Psychology Self-Help | Self Help

Our thoughts are magnetic--they draw to us whatever we are thinking. Positive thinking creates positive results. Negative thoughts attract negative experiences and keep us stuck. Many of our fear-based beliefs came from decisions we made from our experiences.

For example, if you feel guilty about something you did, you may decide that you are bad and that you don't deserve to be prosperous. In order to move on in your life, and enjoy more love, health, and abundance, it is necessary to release negative self-defeating thoughts and replace them with positive ones. These are called affirmations.

You can easily change any negative thought into a positive one. Listen to your daily thoughts and conversations. Whenever you hear a negative one, say, "cancel" or imagine that you are erasing it. You can also imagine that you are burning it away with a laser beam or whatever image works for you. Then change it to a positive one. After awhile, you will begin to do it automatically.

You can also become aware of your negative thoughts by making a list of them. Write at the top of a piece of paper, I am afraid that ______ and fill in the blank with whatever negative thoughts come to mind. Choose one, and change it to a positive thought. Start with the word, "I," followed by your name and the new thought.

For example: The negative thought or fear, I am afraid that I don't deserve money, can be changed to, I, (your name), deserve an abundance of money. Since many of our thoughts come from comments we heard from others, it is helpful to also substitute, "You" and "She" for "I."

For example, You, (your name), deserve an abundance of money. And, She, (your name), deserves an abundance of money.

It is important to be honest with yourself and feel okay wherever you are in the moment. Therefore, if you are having difficulty accepting your affirmation, you can add some words to make it more believable.

Example: I, (your name), am beginning to believe that I deserve some money. After awhile, you are likely to change it to, I, (your name), am beginning to believe that I deserve an abundance of money. And finally to: I, (your name), deserve an abundance of money.

If you still don't believe the new affirmation, then write your negative thought on a piece of paper. Follow it by the word "because" and list the reasons.

For example, I, (your name), don't deserve some money because:

1. I stole a dollar from my father when I was a child.
2. I don't know how to handle money.
3. I am afraid it will make me greedy for more.
4. I'm worthless.

Now, on another piece of paper, write an affirmation for each negative belief.

Examples:

Number 1: I, (your name), forgive myself for taking a dollar from my father when I was a child.

Number 2: I, (your name), am beginning to believe that I know how to handle money.

Number 3: I, (your name), believe that I can have money and be generous.

Number 4: I, (your name), am a worthwhile person.

Now throw away the negative thoughts and say the positive ones.

If you're still not convinced, you can do the following exercise. Write your affirmation on the left hand side of a piece of paper, and your feelings on the right. Continue to do this until you are finally ready to accept your affirmation.

For example:

I, (your name), deserve money. No, I don't.

I, (your name), deserve money. No way!

I, (your name), deserve money. Why?

I, (your name), deserve money. Why not?

I, (your name), deserve money. Well, maybe.

I, (your name), deserve money. Well, maybe a little.

I, (your name), deserve money. Yes, I do deserve money.

If this doesn't help, and you find yourself getting increasingly more negative, you probably have to go a little deeper. Perhaps there is another negative thought underneath the one you've been working on.

For example, behind I don't deserve money, could be the belief that money is evil. A possible affirmation is: "I, (your name), am beginning to believe that money is one way I express caring to myself and others."

If you were not able to find any other negative thoughts, ask yourself what you're getting out of holding onto the belief, I don't deserve money. Chances are that you're staying safe. The affirmation can be: I, (your name), have an abundance of money and I am safe.

Here are several more suggestions when working with affirmations:

• Keep them short.
• Use only positive words. Instead of, "I am not bad," say I am good."
• Stay in the present. Avoid statements like, "I will" or "I hope to." Instead, say, "I am."
• Focus on only a few affirmations at a time.
• Say your affirmations several times with feeling (as if it is already happening in your life), record them on tape and play them back, or sing them out loud. Repetition is important, so review them often until they become part of your automatic thinking.
• Write an affirmation on a card and place it where you will see it often. For example: refrigerator door, bathroom mirror, bedside or desk.

When you choose to be conscious of what you are thinking and saying, remove negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones, you will have the power to easily draw to you what you desire. You do deserve love, health, happiness and success in every area of your life. Go for it!

Our thoughts are magnetic--they draw to us whatever we are thinking. Positive thinking creates positive results. Negative thoughts attract negative experiences and keep us stuck. Many of our fear-based beliefs came from decisions we made from our experiences.

©2006 Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, is a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, speaker, and author. The article is excerpts from her new book, "ALL YOU NEED IS HART!” She offers phone sessions, teleclasses, books, e-books, MP3 audios, tapes, posters, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390.

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

In a previous article, I revealed a simple process for writing your own powerful affirmations. I discussed the importance of getting clear about your existing beliefs, writing affirmations to replace those old beliefs with new empowering ones, writing affirmations in the present tense, the importance of consistent repetition, and the necessity of believing in the words you're saying.

Today I'd like to share a simple three-step process that can greatly increase the power and effectiveness of any affirmations you use (whether you've written them yourself or use someone else's).

In the movie "The Secret," Cathy Goodman shares her personal experience in beating breast cancer without chemotherapy or radiation. She says, "I truly believed in my heart, with my strong faith, that I was already healed. Each day I would say, 'Thank you for my healing.' On and on and on I went, 'Thank you for my healing.' I believed in my heart that I was healed. I saw myself as if cancer was never in my body." Cathy's story is astounding to say the least, and her husband, Morris Goodman, has an amazing healing story of his own. (Learn more about them at http://www.themiracleman.org)

However, for the purposes of this article, I would like to concentrate more on the phrase Cathy used to heal her body of cancer. "Thank you for my healing" is such a simple phrase, but it holds tremendous power! There are three key reasons why, and they are the same simple steps you can use to literally supercharge the effectiveness of any affirmation:

1) Gratitude. Giving thanks for something automatically puts us into a state of allowing and receiving. It puts us in a state of non-resistance with the Universe. This is powerful enough when we're giving thanks for something we already have (because it attracts more things to be grateful for), but when we do it with something we want, the power is magnified drastically! Why? Because we are putting our full faith into the belief that what we desire will come to be in the physical realm. As I've mentioned in previous articles, a strong belief that something is true will most definitely bring it forth into reality! Notice that Cathy didn't say, "Thank you for the healing that is on the way," or, "Thank you for my upcoming healing," or, "I know I will be healed, thank you." She said simply, "Thank you for my healing," with full faith that she was ALREADY healed. Can you sense the power in that sentiment?

