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Have you ever used affirmations?

I've read conflicting opinions on this. So, I'm wondering what your impression of self-affirmations is-- if you use them-- and how effective you think they are.

silvereyes 8 Feb 13
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34 comments

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17

I started using them Monday. I tell myself that I am smart and beautiful. As well as a kind person.

Sarahroo29 Level 8 Feb 13, 2018

of course you are! 🙂

@ZebZaman Thanks.

12

He's already been mentioned a few times. He's the first person I thought of.

Source:
Paul628 Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
8

The voices in my head compliment me all the while, telling me how good I am at grammar and how clever my ideas are for killing upper management in a series of Saw-like predicaments, so self-affirming statements are unnecessary.

resserts Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
6

Affirmations are only as effective as what you are willing to work on within yourself.

I got a box of generic affirmations once. They were cards that droned on about a particular focus for the day. You randomly drew a card. Some people throw runes or use other mediums to pick something out to focus on. And for some people these things work at heightening their spirituality and whatever else they are trying to achieve. I’m glad for them.

I have made my own personal affirmation cards. I placed them around my space, where I’d see them every day. By my stove, on my mirror, on the ceiling by my bed. They are personal messages, from me to me. ‘Anxiety lies to you.’ ‘Walk around the property for fresh air.’ ‘Forgive yourself.’ ‘Create something today.’ These help me more than a generic ‘I am the architect of my life; I build its foundation and choose its contents. (at)’

Annaleda Level 8 Feb 13, 2018

It really helps to see my truths in front of me. Especially ‘Anxiety lies to you.’ I actually have it in more than one place. 🙂@silvereyes

6

I think it's a good way to balance yourself if you're self esteem is disproportionately low. Once you're balanced logic should be enough. Honest self assessment keeps you even and striving to do better.

4

I usually get great results from setting affirmations. Even if it's just a to-do list or setting a reminder on my phone, they can be wonderful help with focusing your energy and intentions on what you want to accomplish.

@silvereyes An affirmation is just something you have affirmed, correct? It's not that the phone reminder IS the affirmation, it's that it reminds you of the commitment you made previously to do something. Everyone operates differently. For me, affirmations work best if I write them or type them out and then if I am constantly thinking about them.

Different strokes for different folks, though. Find whatever works for you to keep "affirming" those things and go for it. <3

@soundofthereign I like how you incorporate such a ubiquitous piece of technology into reminding yourself of your affirmations. We all do it differently and have different needs. Whatever works for you is what you should do--and you are. 🙂

4

I have, and I believe they work. I should start doing them again. Thank you for the reminder.

Lysistrata Level 7 Feb 13, 2018
4

Stuart Smalley would be proud! Really, tho. they may help keep you focused & positive, & those aren't bad things at all. If they work for you, go with it!

phxbillcee Level 10 Feb 13, 2018
???? Daily Affirmation: Stuart Smalley's (Al Franken ... - YouTube
4

It's a tough balancing act. I avoid using anything negative or self defeating and concentrate on all the positives while trying to stay grounded in reality. Know your limits but don't dwell on them. I have always been a can do person and everything I have set my mind to, I have done. The vocabulary one uses determines a lot of who you are and how you are perceived.

Yup.

4

I do know if you keep telling yourself you are ugly, worthless, stupid, it has Terrible effects on you! So I must believe that telling yourself you are competent, attractive, worthy, etc would be very good for you! Elite athletes are coached on how to use such thoughts to help them win, there are books written by them & for them about it.

AnneWimsey Level 9 Feb 13, 2018

@silvereyes When I did Agility with my dogs, it was an accepted axiom that telling yourself "be sure you don't (whatever)", meant for sure you Would do it. We always used positive phrasing, "I am going to do (whatever) perfectly" Directing a dog around a course unknown to the dog in 45 or so seconds really leaves No time for negativity!

I agree with you Anne. I really don't like it when people say unkind or negative things about themselves. I absolutely believe that the psyche adopts the mindset of those thoughts and words.

3

... god grant me the serenenity to accept... bullshit, bullshit, bullshit... you need this, you really really need this...
...maybe I should just say No, no I don’t or No I haven’t...

Tomas Level 7 Feb 13, 2018
3

I tried affirmations when in my 20's, was not too skeptical of such things then, even trusted my brother in-law when he told me homeopathy was real medicine.
While I think affirmations are more effective than homeopathy, that's obviously not a glowing recommendation.

