieve whatever I set my mind to.
■ I believe in myself. I can do anything I choose.
Make up three or four affirmations targeted at current issues in your life. Use them for a month, following the above guidelines (91).
At the end of the month, review your progress. What changes have you noticed? In what ways do you feel different? How well have they worked for you?
Increasing the effectiveness of your affirmations:
■ Say your affirmations with feeling, whether silently or out loud. The greater the emotion, the better.
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■ Practise. Repetition works, so use your affirmations often. Last thing at night is the best time, because your subconscious mind is at its most receptive. Give it something uplifting to work on while you are asleep. First thing in the morning is also very beneficial.
■ Suspend disbelief, especially if you are working towards something you don’t yet have physically. Consider affirmations as tools for change and remember that you are in the early stages of creating something which will eventually materialise. The results may not be immediate, but if you have faith, they will come.
■ Record them onto a cassette tape or minidisk and listen frequently, especially last thing at night.
■ If your goal is something tangible, carry a photograph or a reminder with you (such as a small model or branded key ring if you are in the process of acquiring a new car). Affirm that it is yours every time you look at it. If you are skilled at digital photography and you can create a photograph of yourself holding that trophy or wearing that medal on your computer, do it, and hang a framed copy on your wall. Every time you see it, it reinforces the message to your subconscious autopilot.
Although you can use affirmations any time, they are most effective when you are in that dreamy, relaxed state known as alpha level. In alpha your subconscious is more receptive to new suggestions. This is called autosuggestion. Autosuggestion is a powerful tool for
reprogramming the mind for success.
Alpha level (or the alpha state) is explained fully on page 92.