2) Affirming the process. Though Cathy affirmed she was already healed, notice that the language she used puts the emphasis on the process of healing. She didn't say, "I am healed," she used the form of the word that implies a transition in progress: heal-ing. This may seem like a contradiction, but it's the perfect combination of focus to achieve the desired result.

Though we put our full faith into believing our desire has already manifested, choosing words that support the PROCESS of manifestation can be easier for us to believe. Why? Sometimes the jump from our current reality to the new reality we desire can be too big of a leap to make and still be believable. Believing that something is in progress seems like a smaller mental leap than trying to force ourselves to believe it's already a done deal.

To demonstrate this point, consider the difference in feeling you get from these two affirmations:

- I am a perfect size 5.

- My body is becoming slimmer and lighter every day.

If you don't wear a size 5, stating an affirmation that you do is largely ineffective, simply because you know it's not true. With enough forceful repetition you might be able to convince yourself and bring forth such a reality, but you would have to overcome plenty of inner resistance first.

The second affirmation is much more believable, isn't it? It causes feelings of excitement and pleasure because you can visualize your body shrinking in size, clothing becoming baggy, and smaller sizes looming in the near future. The mental state this affirmation activates is perfect for attracting the desired result.

3) Focus ONLY on what you WANT. Finally, the phrase, "thank you for my healing" is powerful because of the absence of something. Notice that cancer isn't mentioned anywhere in this affirmation. Though breast cancer was certainly Cathy's reality at that moment in time, she didn't emphasize or reinforce it. She didn't say, "Thank you for healing my cancer." Because that would have been affirming that cancer existed in the first place! With affirmations, it is crucial to focus ONLY on what you want, not what you DON'T want. Likewise, with the two example affirmations above, notice I didn't mention "losing weight" or "burning fat". Fat doesn't exist in the mind of someone who is thinking slender thoughts.

Can you see how these three simple steps will add power to your affirmations? If you're skeptical, try it yourself and see! Just to get you started, here are some more examples:

"Thank you for my growing abundance."

"Thank you for my considerate and romantic spouse."

"Thank you for my successful business."

"Thank you for healing my eyesight."

"Thank you for returning me to a perfect state of health and vitality."

"Thank you for the happiness and joy I experience every day."

"Thank you for the many blessings I continuously receive."

"Thank you for freeing me, mind body and spirit." (This one is especially good for addictions!)

As you recite your affirmations, allow yourself to really FEEL the immense gratitude your words convey. Conjure up an image in your mind of your desired circumstances already formed and actualized. See yourself in the midst of these new circumstances, shouting your joy and thanksgiving to the Universe. The more you can do this, the more power your affirmations will contain, and the more quickly your chosen outcome will manifest.

In a previous article, I revealed a simple process for writing your own powerful affirmations. I discussed the importance of getting clear about your existing beliefs, writing affirmations to replace those old beliefs with new empowering ones, writing affirmations in the present tense, the importance of consistent repetition, and the necessity of believing in the words you're saying. Today I'd like to share a simple three-step process that can greatly increase the power an...

Visit http://www.MindfulAttraction.com for more great articles and ebooks about the Law of Attraction. Need some daily reinforcement? Sign up for our FREE Daily Align-ders - short and sweet reminders to help you get (and stay) in alignment with your intentions: http://www.MindfulAttraction.com/align-ders.html

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

It has been said, that you are what you think. Most of us are to busy to think about
the things we really want in life. We may have vague and wishful thinking about how we want to have things coming into our life, such as more money and great relationships.
But that is where it usually ends, because most of us have a “treadmill life”, which means
we live from one hard working day to another, from one paycheck to another, and most of us always are only one paycheck away from disaster.

Have you ever wondered about why this is so? Has this been your experience in life?
Well there have been great news for many people the world around. We are just now learning what it really means to have the life we are all naturally desire, a life that was meant to be for all of us. We are now learning what it is that we did wrong and what it is that we can do to dramatically improve in all areas in our life, such as improving our income, our relationships with family and friends, and how to improve our health.

We are now learning that the way we think makes all the difference in the way we live.
Most people will focus on the things they do not want , which will bring to them more of the things they do not want.

Everything in life is a learning process, therefore we want to unlearn those habits of wrong thinking and learn how to think and what to think to turn our life and our finances
around and to finally have total financial control in our life.

No doubt this is also your goal, and a great way to achieve this goal, is to do your daily affirmations. Yes whatever it is that you want, including financial freedom keep your mind focused on this thought and say your daily affirmation, put your feelings into this
and live and do things in your life, that are in harmony with those affirmations and your
feelings. Things may not turn around all over night, but you will see the difference that it makes in your life.

To do powerful affirmations you want to clear your mind of all the thoughts and problems that you may have encountered that day, get into a relaxed position and start with your affirmations. Tell your mind what it is, that you want and have a clear picture of it. Keep your mind focused on your goal and continue with your affirmations. Select a time, that is more likely most convenient for you, some people like early mornings, some may like evenings or even nights. Whatever time is best for you, that should be the time that you want to choose to do your powerful affirmations.

Your mental attitude is the result of your thoughts, beliefs and feelings and it constantly
works and it also influences the world around you, your affirmations will also shape your mental attitude and it will create the world that you desire around you.

