Affirmations can be a simple way to address your fears and make progress in a non-threatening way. Affirmations are just positive statements that you make to yourself that have the potential to change the way you think and behave.
Affirmations seem simple on the surface, but there are several details that must be understood in order to use them effectively.
See how you can use affirmations as a useful tool in overcoming fears:
- Keep affirmations positive. Affirmations work better if they’re positive rather than negative. For example:
– “I am not afraid of heights” isn’t as effective as “I find heights exhilarating”.
– Your brain has a better understanding of what you’re trying to accomplish if your affirmations are stated in the affirmative.
– Negative statements seem to confuse the part of your brain that you’re trying to reach. You might end up with more of what you’re trying to avoid! - Use the present tense. It’s also important to keep your statements in the present tense. The affirmation “I will be brave around women” is stated in the future. If this affirmation actually came true, you’d never be brave around women because this is a character trait that you plan to have in the future!
– “I am courageous when speaking to women” is a more effective affirmation. - Avoid using too many. Repeating 150 affirmations means that you can’t repeat them too often or you’d never do anything else. Too many affirmations also scatter your attention over too many items. Five to ten affirmations are about right.
- Use them regularly. Repeat your affirmations a few times each day. Preferably at least three times if you’re serious. That’s three times every single day. It’s only a few minutes each time. You have time for that.
- Make your own. There are endless lists of affirmations but be choosy. Find affirmations that appeal to you or make your own. The most effective affirmations are the ones that you create but look at the affirmations of others for ideas.
- The best affirmations elicit an emotion. Every affirmation you choose to use should make you feel something when you repeat it. Affirmations with an emotional jolt are more effective.
– We like to think we’re logical, but we really aren’t. If we were actually driven by logic, we’d never overeat, skip the gym, or procrastinate. Logic only shows us what we should do, but often fail to do. - Visualize. Have an image in your mind that represents your affirmation. It might be you eating a healthy meal, meeting the person of your dreams, or fearlessly giving a speech. If you can’t imagine it, you can’t accomplish it.
- Make use of the time just after waking up and just before falling asleep. The two best times to repeat affirmations is right when you wake up and right before you fall asleep. You’re in that dreamy, half-awake state. It’s like you have a direct connection to your subconscious.
Affirmations are a free, easy, and effective tool that can help you to rise above your fears.
If you have fears, and who doesn’t, add affirmations to your toolbox. Affirmations can be useful in getting over the hump to the point where you can take action. That’s all you really need. You don’t need to be fearless. The fear just needs to be reduced enough that you’re able to pull the trigger.
Begin by making a list of affirmations today. Give them a try for 30 days and decide for yourself if they’re worth your effort. You have nothing to lose!