RULES FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE AFFIRMATIONS
One of the easiest ways to change or delete a behavior you no
longer want is with the use of affirmations. There are very
specific rules to follow when writing affirmations.
Rule 1. Use the Present Tense
Always state the
desired result as an accomplished fact. For the subconscious,
the future never comes. Use the terms "I am", "I feel", "I am
becoming", "My condition is changing". Talk about what you are
going to do, avoid references to the past because it reminds you
of the behavior you are trying to change.
Rule 2. State Things in a Positive Manner
Words
create mental imagery. Make every effort to eliminate negative
words. Once a pictures is created by words, it is not canceled
by the use of negative words. For example, "I am not afraid."
What is the first thing that comes to your mind? Being afraid.
WRONG: "I do not eat chocolate doughnuts." RIGHT: I enjoy eating
food that is healthy and nutritious."
Rule 3. Be Specific - Work On One Area At a Time
When
you have several goals to work on, prioritize them in order of
importance and significance in your emotional life. After you
have made your list, DO NOT choose Item #1 to work on first.
Instead, choose one further down the list and develop your first
suggestions for a goal with a lesser significance. THINK OF YOUR
SUBCONSCIOUS POWER AS A NEWBORN. It's going to grow rapidly and
become very powerful and useful to you. But in the beginning, it
needs to be nurtured.
Rule 4. Be Detailed
Be detailed means to cover every
detail of your changed behavior. Let's use public speaking as an
example.
The first step is to list the negative thoughts you already have
regarding public speaking:
1. I am afraid of people.
2.
My mouth goes dry.
3. My knees knock.
4. I don't know
what to do with my hands.
5. Etc., etc.
Now, flop over each negative sentence and make a positive one.
1. I like people.
2. My lips are flexible, my mouth is
moist and my breathing is deep and from the diaphragm.
3. My
legs are strong.
4. My hands are poised and calm.
5.
Etc., etc.
Rule 5 - Be Simple
Speak to your subconscious as if
it were a bright 9-year old child. The Critical Factor (See "The
Critical Factor" by Ellen L.
Hughes, C.Ht.) didn't form until the ages of 7-9 so consider
that to be the age of your subconscious, the destination of your
affirmations. Don't use jargon; don't use technical words.
Rule 6 - Use Exciting and Emotional Words
Your
subconscious is your feeling mind. It is your emotional mind.
Use words to excite it about what you want. Words like shiny,
vibrant, sparkling, bright, wonderful, powerful, radiant,
loving, generous and abundant are good words to use. Having
problems thinking of exciting words? Use your Roget's Thesaurus
or use the thesaurus that came with your word processing
program.
Rule 7. Affirm Activity
Suggest you are doing the
activity, NOT that you have the capacity to do it. Listen to the
difference. RIGHT: I speak brilliantly and powerfully at the
luncheon. WRONG: I am able to speak brilliantly and powerfully
at the luncheon.
Rule 8. Be Accurate
If the desired result includes a
figure - say you want to shave 10 strokes off your golf game,
use that figure in your suggestion. State what your score is now
and what you want your score to be and WHEN YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE
IT. If your goal is to lose weight, your suggestion should
include the number of pounds you want to lose, your goal weight,
and the date you will achieve your goal.
Rule 9. Be Realistic
There are circumstances when it
is wrong to suggest perceived perfection. For example, "I am
always enthusiastic." Do you really want to be enthusiastic at a
funeral?
Rule 10. Personalize
Remember, you are changing YOUR
self, YOUR attitudes, YOUR actions. Don't suggest a change in
others.