Some people have claimed that affirmations don't work. They are right, they don't work if there isn't a right action taken behind them. Also affirmations are done properly when there is visualization and feeling combined. The following article will explain more about power affirmations.

Enigma Valdez is an internet visionary dedicated to helping people and businesses improve their lives. He does not claim to have the answers to everything, but instead shares time tested and proven strategies that have worked for him and countless others. You can view more information at Http://www.EnigmaValdez.com

Article Source: http://www.positivearticles.com. PositiveArticles.Com does not vouch for or necessarily endorse the contents of this article.

Affirmations and mantras are statements you say to yourself in a repetitive and rote way. Affirmations have been used in psychology for years as part of the healing process for clients, with varying degrees of success. Mantras have been used for thousands of years by monks to train their mind. Both affirmations and mantras are methods of focused attention and concentration. Their success is based on the number of repetitions and the level of commitment to the process. Which do you think have been more successful, the psychology clients or the monks?

The spirits taught me about the power of affirmations and mantras as I was doing soul retrievals for people. Whenever I finished a journey, the spirits would assign a mantra for my client to repeat. I was to give my client the mantra, with instructions to repeat it a specific number of times first thing in the morning for 60-90 days. Then one day the spirits instructed me to tell a particular client to say a mantra for ten days, 560 times per day. I was shocked. The number of repetitions was staggering to me. The spirits informed me that this process was a necessary component to enhance the healing my client had just received. From then on, the spirits continued to assign mantras to my clients, but with large numbers of repetitions.

The spirits never let me off the hook, so they gave me a mantra to practice also. I diligently sat every day repeating my phrase; it took me about an hour each day. To my amazement it had a tremendous impact on me. The practice became rote and, in fact, a part of my being. Because of the repetitions, the mantra became embedded in my psyche like a catchy tune. Then a magical truth was created and revealed; the mantra stayed in my mind and eventually created a new core to my belief system. Days turned into months and years, and I now have a hard time even remembering the faulty belief system that caused me so much pain in the past. Remember that you respond from a belief system with every choice, thought, or action you have; this is an automatic response. When you want to experience permanent change, you need to address your belief system.

The spirits informed me that the purpose of a mantra is to change the patterning of the mind. The mind is rarely still. It has a background chatter, often referred to as "self-talk," that is activated (probably even as you are reading this). In many cases, self- talk is destructive. It becomes your own personal berating system. Your early belief system may have been put into place years before and it takes much effort to reprogram it. Saying an affirmation a few times a day, even if it is for three months, probably will not have much effect. But anything that you say 500-600 times a day will. You will find yourself saying it while you wash your hair, do the dishes, and drive the car. It becomes the new self-talk-the new background noise.

Spiritual initiates have known the power of mantras for eons; religious doctrines are based on this concept. Prayer beads and rosaries are simple counting systems for repetitive statements. Initiates sit for hours, days, and years chanting mantras and programming their minds with spiritual doctrines. This ancient method works.

I prefer using a clock. I notice how long it takes to say the mantra the initial time and then multiply that out to determine the total time needed. In that way, I do not need to keep an exact count and I know that when I have completed the time, I will have said the mantra the required repetitions. I also do not have to think about manipulating my prayer beads, but can focus on my mantra. Whichever method you decide on, prayer beads or timing, this process takes a tremendous commitment. However, the pay off is that progress is fast. If you dedicate just ten days to 600 daily repetitions, you will experience an amazing difference in your self-talk. The more you practice, the faster the transformation will take place. It can be done formally, sitting in front of an altar, or informally, while you are doing other activities. I made a pact with myself that I would not listen to the radio anymore in the car, and that no matter where I was going I would say my mantra the entire way. It was amazing how wonderful I felt, when I arrived at my destination, and the magic that followed. I had built up positive energy along the way, and the energy hovered around me for hours afterward. I might find incredible deals if I were shopping or find a parking place in crowded parking lots or have great interactions with people. It was like I was charmed.

You may put your mantra or affirmation to music and sing your tune throughout the day. Pick a jingle that sticks with you and plug in the words. Music has a profound effect on the psyche and is a wonderful way to memorize. Just think of it-can you imagine trying to learn the alphabet without singing the alphabet song?

Creating mantras or affirmations for yourself is easy, but there are a few rules that should be followed. Keep the mantras positive and somewhat short. Negative words such as not, don't, won't, for example, are not recognized by the subconscious mind and should be avoided. "I love myself," has greater impact than, "I don't hate myself anymore."

I will list several mantras the spirits have given my clients along with ones I have accumulated over my years of study. Trudy Bragg, my hypnosis teacher, contributed many.

One of my favorites is an ancient Tibetan mantra:

May I be filled with loving kindness, May I be well, May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.

I especially like to say this one as I am gardening; it has such a grounding effect on me.

Another favorite of mine is a song I learned in the Unity church:

I am walking in the light, in the light, in the light. I am walking in the light, in the light of God.

The spirits never let me off the hook, so they gave me a mantra to practice also. I diligently sat every day repeating my phrase; it took me about an hour each day. To my amazement it had a tremendous impact on me. The practice became rote and, in fact, a part of my being. Because of the repetitions, the mantra became embedded in my psyche like a catchy tune.

Jan promotes self-healing, empowerment, better communities, a healthier world and conducts workshops for shamanism and journeying. Her book, Becoming Yourself is at http://www.janengelssmith.com . Jan’s a Licensed Counselor and shamanic practitioner. She’s done over two thousand soul retrievals. She is the founder of LightSong School of Shamanic Studies, a Chemical Dependency Specialist, and Marriage and Family Therapist. She is also a water pourer for sweat lodge, a minister, a Reiki Master. 

People who consistently use affirmations as part of the goal setting process are far more likely to achieve their goals than those who don't use affirmations.

