A common misconception is that acquisition creates a positive mindset. If that were true, there wouldn’t be any wealthy people who are unhappy. If you make the mistake of seeing a healthy psyche as something dependent on acquiring status or wealth, it can lead to the thinking trap of, “Once I get ____, then I’ll be happy,” whether it’s a promotion, a new car, married, a mortgage paid off, retirement, etc. As the satisfaction from achieving each new milestone settles, you find yourself looking for the next “big thing” to define your life. The result is a never-ending pursuit for satisfaction from external validation.
Instead, those interested in developing a positive, success-oriented mindset should direct their attention inward. There’s a complex interrelationship between an individual’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Your emotions aren’t simply reacting to a situation, they’re reacting to your thoughts about the situation. Your thoughts dictate your emotions, which influence your actions. That’s why if you’re interested in developing a success-oriented mindset, you must first learn to control your thought patterns and self-talk.
Affirmations are a tool to help correct negative thought patterns by building positive self-perceptions and enhancing self-esteem. An affirmation is a positive self-referential statement that reinforces core values made in the present tense. An example of an affirmation is, “I have an exceptional memory.” A paper published in the Journal of Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience found, by examining neural mechanisms using MRIs, those who affirmed had increased activity in regions of the brain associated with self-processing and valuation. Findings suggest that these neural mechanisms are reinforced by affirmations, enabling those who affirm to preserve positive self-worth in threatening situations. In short, reinforcing the way you think of yourself helps keep your emotions under control.
Affirmations should be handwritten in first-person with positive framing, such as, “I have an exceptional memory” instead of, “I never forget anything”. While it’s suggested that affirmations can be read, spoken, or typed, research from The University of Stavanger suggests that handwriting improves cognition compared to other methods, which is why it’s strongly recommended that you hand write your affirmations to maximize their effect.
Getting started is easy. Prompter!™ is a free affirmation platform available on the iOS and Android app stores. It provides you with a unique list of 12 affirmations for you to hand write and submit daily. After 21 submissions, you’ll progress to the next stage and be provided with a brand-new list of affirmations. You can track your progress through the app and collect badges to symbolize your achievements. Prompter!™ removes the burden of creating affirmations, so you can focus on one thing: strengthening your inner self.
When you affirm with deliberate intentions in the present tense, you are building new mental habits. With enough rehearsal, these declarations can restructure the core values you hold true about yourself. Your affirmations become mental reflexes to curb self-doubt and establish positive self-perceptions. Over time, you can develop a resilient, positive mindset that is conducive to success. It all starts with learning to control your thoughts.
Contributor: Chad Morris, Staff Writer
The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. None of the information presented is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
