Affirmations, do they work?

Question

I understand the reasoning behind using affirmations to change your thinking and improve your self esteem and all that, but writing a few positive statements down and repeating them a couple of times a day seems kind of ridiculous to me. I don't really think somehting like that can change how i feel. Has anyone used affirmations to change negative thought processes and found them to be effective?

Answer 1

Well, not believing they will work will slow your progress, but they will work eventually. Heck, they literally saved my life from suicidal depression. In "The Feeling Good Handbook", Dr. David Burns explains how it works and why. Trust me.... it works. Life couldn't be better. This coming from someone who was at the bottom less than two years ago. Read my story and see what you think:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/AntidepressantThatWorks.html

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Yeah, affirmations actually do work. I've found them most helpful by a combination of things. One is to write them down and say them several times b4 going to sleep every nite. and then again repeating the positive affirmations in the morning a few times as they will have become part of your thought process more and more gradually. The other thing is if one has any kind of emotion or negative thought work it out thru journalling following up on the thought (or issue) w/the affirmation(s). They work

Answer 4

Affirmations have worked for me in the past, you do tend to create what you think about most. So changing what you think about most is very effective.
Tools that I found useful were recording affirmations on a loop, like on garageband on my phone, or something similar. Listening to them even very quietly while you work, or sleep can create change without effort.

I barely recognise my life from what it was ten years ago.

I have found www.freeaffirmationsforyou.com to be a good starter resource, for finding tools that can help, for specific areas of your life.

Answer 5

I agree with Peachy, Dr. David Burns "Feeling Good.." Great book- there's a workwook too that builds on the concepts presented in the feeling good handbook called "10 days to self-esteem". Positive affirmations are acutally only a part of the whole concept of "cognitive behavioral therapy". It changed my life. It has helped me to deal with my depression, be kinder to not only meself but other people as well- it reminds me not get caught up in other people's drama- the "drama triangle". Helps to take alot of extra stress off of yourself you didn't realize you had. Affirmations- " I am loved." you can say whatever you want.

Answer 6

Affirmations, or as I prefer to call them, Verbal Remedies work by engaging a process of creative visualization. The way to write and recite your own precision affirmations is to make your statements: Positive, Present, Personal and Specific. Here are some useful resources for getting your mind around your own verbal remedies: http://www.psychic-junkie.com/verbal-remedies.html

Answer 7

Hi Colonel. Belief is very powerful. Mohammed Ali believed he was the greatest and he proved that to be true.

The key to success is belief in your ability to achieve that success. Henry Ford said whether you believe you can or you can't - you are right.

The most amazing thing about the human mind is its ability to change its beliefs. The key to changing a belief is repetition of thought. Think of the process as a form of brain-washing, only with a positive outcome. The mind learns to believe the things it hears repeated over and over. Affirmations thus serve as a mechanism to repeat ideas over and over until the mind learns to believe them.

Note: affirmations are just a starting point. You must also make specific goals and take daily action steps to achieve those goals. But 'belief' is the underlying key to your ultimate success.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 8

Yes.
The secret is in the subconscious.
Affirmations are not suggestions for your conscious mind (that is why it seems ridiculous), but for the subconscious. Hence, they work much better when combined with deep relaxation / self hypnosis.
This can be very enjoyable, check out a deep relaxation / positive suggestion audio on the web, jam it in your ipod and chill to the good vibes.
For the next level, if you really want to start feeling better about yourself, throw out your television, it is a negative-suggestion-hypnosis-power-box-of-evil.
I am jealous of the profound change to goodness this will bring you.

Answer 9

Affirmations DO work. Think about it - how many times have you called yourself stupid or fat or ugly? Do you believe those things (at least some of the time)?

Affirmations may sound silly and take awhile to feel comfortable with doing. Try these:

I am worthy of a good life and I will do everything in my power to have one!

I am not a victim. I have made poor choices in the past but today I will look toward the future.

I have a thin person inside of me.

I have much to offer to myself and even more to offer to others.

If I can believe in it - I can achieve it!

Answer 10

YOU will only know if you try.

I believe in them.
It's a way to start and end your day with a positive thought
positive attracts positive.

it's a lot better than thinking you are worthless.

I am worthy!!!

seriously,
it's the best way to bring things into your life that you want.

Ask, desire, believe, recieve.

works for me.

try it, what have you got to lose?

fake it until you make it.

the universe is very wise!!!