Repeating the affirmation over and over will imprint it into your subconscious until you begin to believe it. You will then start behaving as if you are confident and competent because your mind will have accepted it as a new belief.

Everything you want is available to you, all you have to do is claim it. Writing and reciting affirmations is one way of claiming what you want.

You don't have to believe your affirmations.

It is great if you do believe your affirmations, but it doesn't matter if you don't. In fact, you probably won't believe most of them, especially if your affirmation is a real stretch for you. Just keep repeating them in spite of the voices in your head telling you that you're lying to yourself, or this stuff doesn't work.

If your affirmation is "I have all the money I can ever want and need" and you only have $748 in your savings account, you will likely hear your monkey mind saying "that is not true, you only have $748", or "no you don't have all the money you can ever want and need, you're broke".

Just ignore the negative voices and continue to repeat your affirmations. Know that the voices will be there and it is perfectly normal. As you continue to repeat your positive affirmations, the negative voices will get quieter and quieter. They will probably never go away, but after a while the voices in support of your affirmations will get stronger and the negative voices will be in the background, barely audible.

The mind must have repetition in order for you to manifest your affirmations into reality. Even when it seems like nothing is happening, keep repeating them. Trust me, it works.

I'll share a true story about one of my affirmations. When I was "forty-something" I decided I wanted to run a marathon just to see if I could do it. At the time, I was 40 pounds overweight and could not run a block without being winded. I had never run more than one mile, not to mention the 26.2 miles required for a marathon. I choose to run a marathon in Vancouver Canada. Ironically, my sweet little brother died of Leukemia seven years later.

One of my affirmations was "I will finish this race". I trained for seven months with one of my girlfriends who had a death in her family and had to back out just one week before the race. I ended up having to run the marathon alone (although there were thousands of people there) on one of the coldest, rainy, and windy days in Vancouver history. In addition, I trained on flat ground and the trail in Vancouver was unexpectedly hilly.

It was my affirmation "I will finish this race" that kept me going. I wanted to stop at mile 13 but I couldn't stop even though I was tired, hungry, and bleeding from the constant friction from parts of my clothing. Seven months of repeating that affirmation gave me strength of mind that I didn't even know I had. I did finish the race and I have my medal and t-shirt to prove it!

Affirmations are a very normal way of thinking. You have been giving yourself affirmations all your life. Everything you think or say to yourself is an affirmation. Anything someone else says to you is an affirmation""if you accept it. Your subconscious mind will accept it all, whether it is good or bad for you. You want to be more deliberate and strategic with your affirmations.

People don't usually make a conscious decision to program negative thoughts into their subconscious mind. It is usually done unconsciously. And, sometimes when they become aware, they rationalize it. For example, if you find yourself saying "I'm broke" that is an affirmation. Yes, you can rationalize it by saying "I have to be realistic, I really am broke." If you want that reality, keep saying it. If you want to change that reality then you must change the affirmation, and consequently, the belief.

That is how you form negative beliefs about yourself. You say things to yourself over and over (usually unconsciously). When you repeat these thoughts enough, they become beliefs that you just accept as your reality.

When to use affirmations

"¢ First thing in the morning and last thing before you go to sleep

"¢ While waiting in line or in traffic

"¢ When you feel anxiety, insecurity or stress

"¢ When you're feeling bad or depressed

"¢ Every time you think about it.

How to write affirmations

"¢ Keep them short, simple, and easy to remember

"¢ Always make them positive

"¢ Keep them in the present tense

"¢ Never include the words no, not, or don't in an affirmation. Your mind does not recognize those words and it will give you what you don't want

"¢ Include words that will create emotion or feeling

It is best to write your own affirmations for your particular situation, but you can certainly use other people's affirmations as well. Here are a few affirmations for success and well-being that you can start with.

"¢ I am a money magnet

"¢ Money comes to me easily and effortlessly

"¢ I create my life.

"¢ I create the exact amount of my success

"¢ I am a genius and I use my wisdom daily

"¢ I am powerful

"¢ I am truly grateful for everything I have right now

"¢ Lucrative opportunities always come my way

"¢ I am in perfect health

"¢ I am a generous giver and an excellent receiver

"¢ I release all subconscious barriers to my success

"¢ I am calm, confident, and in control

"¢ I look and feel great!

Your thoughts and words are powerful. Using daily affirmations combined with daily visualizations will help you manifest your dreams much faster. Most importantly, expect to receive your affirmations. Just try it and see for yourself.

By: LaVera J. Gaston

Are you ready to feel good about yourself? That is the key to health, happiness, fulfilling relationships, and success.

Negative thoughts hurt your self-esteem and positive thoughts help you feel good. To raise your self-esteem, say, sing, or write the following 50 affirmations (positive thoughts) until they become part of your automatic thinking. It is even more powerful if you add your name.

