What are Positive Affirmations and Do They Actually Work

It’s time for a deep dive into positive affirmations, what they are, and if they actually work. If just saying a couple of things is enough to change our lives, then this is definitely something we want to invest our time into. However, if it has no research or science to back it up, then it’s time to toss it.

This is a complete, unfiltered guide on positive affirmations. It’s time to learn whether or not they can be effective, how to use them, and more today.

What are Affirmations

An affirmation, by definition, is a statement or phrase that is repeated over and over again. They are said to be a way to shift or change your mindset. This may be due to habits since repeating something over and over can help make it stick.

Examples

Find a couple of examples of affirmations and see what works and what doesn’t work. Affirmations tend to be positive and in the present tense. Examples of such affirmations include 

• I am confident. 
• I am happy. 
• I go after what I want in life. 
• I love myself. 
• I accept myself.

You’re going to want to avoid anything negative or anything that deals with the past or future. It’s all about the present with affirmations. This includes examples such as

• I will be happy.
• I didn’t like my reaction.
• I was not confident but will be more confident in the future.
• I don’t like my past self, I will be better.

Potential Benefits

So, the whole purpose of affirmations, particularly positive affirmations, is to rewire the mind. They are supposed to help you, by default, think more positively. This allows you to reach for more positive thoughts in any given situation. For example, if you’re undergoing adversity or a challenge, you may be able to deal with that challenge more head-on by doing positive affirmations in the past. In theory, this is because you have a more positive mentality.

As outlandish as it sounds, saying you are confident may help you be more confident, according to people who love affirmations. Let’s dive into the science behind affirmations and what they can and cannot do.

The Science Behind Positive Affirmations

Just to be clear, saying something over and over again doesn’t make it true. That is not the claim behind positive affirmations. You cannot simply go I am rich and have millions of dollars in your bank account. 

What you can do is say something like I am confident. This may not bring up confidence right away. However, saying you are confident, over and over again, may allow you to mentally practice being confident. You start to visualize yourself giving a presentation with confidence. You start to practice confidence in the mind. This may make it easier for you to act confident in certain situations once the opportunity arrives.

The science behind affirmations is simple. In this study, scientists found that people who practiced positive affirmations became less defensive when confronting issues. That meant that they were able to stay calm when confronted with a negative experience.

Another study found that some affirmations can change our behavior. In this study, people who practiced green Earth affirmations were more likely to recycle than individuals who did not practice these affirmations. This may be because recycling and green earth habits were already on the mind due to repeatedly saying these phrases.

There’s also this study here, that found that even small microaffirmations can be effective. Small motivational phrases said throughout the day when something unpleasant or inconvenient happens help individuals feel better and act better. These small statements had a huge part in improving someone’s mental state and reaction to negative situations.

Results

So, at the end of the day, when affirmations are used as they are intended, they can change the way we feel, act, and react. This is life-changing. Simple phrases influence your mind. Just repeating a couple of words can help you react better in negative situations. A couple of sentences a day give you a more positive and happy outlook on life. This is definitely something we want to take advantage of, it’s something we want to start doing whenever we can.

Let’s talk about the research here for a second. Luck is created. People who affirm themselves to be more lucky look for more opportunities in the outside world. They find solutions and are less tense and anxious. The way we think influences the way we act and how we see our world.

Tips to Use Affirmations Effectively

If positive affirmations were that simple, everyone could just say I’m confident, and lose their fear of public speaking. That’s not the case. These are tips that allow you to use affirmations effectively. It’s not as simple as just saying something. You have to use these tips!

• Repetition is key – repetition is key to making affirmations stick. You need to affirm many times throughout the day for these words to become second nature to you.
• Mornings and nights – one of the best things you can do is wake up with your affirmation. Take some moments in the morning to say them out loud to yourself. Do the same at night. That way you are starting and closing the day off right.
• Feel them out – think about what the words you are using mean to you. If you are affirming for confidence, think about how it feels to be confident. Memorize this feeling in the body and mind.
• Visualize – what’s really going to make these affirmations personal to you is for you to visualize them. Visualize yourself acting confident, visualize yourself speaking up more in meetings, visualize yourself doing exactly what your affirmation says you are doing.
• Practice makes habit – it’s all about practicing the feelings and actions behind your affirmations. Know that you don’t have to get it right right away. Give yourself Grace and leeway.
• Explore other mediums – some people have a good time just staying there affirmations out loud. Other people need a visual, so they write down affirmations on post-it notes and place them around the house. Other people prefer to journal with their affirmations. Choose whatever way feels best for you and practice your affirmations. 

The Takeaway

Positive affirmations have the power to change our lives. They could change the way we think, feel, act, and react. This has the power to change our entire world. Learning how to use positive affirmations is the best thing we can do here and now to support our mental wellbeing and help us live the life we deserve.

Remember, health always comes from within. Start by eating nutritious food, moving your body, exercising when you can, and caring for your mental health. These small daily changes and habits that you start to cultivate become the foundation for a life full of wellness. Don’t forget about the health of your microbiome, too! Gut microbiota affects everything in your body, from the skin to muscles to the immune system and mental health. Get all the resources you need about microbiota health for free here!