Positive Affirmations: Are They Really That Good?

You've undoubtedly unconsciously validated yourself by telling yourself stuff like:

"All I can do is give it my all."
"I've got what it takes," she says.
"I am confident in my abilities to achieve success."
These simple phrases can help you redirect your attention away from perceived shortcomings or inadequacies and toward your strengths, both those you already have and those you desire to improve.


Do they, however, genuinely work? In a way.

Affirmations are a useful tool for changing your mentality and attaining your objectives, but they aren't a quick fix for success or healing.

How they function ?

Neuroplasticity, or your brain's ability to evolve and adapt to diverse situations throughout your life, can help you understand not only why affirmations work, but also how to improve their effectiveness.


Your brain can get a bit confused about the distinction between reality and imagination at times, which can be quite useful.



Imagining yourself doing something, such as acing a nerve-wracking interview or overcoming your fear of heights by bungee jumping, engages many of the same brain areas as really experiencing the experience.



Regularly repeating affirming remarks about oneself can train your brain to accept these beliefs as true. When you sincerely feel you can do anything, your behaviours will frequently reflect that belief.


You could, for example, replace a negative or nervous thinking with:

"I'm a dreadful interviewer. I'm probably not even close to the other candidates in terms of qualifications. I should just leave because there's no chance they'll hire me."
With a favourable statement:

"I possess all of the essential qualifications and experience, and I am the ideal candidate for this position."
Affirmations can help you relax before the interview, and knowing you're properly prepared can help you avoid self-defeating ideas or behaviours that could jeopardise your success.


Remember, action is key

Repeating an affirmation can help boost your motivation and confidence, but you still have to take some action yourself. Try thinking of affirmations as a step toward change, not the change itself.
Consider that nosy co-worker who always asks questions about your personal life. You don’t want to say anything to offend, but you also have no intention of answering their questions.
An affirmation like “I can remain calm even when I feel annoyed” might guide you to a habit of deep breathing or grounding exercises when you start to feel your blood boil.
These tactics, combined with your affirmations, help you get through the stressful moment until you can politely make an escape.
The affirmation didn’t make the change, you did. But it did offer a starting point.

Every day, practise affirming yourself.
To get the most out of affirmations, start doing them on a regular basis and make it a habit:
Begin with exercising for 3 to 5 minutes at least twice a day. For example, when you wake up and climb into bed, recite affirmations.
Each affirmation should be repeated 10 times. Listen to yourself say it out loud, paying attention to the words as they exit your mouth. Believe things to be true as you say them.
Enlist the assistance of a trusted family member. Listening to someone else repeat your affirmations can help you believe them more strongly.
Maintain a steady regimen. Make an effort not to miss any days. Affirmations can be a terrific complement to your regular meditation practise if you meditate.
Patience is required. Stick with your practise even if you don't notice any changes right away.
Another advantage of sticking to a regular routine? Affirmations can trigger your brain's reward system, which can affect how you experience both emotional and physical pain.

Knowing you can handle stress and other life challenges can enhance your confidence and self-empowerment, allowing you to have more faith in yourself.