1. I, your name, am okay even when I am scared.

2. I, ____________, am a worthwhile person.

3. I, ____________, am important.

4. I, ____________, am good enough.

5. I, ____________, am okay.

6. I, ____________, am lovable.

7. I, ____________, am attractive.

8. I, ____________, am intelligent.

9. I, ____________, am creative and intuitive.

10. I, ____________, am competent and talented.

11. I, ____________, am a good person.

12. I, ____________, am wanted and I belong.

13. I, ____________, trust my decisions.

14. I, ____________, accept all my feelings.

15. I, ____________, am expressing my feelings in healthy ways.

16. I, ____________, am releasing my anger into a pillow and others and I are safe.

17. I, ____________, forgive myself for all my mistakes.

18. I, ____________, am forgiving others for all their mistakes.

19. I, ____________, am saying "no" and I am okay.

20. I, ____________, am self-caring and I am there for others.

21. I, ____________, am capable of taking care of myself.

22. I, ____________, am taking control of my life and seeing all of my choices.

23. I, ____________, am taking responsibility for my happiness.

24. I, ____________, am communicating honestly and clearly what I want and need.

25. I, ____________, am listening to what others want and creating win-win solutions.

26. I, ____________, am courageously facing the unknown, even though I am scared.

27. I, ____________, am allowing myself an abundance of love and prosperity.

28. I, ____________, see myself attractive, happy, and healthy.

29. I, ____________, am slim and in control of what I eat and drink.

30. I, ____________, am visualizing myself in a successful career.

31. I, ____________, am successful and people are very happy for me.

32. I, ____________, am modeling success for many people and I'm loved and safe.

33. I, ____________, am successful in my career and in my relationships.

34. I, ____________, am more successful than my parents and they love me.

35. I, ____________, am successful, because I want to be.

36. I, ____________, am prosperous and I am a good, honest person.

37. I, ____________, have an abundance of money and people want to be with me because they like me.

38. I, ____________, am successful and I have enough time for my loved ones and myself.

39. I, ____________, am allowing others to support and care about me.

40. I, ____________, am in a loving relationship and I am free to be me.

41. I, ____________, am in a lasting, fulfilling relationship.

42. I, ____________, am taking time to relax and play and I am productive.

43. I, ____________, am doing things effortlessly.

44. I, ____________, am taking total responsibility for my life and I am having fun.

45. I, ____________, am only responsible for my thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

46. I, ____________, like myself.

47. I, ____________, love myself.

48. I, ____________, feel peacefully powerful.

49. I, ____________, am creating what I want in my life.

50. I, ____________, believe that I deserve it all.

You sure do! Go for it!

Are you ready to feel good about yourself? That is the key to health, happiness, fulfilling relationships, and success. Negative thoughts hurt your self-esteem and positive thoughts help you feel good. To raise your self-esteem, say, sing, or write the following 50 affirmations (positive thoughts) until they become part of your automatic thinking.

©2007 Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, is a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, speaker, and author. The article is excerpts from her new book, "ALL YOU NEED IS HART!” She offers phone sessions, teleclasses, books, e-books, MP3 audios, tapes, posters, independent studies, and a free newsletter. http://www.lovetopeace.com , 1-888-639-6390. 

There are three powerful statements of affirmations that can change your life. They are so powerful that, if used regularly, could change your life for
the better and dramatically increase your self esteem and confidence.

What are these powerful statements that can change your life and your self esteem and confidence?

These are affirmations that apply specifically to you. These are affirmations of changes that you would like to occur in your life. By using these affirmations over and over again, you will change your opinion of yourself for the positive. You will become the person you affirm to be. As you become that person you affirm, your self esteem and confidence will increase dramatically and your life will dramatically improve. You will begin living the life of your dreams.

The first statement of affirmation is, the "I am ......" statement. It is a statement that defines who you are as a person. You can achieve a full list of "I am" statements by taking a personal positive inventory of your attributes, strengths, talents, and competencies. Examples include:

I am smart.
I am beautiful.
I am an incredibly happy person.
I am lucky.
I am full of self confidence.
I am creative.
I am talented.
I am competent.
I am a great person to know.
I am a great friend.

The second one is the statement, the "I can ....." statement. This is a statement of positive affirmations of your abilities to accomplish goals. It is a statement of your belief in your power to grow, to change, and to help yourself. Examples include:

I can lose weight.
I can change.
I can be positive.
I can be happy.
I can be strong.
I can be a winner.
I can laugh and be fun.
I can become whatever I want to become.
I can achieve my goals.

The third one statement is the, "I will....." statement. This is a positive statement of what you want to happen. It is a statement also of what you want to accomplish or become. It can also be goal oriented. It is a success prophecy. Examples include:

I will have a great day today.
I will be more patient and loving to my children today.
I will smile more today.
I will have more than enough time to accomplish everything I need to do today.
I will manage my time better today.
I will make the time to exercise today.
I will take better care of myself today.
I will feel good about myself today.
I will accomplish my goal by a specific time.
I will accomplish anything that I sent my mind to.
I will have a big home.
I will get good grades.
I will be part of the basketball team.
I will be at my goal weight by my reunion.

These are powerful affirmations of statements. They are different for each person and very personal. Use these affirmations everyday, even on those days when you don't feel like it or even if you don't believe it is true. As you affirm, you will change your core belief of yourself. You will become that person that you affirm or dream to become. Your self esteem and confidence will skyrocket. You will be a new and self confident person. The sky is the limit. So start your affirmations today.

This is an article that explains 3 ways to come up with positive affirmations that are important to you and that are life changing. You say them daily until the affirmations come true.

Lena Tucker is the founder of http://www.successinlifeandmoney.com An avid blogger, Lena is helping to change the lives of others through her articles and blogs about living a successful life, having true self confidence, successful parenting, and all things money related. Transform your life now through her amazing insights at http://www.SuccessInLifeAndMoney.com 

Affirmations are a simple and effective way to influence your subconscious mind. It is quite easy for you to search the Internet to find tones of free affirmations in various categories. I have also written another article on how you can write your own affirmations. But this one is going to focus on ways to increase their power!

Remember that it is always better to stick to a certain group of affirmations for a while, since we absorb them faster this way. Also, you should feel the desired result taking place already.

Written below are 7 different way to make your free affirmations more powerful…

1. You should get into a relaxed state of mind. When this happens, our conscious minds are less intrusive, thus leaving our subconscious minds wide open. You should use this to your advantage.

2. Repeat them while looking at yourself in the mirror.

3. We all tend to remember rhymes and tunes more easily. So choose your affirmations and just get a bit creative.

4. The times just before sleeping and after waking up are great for influencing the subconscious. So make sure you use them at these times.

5. If you are in a place where it would not be appropriate for you to use them out loud. You can just repeat it to yourself mentally. It helps if you imagine it getting louder and louder.

6. Write them down. This has much more power than just verbally repeating it. I would suggest that you write each one at least 10 times daily or so. Of course, the more you do it the better.