ThomasLevi Level 6 Feb 13, 2018
3

if self esteem is in any way tied to performance or success or okayness I would have to say that they could help. If you can believe in them.

hankster Level 9 Feb 13, 2018
2

I have several posted around, I used to have more. One I have at work says something to like "sometimes things have to fall apart to fall into place."

2

I know many who say they are great for them, can't see myself ever using that method

Rugglesby Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
2

I went through an abusive relationship when I was 19-20. I used them after to remind me of my self worth. Not sure if it helped or not.

Marcie1974 Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
2

I have not used ...no opinion...

2

I quit smoking using affirmations, sort of. Even though I didn't realize it. It was really a negative affirmation, but it had surprising results. I've recently started to explore eft, which is pretty remarkable really. It has profound effects that are actually measurable during practice.

Taijiguy Level 6 Feb 13, 2018
2

Yes. Repeated messages to yourself can work to "program" the brain, increasing confidence, reducing insecurities and self-harming internal dialogue, and improving focus on goals. There's good science out there demonstrating that it is an effective technique, which explains why something like it has developed in so many cultures.

Atheopagan Level 6 Feb 13, 2018

@silvereyes they have to be worded in a certain way. It's important to not sabotage the affirmation. They say, for example, if you affirm that you want something, you're only creating the want itself. Wayne Dyer had a lot of really good seminars about affirmations and manifestation.

Oh boy. That's what religious people do to their kids. Brainwashing at its worst.

@GoldenDoll if one is "brainwashing" themself in order to affect a positive change that they actually desire, how exactly is that worthy of scorn?

2

I can never discuss this topic without thinking of Al Franken's SNL routine as Stuart Smalley: "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me!"

That said ... I think affirmations "work", for some people, some of the time -- not in some woo-ish way, but because of the simple principle that our subconscious is highly suggestible and takes instructions without a lot of discrimination or nuance. My version of this is that I'll outright lie to my subconscious. I walk for exercise, but basically hate exercise. I'll tell myself that near the end of my walk, I'll stop at Dunkin Donuts for a hazelnut latte and donut as a reward for accomplishing the walk. This actually motivates me to walk. When I get there, I'll say, no, I don't need it, or the guilt or bloat that goes with it; I'll just continue on home -- and I do. And it works. For me anyway.

mordant Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
2

We do affirmations of others at the close of meetings on one of my projects. Tell the person next to you something good about them. It’s a little cheesy but a positive way to end a meeting.

As for personal affirmations, after divorcing a toxic narcissist, my therapist suggested that I check negative thoughts with more positive/realistic ones. She didn’t call them affirmations but it was along those lines. The idea was to reprogram my mind from the gaslighting I had been exposed to for many years. “When you feel X, remind yourself that Y.”

A2Jennifer Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
2

I've tried using them. They never seem to work.

I have concluded that at best they help keep you focused on aspects of your life you want to change or work on. Still they never worked for me.

snytiger6 Level 9 Feb 13, 2018

@BlueWave I am legally blind and seem to not catch all the typos all the time. In fact I have a lot of typos....

2

Yes..I watch Abraham Hicks on YouTube, and they advise ignoring negative things and focusing on things you love. Instead of saying things to yourself like "I need money. Why don't I have any money. I'm a loser," find something to say that doesn't resist what you really want.

It's better to say, "I like my bills being paid. Having money is nice." instead of causing inner resistance by chanting "I am rich" to yourself. The idea is not to bring up resistance, so instead, focus on things you love to do..go for a walk, take a nap, watch a favorite comedy, etc.

As for visualization..of course it works. When I was playing sports growing up I would pretend to slow down spinning ping pong balls, baseballs, etc., and even enlarge the basketball hoop to enormous size in my mind, and then I had plenty of time and room to score. I later read that most professional athletes do this instinctively, even if they aren't aware of it.

birdingnut Level 8 Feb 13, 2018
2

I suffer from aphantasia. I litterally can not conceive pictures in my mind. So visualizing is a no go for me for any reason.

@silvereyes I've been told that it works better if you visualize your goals or success when engaging in the activity. I figure I don't need it and I won't be good at it, so why try?

@silvereyes I get what you mean. I guess I tell myself that I'm ok with a situation, or that I will find a way to cope with an issue.

1

Yes. I find that I do better in life when I make it a point to remind myself regularly to focus on the positive. Positive affirmations are one of my survival skills and are a part of who I am.

Meep70 Level 7 Feb 18, 2018
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