The idea of writing positive affirmations is not all that new. One could certainly look to the Psalms of the Bible and see David’s affirmations: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” — affirming that life will be filled with positive days even when walking through the darkest valleys. Reading positive affirmations on a daily basis can bring us out of a slump and transform our lives.
But what if we want something more personal and transformational? We can create positive affirmations that are highly relevant to our own life situation and that will help us achieve specific goals. Here are ten steps to get started.
I. Keep a Journal
Regularly keeping a handwritten journal creates kinesthetic memory. Your thoughts, ideas, and discoveries will be more readily accessible from memory because the physical motion of writing engages more complex brain pathways. The more neuronal nodes engaged with a thought, the more easily it is recalled. Typing on a keyboard is not nearly as effective. Write your affirmations by hand.
II. Focus
At any given time, we are probably struggling with a multitude of issues: money, relationships, work, spiritual life, health, and so on. In order to make this process manageable, focus on one issue you want to change. You may be surprised how other related issues begin to work themselves out when you focus your affirmations on just one of them.
III. Get Started
Begin by writing “I am…” statements:
- I am happy
- I am wealthy
- I am content with all I have
These can also be written as “I have…”, “I know…”, or “I love…”:
- I have all I need in my life
- I know all I need to earn a great income
- I love the work that I do
IV. Always Write in the Positive
Write your affirmations in a way that leads toward where you want to be — not what you hope to get away from. “I am avoiding overspending” is not positive; it focuses on the problem. Think of it this way: if you’re hanging from a rope above a river of alligators, pushing away from the alligators won’t save you — but pulling hard toward the branch above will. Your affirmations are the rope you pull.
V. Always Write in the Present
Write as though your achievement is already here. If you write as though the positive outcome is somewhere off in the future, you will find yourself always hoping and never arriving. What you want to become already exists within you. Write your affirmations as though you are already there.
VI. Write Affirmations for Yourself
This is about you. Review your affirmations — if someone else appears in them, ask whether the affirmation is truly about you or about them. On an airplane, they always say: “Put your oxygen mask on first, then help the person next to you.” You are no use to anyone if you don’t take care of yourself first. Your affirmations should be focused on your own growth and well-being.
VII. Write with Passion and Feeling
The best positive affirmations are the ones that bring tears to your eyes. When you write an affirmation that evokes a strong emotional response, it will have great power in your transformation. Write with passion and feeling.
VIII. Let the Universe Figure Out How
This is not an exercise about figuring out the solution to the problem. Trust that the solution will come about naturally by simply doing the work of writing positive affirmations. Keep at it and you will find that the “how” comes to you suddenly and with what seems like no effort — because you made the effort within the positive energy you created.
IX. Affirm What You Have Already Accomplished
Remember to affirm what you have already achieved. If you have been writing affirmations about a new job and it happens for you, continue writing: “I love my new job,” “My work is meaningful.” Affirmations are not just for what you want — they reinforce what you have.
X. Meditate
After spending time writing positive affirmations, take at least 20 minutes in quiet reflection. You can re-read your affirmations if you like, then sit in stillness. Meditation works best, but even sitting quietly and staring out at the horizon with a cup of tea will help cement your work into your subconscious mind — where positive affirmations do their deepest work.
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