7. Write them down on pieces of paper and stick then around your home or workplace. This way, you are always reminded of them. Just make sure it is a place you visit often.

You are probably wondering how long it will take you to see changes in yourself, right? Well, it is scientifically proven that it takes 21 days for one person to change form one habit to another. So don’t lose heart, just keep doing it for a while. Remember, you have an infinite number of free affirmations from which you can choose from!

Affirmations are a simple and effective way to influence your subconscious mind. It is quite easy for you to search the Internet to find tones of free affirmations in various categories. I have also written another article on how you can write your own affirmations. But this one is going to focus on ways to increase their power! Remember that it is always better to stick to a certain group of affirmations for a while, since we absorb them faster this way. Also, you should ...

Andrew Stone is extremely passionate and well-informed in the field of Mind Power. You may wish to visit his website if you want to use the power of the subconscious mind... http://www.UnleashMyPower.com

Hello everyone! This is my first blog post on"Soulful Inspirations". I am really excited about my new journey to help each of us achieve our highest potential spiritually, emotionally, and physically. I will be gathering resources to help us achieve our goals, and also putting some of my own thoughts here. You will find videos, links, affirmations, and book reviews and summaries.

For our first inspiration today, check out this affirmation that is sent to me almost daily by Bill Marshall. You can sign up on his website to receive free affirmations delivered to your mailbox: http://www.poweraffirmations.com/about-the-mp3s.htm

"Every cell in my body is now being transformed by my positive feelings, thoughts, and actions."

I really love this affirmation. By the way, if you love affirmations, and you own an Iphone, you ought to download "My Thoughts". They have some pretty good affirmations. It's always good to read a bunch when you are traveling on the train, or if you are waiting for an appointment etc. They have a free version, which is pretty good, or you can upgrade to their paid version, which is GREAT!

http://www.knowledgebrain.com/mythoughtsplus.html

xoxo
Wendy the (Inpsirational) Trainer

Part 2 of 2
In Part 1 of this report you learned how your self-confidence is
formed and how it is extremely sensitive to your experience and
outside influences. In this part, you’ll learn what you can do to
improve your self-confidence.

How to Build Your Self-Confidence
The good news is that a negative self-confidence cycle is
completely reversible! You can learn how to eliminate existing
negative thought reflexes and replace them with positive thought
reflexes. By mastering a few easy techniques you’ll be able to
recognize and reject negative programming before you allow it to
begin to erode your confidence.

There are dozens of techniques to help you build your
self-confidence and self-esteem. These include:
· Positive Affirmations
· Guided Visualization
· Mental Imagery
· Goal-Oriented Meditation
· Breathing Techniques
· Subliminal Programming
· Whole-Brain Learning

Here’s one simple technique you can start using today that will
help you initiate a virtuous cycle of improved self-confidence.

Using Positive Affirmations to Build Self-Confidence
Positive Affirmations are carefully-worded positive statements
that you repeat to yourself and are designed to establish new
thinking patterns in your mind. Using affirmations is a very
effective way to build self-confidence. It seems simple – and
initially it can actually be a little uncomfortable – but
remember, what you’re trying to do is to wear a new groove in
your brain. You’re trying to create a new path of least
resistance and establish a positive reflex in your mind. And the
best way to create a new reflex is through repetition of positive
thoughts, images and feelings.

At the end of this article, I’ve included a small handful of
powerful affirmations for you to begin using today. The way to
use affirmations is to repeat the statements to yourself (out
loud or silently). When you repeat an affirmation, feel it,
believe it, and know it! Put some positive emotion into it.
Emotion-backed programming is the most powerful and long lasting.
Allow yourself to experience the feelings of joy, satisfaction,
power and self-confidence as you do each affirmation. Make each
one a true part of your reality.

Use your favorite affirmations routinely throughout the day, and
really feel them. When you do you will eventually make a quantum
leap. You will suddenly be far beyond the doubts that accompany
wishing, hoping, daydreaming, and even believing. You will enter
the zone of knowing.

When you enter the zone of knowing, supreme self-confidence is
automatically there. All doubt is gone. You know you can do it.
You know it will happen, just as surely as if it had already
happened. And quite likely at some dimension it has happened –
for you! When you enter the zone of knowing, your
self-confidence is unshakable and your untapped potential is
released. You feel invincible!

Another great way to use affirmations is to say them while
looking in a mirror. Say them with feeling and soon you’ll
become aware of how powerful your eyes are. It's said that the
eyes are the windows of the soul. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote that
each of us carries in our eyes the exact indication of our rank.
We send messages with our eyes that show how we think of
ourselves and how self-confident we are. And that influences how
others respond to us. The more our eyes bespeak self-confidence
and self-esteem, the more other people are likely to hold us in
high esteem. Some people have developed a penetrating gaze that
makes it seem as if they can look into your very soul. As you
practice your affirmations in the mirror, you’ll see this in your
own eyes and soon others will feel the confidence that you
project.

Sample Affirmations
· I now free myself from false limits
· I choose to be self-confident
· I now feel self-confident
· I radiate self-confidence
· I reject negativity at all levels of consciousness
· I love turning negatives into positives
· The more positive I am, the more confident I am
· I now think as a positive person
· I breath as a positive person
· I feel positive and confident
· I am intelligent
· I am capable
· I speak with self-confidence
· My body language projects self-confidence
· People sense my self-confidence, which gives them confidence in
me
· I am positive and confident
· I'm becoming aware of my true potential
· I enjoy being positive
· Being positive builds my self-confidence
· I feel positive and confident
· I am positive and confident

Start Today
There are many other powerful techniques that you can use to
improve your self-confidence and build your self-esteem. But this
will get you started in the right direction.

The most important thing to remember is that repetition and
positive emotions are critical to changing the way you think.
While it’s possible to do this on your own, most people need a
defined program for the direction and support they need to commit
to a change.

