Making the Most of Affirmations

Making the most of affirmations entails carefully thought-out statements and developing a routine. Speaking out loud a positive statement or affirmation helps your brain accept the statement as fact.

Before a big presentation at work you may buoy your confidence by telling yourself you are prepared and know your material.

Reminding yourself that you can be patient with a zealous child may be your lifeline each day.

And when you believe you can do something or believe something, actions and/or the emotion behind these beliefs follow.

A second step towards realization of these affirmations is taking action. That affirmation that you can remain calm when your child is screaming could guide you to take a deep breath and to count to ten before you react.

Actions combined with affirmations can help you get through stressful moments until you’re ready to take appropriate action.

We’ve gathered some tips for making your affirmations most effective. These include:

1. Set affirmations in the present – Say, “I am remaining calm while my child is throwing a tantrum”. Or say, “I do know all the information I need for this meeting”. Or say, “I am happy today” and think of all the things you are grateful for.
2. Make your affirmations specific to what you want to achieve. Instead of saying, “I am happy”, you could say, “I am happy with my job today”.
3. Make affirmations realistic – We’d all love to have a million dollars to spend on the things that are most important to us. But saying “I will have a million dollars” may not be a realistic affirmation. Try something like, “I am moving towards financial success, independence, and stability”.
4. Make it a habit – Decide on what affirmations are important for you and repeat them daily, make them part of your routine.

Affirming your capabilities and happiness activates the reward system in our brains providing positive self-feedback and emotion which in turn will boost confidence and faith in yourself and reduce stress.

To benefit most from affirmations they must be repeated with regularity.  Here are our top tips for creating an affirmation practice to help you get the most from your affirmations.

Practice affirmations and make them a habit with the following suggestions.

1. Start with at least 3 minutes of repeating affirmations twice a day. Repeat your affirmations when you wake up and before going to bed, for example.
2. Repeat each affirmation 10 times in a session. Listen to yourself say the words, focus on the meaning for yourself, believe that they are true.
3. Ask someone you trust to repeat them to you as well. Hearing someone else say the affirmations helps you reinforce your belief in them.
4. Making your affirmation routine consistent daily.
5. Be patient. It can take time for you to feel a change, so stick with your affirmations until you believe them and you’re seeing and feeling a change in your emotions and actions.

Here are our top seven affirmations for you.

1. I am capable of taking care of my body to achieve health.
2. I am capable of caring for my mind and soul to achieve happiness.
3. I am a lovable and loving human being.
4. I am strong and resilient.
5. I can handle touch situations with clarity and patience.
6. I am making strides to be the happy healthy person I am capable of becoming.
7. I am welcoming good relationships into my life with myself and others.

We realize all of these may not be a perfect fit for each of you. Please feel free to edit and add as is most beneficial to you.

We’d love to hear your affirmations. Leave them in the comments below.

And know that we believe in you.

Danielle Older, MSW, LISW-S, CCTP

Danielle is one of our maternal mental health therapists and the founder of River Root Counseling. Her therapeutic style is individual, evidence-based, and unique to best serve each individual client. Danielle will work with you, at your pace, cheering you on and empowering you as you accomplish your therapeutic goals. Danielle values the therapeutic relationship and works to make each session beneficial and helpful for her clients. Danielle is a mother herself and understands the roller coaster that parenting, and motherhood, can sometimes feel like.

Call River Root at 330-595-4563

Licensed Independent Social Worker with Supervision Designation (Ohio) – I.2002068-SUPV
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)
Bachelor’s of Social Work – University of Akron
Master’s in Social Work – Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

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