| I started experimenting with affirmations years ago. | | | | *I am honest. |
| Somewhere, in a dusty corner of my closet, is an | | | | *I am trustworthy. |
| affirmation tape, and maybe even a book or two. | | | | *I am loving. |
| From these, I learned how to change the internal | | | | *I am creative. |
| self-dialogue that goes on inside my head. If you listen | | | | *I am talented. |
| closely, you will find it goes on inside your head as well. | | | | *I am generous. |
| Every time you fail at something, listen to what you tell | | | | *I am happy. |
| yourself. Is it, "I've always been bad at that, no wonder | | | | *I am understanding. |
| I can't do it," or is it, "Okay, I didn't succeed this time, but | | | | *I am confident. |
| I will try again until I do." Maybe it's somewhere in | | | | *I am loyal. |
| between. Many people need improvement on what | | | | *I am strong. |
| experts coin as "self-talk," that is, the talking inside of | | | | *I am energetic. |
| our head. If you don't think you can change how you | | | | *I am forgiving. |
| think, I'm here to tell you, you're wrong. Anyone can do | | | | *I am competent.Success*I am successful. |
| it. It simply requires determination and practice. Do you | | | | *I take risks. |
| really want to break out of the negative cycle, or are | | | | *I achieve my goals. |
| you so accustomed to being miserable that you're | | | | *I work hard. |
| afraid to try? If you have the slightest desire to | | | | *I am a problem solver. |
| change, read on, if you don't you'll just think this article is | | | | *I will get that job/promotion. |
| filled with nonsense, so you might as well stop reading | | | | *I am attentive to the task at hand.Breaking Bad |
| now.The first step to changing those innermost | | | | Habits or Self-Improvement*I will stop smoking. |
| thoughts requires you to monitor what it is you say to | | | | *I will stop over-eating. |
| yourself. When you look at yourself in the mirror, how | | | | *I will exercise more. |
| do you respond? Write it down. When you make a | | | | *I will control my temper. |
| mistake at home or work, what do you say? Write it | | | | *I will improve every day. |
| down. Listen to yourself for about a week. Are your | | | | *I will listen more. |
| words positive or negative? Are they encouraging or | | | | *I will become less judgmental. |
| discouraging? Do they motivate you or shut you | | | | *I will let go of past failures.Relaxation*I am relaxed. |
| down? Quite possibly you have a bit of both. It's nearly | | | | *I am calm. |
| impossible to stay positive 100% of the time. Everyone | | | | *I am at peace with myself. |
| falters from time to time. The trick is, to retrain the | | | | *I am at peace with others. |
| mind to react in a positive manner as often as | | | | *I am living without stress.As I mentioned, I found the |
| possible.So, you're probably wondering how to do that. | | | | best time for me was at night. You may find that the |
| To accomplish this takes some simple practice and | | | | best time for you to practice is first thing in the |
| discovering exactly what you say to yourself. I've | | | | morning. You can repeat them to yourself while you |
| always found that one of the best times to practice is | | | | are in the shower, or eating breakfast, or driving to |
| as I was laying in bed, trying to wind down from the | | | | work. It also can be helpful to write them out, especially |
| day. I learned to meditate years ago, so I incorporated | | | | if you have a couple of areas that need specific and |
| some simple breathing techniques into a routine that | | | | immediate attention. Jot them down on sticky notes or |
| relaxed me, then I would say my affirmations (positive | | | | note cards and place them on the nightstand to read |
| statements), and finally drift off into a peaceful sleep. I | | | | each morning when you rise and each evening before |
| also learned the power of saying affirmations three | | | | bed. Tape them to mirrors, the inside of the cabinet |
| different ways. Take the simple affirmation, "I am | | | | doors, the dashboard of your car, inside your daily |
| pretty." Now say it as, "You are pretty." Finally say it | | | | planner/organizer or in books that you read. The more |
| as, "She is pretty." It's three different points of view, all | | | | you say them, the more you will believe them. Soon |
| of which reinforce each other. To truly change your | | | | you will find that those old negative comments have |
| way of thinking, you must continually practice saying | | | | disappeared and new positive ones have become |
| these positive statements to yourself. At first, you | | | | habit. Whatever you do, don't give up. Change is hard |
| won't believe them, you may even laugh as you try to | | | | work, but you can do it! How do I know, because I did |
| say them. That's okay. In time you will begin to believe, | | | | it!Terry J. Coyier is a 37-year-old college student |
| the trick is to keep saying them to yourself until they | | | | studying for an Associates of Applied Sciences |
| have replaced the negative thoughts. Thousands of | | | | degree. She is also a freelance writer who writes |
| affirmations exist and below I have listed just a few to | | | | about bipolar disorder and other mental illnesses. Terry |
| get you started. Any trait you wish to posses can be | | | | was diagnosed with bipolar ten years ago. She lives |
| made into an affirmation. Don't forget to say each one | | | | with her son in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. Terry is |
| as an "I" statement, a "you" statement and a "s/he" | | | | an author on which is a site for Writers and her |
| statement.Self-Image*I am pretty. | | | | personal portfolio can be viewed here. |
| *I am smart. | | | | |