Many people find that listening to audio programs (like those
available at http://www.efflearn.com) is the best way to provide
the consistency that’s needed to develop new, healthy, positive
thought habits. In addition to Positive Affirmations, the best
audio programs will incorporate a variety of techniques including
guided visualizations, mental imagery, goal-oriented meditation,
subliminal programming, whole-brain learning, and more.

So, employ whatever resources you need to commit to improving
your self-confidence. Whether it’s an audio program or help from
your friends, family or therapist – your self-confidence is too
important to allow it to wither away. Be confident that you can
improve your confidence and it will change your life.

Building self-confidence by replacing negative thoughts with positive ones through the use of positive affirmations.

By: Jeff Griswold

Whether you are preparing for a final interview, first performance, first gallery hanging or starting a regular day, affirmations can really be helpful. Usually people practice saying affirmations out loud. It’s very helpful to express your affirmations by verbalizing them, listening to them and watching yourself as you speak them in front of a mirror. Each time that you express them, you give yourself more time to absorb what they say about you.

However before you can verbalize your affirmations, you have to create them. You can find them in books, ask for some ideas from your friends, create them yourself or use a combination of techniques to write them.

FIRST: Start your affirmations with the phrase “I am________.” The idea is to keep your focus in the present and to keep them positive. When you use the phrase” I am__” you are starting the process of acting as if the affirmation is already part of your life.

SECOND: Choose one action that you want to complete. Do you want to meet five referral sources during a meeting? Do you want to complete six telenetworking calls next week? I’m sure that you can think of some other actions that fit with your business. Choose an action that is a currently a challenge for you to complete.

THIRD: Write out your complete affirmation. Read your affirmation out loud. Listen to it and see if it reads like an action that you want to complete.

FOURTH: Stand in front of a mirror. Repeat the affirmation ten times, while looking at yourself in the mirror. Remember to repeat this affirmation once a day for thirty days.

FIFTH: Be expectant. Don’t scan every moment of your life looking for signs of change. Stay focused on learning your affirmations. You will keep yourself very busy building new thinking habits while you are changing internally. Any external changes will follow your internal changes naturally.

I’ve included a list of affirmations, ready for use, until you have created some of your own. Feel free to use them as catalysts for writing your own affirmations or use them just as they are.

Remember to practice, practice and practice your affirmations every day.

Here is the list:

1) I am writing my dreams daily.

2) I am filling my journal with valuable information.

3) I am expressing my feelings in a safe place.

4) I am creating a roadmap for my dreams.

5) I am making myself heard during important conversations.

6) I am recording my past memories easily.

7) I am solving important problems daily.

8) I am sorting out my thoughts freely.

9) I am creating something new daily.

10) I am writing my prayers daily.

Affirmations and You!

By Lael Johnson

Affirmations and mantras are statements you say to yourself in a repetitive and rote way. Affirmations have been used in psychology for years as part of the healing process for clients, with varying degrees of success. Mantras have been used for thousands of years by monks to train their mind. Both affirmations and mantras are methods of focused attention and concentration. Their success is based on the number of repetitions and the level of commitment to the process. Which do you think have been more successful, the psychology clients or the monks?

The spirits taught me about the power of affirmations and mantras as I was doing soul retrievals for people. Whenever I finished a journey, the spirits would assign a mantra for my client to repeat. I was to give my client the mantra, with instructions to repeat it a specific number of times first thing in the morning for 60-90 days. Then one day the spirits instructed me to tell a particular client to say a mantra for ten days, 560 times per day. I was shocked. The number of repetitions was staggering to me. The spirits informed me that this process was a necessary component to enhance the healing my client had just received. From then on, the spirits continued to assign mantras to my clients, but with large numbers of repetitions.

The spirits never let me off the hook, so they gave me a mantra to practice also. I diligently sat every day repeating my phrase; it took me about an hour each day. To my amazement it had a tremendous impact on me. The practice became rote and, in fact, a part of my being. Because of the repetitions, the mantra became embedded in my psyche like a catchy tune. Then a magical truth was created and revealed; the mantra stayed in my mind and eventually created a new core to my belief system. Days turned into months and years, and I now have a hard time even remembering the faulty belief system that caused me so much pain in the past. Remember that you respond from a belief system with every choice, thought, or action you have; this is an automatic response. When you want to experience permanent change, you need to address your belief system.

The spirits informed me that the purpose of a mantra is to change the patterning of the mind. The mind is rarely still. It has a background chatter, often referred to as "self-talk," that is activated (probably even as you are reading this). In many cases, self- talk is destructive. It becomes your own personal berating system. Your early belief system may have been put into place years before and it takes much effort to reprogram it. Saying an affirmation a few times a day, even if it is for three months, probably will not have much effect. But anything that you say 500-600 times a day will. You will find yourself saying it while you wash your hair, do the dishes, and drive the car. It becomes the new self-talk-the new background noise.

Spiritual initiates have known the power of mantras for eons; religious doctrines are based on this concept. Prayer beads and rosaries are simple counting systems for repetitive statements. Initiates sit for hours, days, and years chanting mantras and programming their minds with spiritual doctrines. This ancient method works.

I prefer using a clock. I notice how long it takes to say the mantra the initial time and then multiply that out to determine the total time needed. In that way, I do not need to keep an exact count and I know that when I have completed the time, I will have said the mantra the required repetitions. I also do not have to think about manipulating my prayer beads, but can focus on my mantra. Whichever method you decide on, prayer beads or timing, this process takes a tremendous commitment. However, the pay off is that progress is fast. If you dedicate just ten days to 600 daily repetitions, you will experience an amazing difference in your self-talk. The more you practice, the faster the transformation will take place. It can be done formally, sitting in front of an altar, or informally, while you are doing other activities. I made a pact with myself that I would not listen to the radio anymore in the car, and that no matter where I was going I would say my mantra the entire way. It was amazing how wonderful I felt, when I arrived at my destination, and the magic that followed. I had built up positive energy along the way, and the energy hovered around me for hours afterward. I might find incredible deals if I were shopping or find a parking place in crowded parking lots or have great interactions with people. It was like I was charmed.

