How To Write Affirmations

1. Be Exceptionally Clear About the Real Issue

Often people develop affirmations around the symptom of their problem, rather than going to the root cause. If you affirm a symptom, rather than the root cause, you may well find that you achieve results in the short term. Unfortunately, long term the results aren't sustained. For example, say you decide you need a weight loss affirmation to affirm that you have lost 10 kg. Which may be true you may need to lose 10 kg.

However, at a deeper level, the affirmation you may need is about having a healthy, positive body image. The weight is a symptom of your belief that your body is ugly, that you are ugly etc. Therefore, you may need two affirmations. One about the loss of weight. One about your belief about yourself.

With this is mind, as you begin to write your affirmations, ask yourself, 'what is my real issue?' To get to the root of the real affirmation you nee may require a great deal of reflection, insight, and honesty. Of course, an indicator that you didn't nail the correct affirmation is if the problem comes back! When that happens dig deeper.

2. Affirm in the Present Tense

Affirmations are more effective when stated in the present tense. For example; "I now have a wonderful job" is a present tense affirmation. "I am going to have a wonderful job" is affirming something in the future tense, and even though it is only a subtle shift in the phrasing of the words, your subconscious, like an iPod, only plays what you put in there.

Therefore, by affirming, "I am going to ..." you may well find yourself waiting a very long time for the results to happen. Because you are forever 'going to'. Write it as if you have already achieved it.

It may seem a bit silly at first. As your reality is that you aren't 10kg lighter. However, your subconscious is far stronger than your conscious mind. Whatever your subconscious believes always becomes your reality.  What we are attempting to do by affirming in the present tense, is to change the picture from the inside out.  

3. It is All About You

Your affirmation needs to be about you. So it will always include either the word "I" or "me" in it. You cannot make affirmations for other people.

For example, you could not affirm: "My team members are open and honest with each other."  This affirmation will never change their behavior.

However, if you were to say, "I am open and honest with my team members acting as a powerful role model," then you may discover that your changed behavior will, strangely enough, have a positive impact on and may lead to changes in those around you.

Other people, reading your affirmations, may think they sound very self-centered and selfish. And that is precisely how they are meant to be! This is a self-improvement project. Not a 'be liked/get others approval' project.

In truth, you may do well not to share your affirmations with other people. Especially if they are likely to put down your efforts or make fun of you when you don't get right what it is you are affirming.

For example, say you are affirming, "I am calm and patient with the children when they are fighting". Then the children are fighting and you find yourself shouting at them. Your partner may well ridicule your attempts at shifting your behavior, "Geez, how's that affirmation stuff working out for you!"

Your partner may not understand that these changes do not happen over night. But with persistence and practice, change will occur - just as night follows day.

4. Engage Your Emotions

E-motion = Energy in motion. The emotion fuels the energy to create the result. That is, if it doesn't get you excited; it is not a powerful affirmation. So, get involved; be passionate; use your emotions! Use phrases like: I am delighted, I am so excited, It is easy for me, etc. Bring your spirit and energy into the affirmation - the stronger the feeling an affirmation conveys, the deeper the impression it makes on your mind and the sooner you experience positive results.

5. Be Positive

Create affirmations in positive terms, avoiding negative statements. Affirm what you do want, rather than what you do not want. For example: "I am never sad or depressed." What pictures does this negative statement immediately bring to your mind? Rather affirm, "I have a positive and optimistic outlook on life." This statement is much more potent as it is positive and reinforces your desired goal.

The words that you use trigger in your mind emotions and feelings. You want these to be positive and uplifting. The quickest and easiest way to ensure that you write your affirmation in the positive is to identify what it is you don't want, and then ask yourself the question: "What is it that I want?" Write your affirmation from the answer you get to this question.

6. Be Short and Specific

Short affirmations are easy to say and have a far more significant impact at a subconscious level than those that are long and wordy. Keeping them specific and to the point adds power as the idea is uncluttered by unnecessary elements. If need be, have two or three affirmations around the one topic.

7. Be Accurate

When it is appropriate, you need to put in numbers. For example, the exact weight you want to be, or the exact amount of money you are going to save. You could even name the people that you see yourself being with, "I am confident and self-assured whenever I am with Nancy".

8. Visualize Vividly

Now that you have written your affirmation, the next step, to manifesting what you want, is the process of vividly visualizing yourself -- as if you have attained your desired outcome. Because visualizing is essential I've dedicated an entire page to it. So slip on over there to read more about the power of visualization.

Success Tips

I keep my affirmations on small cards in a small flip photo album (along with my goals and pictures of things I want to be, do, have). This goes with me everywhere. So at any time of the day, I can flick through it and make sure my thinking and actions are on course.

Affirmations do work, but they take time and belief in their power. If you are simply repeating words, then your subconscious will take a very long time to get the message. All the steps listed above are necessary, however engaging your emotions and visualization are critical.

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