Affirmations create powerful transformations in our lives. I’m talking about mind-blowing-overnight-that’s-just-crazy-how-that-happened transformations. However, I didn’t always believe that. My affirmations didn’t actually work for me at first, and I didn’t understand why they were falling flat. I blamed the very concept of affirmations for my lackluster results. After all, I was doing everything right – or was I?
Like me, you might have an excellent affirmation practice, your affirmations are tailored to your vision for yourself, and everything is dandy, until you notice that they don’t seem to be working. So what’s wrong? It doesn’t mean that affirmations aren’t for you, but maybe you’ve gotten off track somewhere.
Here’s how to diagnose what’s not working with your affirmations and why.
You’re Not Acting on Your Affirmations
Affirmations aren’t magic. They’re not your fairy godmother waving her magic wand and making everything ok. You do have to walk the talk and make sure you’re living your affirmations out in the real world.
We must act as if we believe the thing we are affirming is already true. This is referred to as “acting as if,” and far from being a denial of what is in front of us, it is aligning our own energy and focus with where we want to go.
Affirmations are the first step in your mindset action plan. Make it part of your practice to follow your affirmation with a concrete example of how you will live your positive statement today. Those positive words need to be backed up with specific examples. I do this with morning “Intention Setting.” My intentions are actually affirmations, which help me focus on what I want the day to bring.
Each time you act on your affirmations, you build another stepping stone to achieving your goals. At the end of the day, review how you went in living up to your affirmations and celebrate every success, big or small. I do this in the evening with a “Gratitude List” of what I accomplished, and I look to see how it aligned with my intentions.
You’re Rushing Your Affirmations
To be as effective as possible, say your affirmations out loud, slowly and confidently. If this feels awkward at first, do it in private. There is something extremely powerful about our own voice and the energy of the spoken word. I was taught to repeat the affirmations like a mantra several times for added strength. Put some oomph into your delivery and look yourself in the eye. If you don’t believe your positive statements, who will?
It’s worth making your affirmation time a special ritual. If it just becomes something automatic like brushing your teeth, your attention will wander, and you won’t be paying attention.
Your subconscious has to hear that you mean every word so that the significance sinks in. Show your subconscious that you’re serious about your affirmations. Maybe light a candle, take three deep centering breaths and then say your affirmations confidently and sincerely in front of the mirror, looking yourself straight in the eye.
You’re Not Consistent in Your Affirmation Practice
Be honest. Do you stick to a regular pattern of saying your affirmations? Or do you remember some days and not others? Or do you remember at the last minute and then rush through them in your head?
You can’t expect your subconscious to take you seriously if you don’t take the time to do your affirmations properly.
Treat your affirmations as a serious commitment. Allot time for them every day at a regular time. Consistency in how and when you say your affirmations will build confidence, and before you know it, you will be living your vision in the present moment.
For a list of my favorite affirmations, check out Twenty Affirmations for Transformation, and sign up for my newsletter, which delivers a keepsake affirmation every week.