You may put your mantra or affirmation to music and sing your tune throughout the day. Pick a jingle that sticks with you and plug in the words. Music has a profound effect on the psyche and is a wonderful way to memorize. Just think of it-can you imagine trying to learn the alphabet without singing the alphabet song?

Creating mantras or affirmations for yourself is easy, but there are a few rules that should be followed. Keep the mantras positive and somewhat short. Negative words such as not, don't, won't, for example, are not recognized by the subconscious mind and should be avoided. "I love myself," has greater impact than, "I don't hate myself anymore."

I will list several mantras the spirits have given my clients along with ones I have accumulated over my years of study. Trudy Bragg, my hypnosis teacher, contributed many.

One of my favorites is an ancient Tibetan mantra:

May I be filled with loving kindness, May I be well, May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.

I especially like to say this one as I am gardening; it has such a grounding effect on me.

Another favorite of mine is a song I learned in the Unity church:

I am walking in the light, in the light, in the light. I am walking in the light, in the light of God.

The spirits never let me off the hook, so they gave me a mantra to practice also. I diligently sat every day repeating my phrase; it took me about an hour each day. To my amazement it had a tremendous impact on me. The practice became rote and, in fact, a part of my being. Because of the repetitions, the mantra became embedded in my psyche like a catchy tune.

By: Jan Engels Smith

I try to be understanding when people interpret the word "abundance" to mean "money" or "prosperity." This is not to say there is anything wrong with money or prosperity. I personally like and experience both. My point is only that the words are not synonymous.

I know folks who have lots of money, yet live in poverty consciousness. I know folks who have no challenge meeting their financial commitments, yet feel sadly lacking in confidence or friends or competence. I know folks who have very little in material possessions, yet their hearts are filled will love and joy. I am convinced that when you discern the energy of abundance as different from money and each of these different from prosperity, you free yourself to experience all three more fully.

You can use anything to experience abundance: dead leaves in the forest, the ocean, food, mountains, paper, trust, money, confidence, skills, anything! Abundance is about unlimited consciousness, not finite things. The consciousness of abundance creates those things.

During the month of September, DailyAffirm explores the theme of Abundance with five different types of affirmations and practice exercises. A new message is posted each day. The essence of the DailyAffirm Process is to proceed through the month with a series of different types of concepts, affirmations, and exercises to explore the theme. In order to fully embrace abundance, it is helpful to acknowledge that the lack or opposite of abundance also exists. The key is to differentiate and choose.

Here are the types of affirmations, with brief description of each, and examples of exercises to practice the ideas.

Releasing/Cleansing Affirmations for September (September 1-7). The purpose of Releasing and/or Cleansing Affirmations is to let go of unwanted and unneeded stuff. This week, these affirmations support you in clearing away non-abundance and releasing resistance and contradictions to abundance.

Identify something that you believe you lack or have “not enough.” Before you decide on the obvious, explore aspects of the physical (including money, health, possessions), the emotional (including feelings and relationships), the mental (including knowledge and skills), and the spiritual (including connection with your higher consciousness and awareness of global or universal issues). With this idea (or several ideas) in your mind, energize this week’s affirmations to release lack

Receiving/Accepting Affirmations for September (September 8-14). The purpose of Receiving and/or Accepting Affirmations is to open to allow something to be or to become. Open to receive and accept abundance into your life.

Cultural conditioning tends to negate the truth that giving and receiving are the same. Religious dogma asserts that “it is better to give than to receive,” which, of course, says that giving and receiving are not the same, and, further, that one is better than the other. When you touch deeply into the energy of giving and receiving, you can more easily recognize that they are the same. Keep in mind, a recognition that “we are all one” helps to understand the depth of the truth that giving and receiving are the same.

Being/Intending Affirmations for September (September 15-21). The purpose of Being and/or Intending Affirmations is to ground your purpose, especially your higher purpose. To be and to intend are different, yet interrelated. Abundance opens you to more abundance.

Return to the situation that you identified in the first week of these affirmations. If you have not already done so, identify an intention for yourself related to that situation. Your intention can be as simple as, "To experience abundance." Be certain that your statement of intention is something that you can remember so that you can say or think it as you find yourself in the dynamics of the situation. Go as deep as possible into the meaning of abundance in your life, with special emphasis on the exploration of this specific situation.

Acting/Claiming Affirmations for September (September 22-28). The purpose of Acting and/or Claiming Affirmations is to bring something into manifestation or to direct the energy of your intention to a desired manifestation. Allow all your actions to be associated with abundance. Then, move through the week energized by prosperous and fulfilling thoughts.

Return again to the situation that you identified in the first week of these affirmations. Consider the most satisfying action you can take with respect to that situation. Experiment (perhaps only in your mind’s eye) with at least twelve different actions. Even if you find it impractical or impossible to physically act out all twelve scenarios, you will have expanded your repertoire. Knowing you have choices can assist you in staying in the energy of abundance. Choose to act with abundance.

Integrating/Embodying Affirmations for September (September 29-31). The purpose of Integrating and/or Embodying Affirmations is to allow the energy and meaning of the affirmations to merge with your consciousness. It is important to understand that it is a continuous process to allow abundance to integrate into various aspects of your life. Do it, and then do it again and again and again.

Use your breath to integrate: Breathe in the energy of abundance; breathe out the energy of abundance.

Consider how and where you can find abundance in your life, right now.

Do you often feel that you do not have enough or that you are not enough? If so, you are in a state of lack consciousness when you are having such conversations, either with yourself or others. This article gives an overview of the focus on Abundance explored by the DailyAffirm Process during September each year, freely given to the Internet community.

By: Jeanie Marshall