Affirmations and Doubts
I've never been a fan of affirmations.
I have done a LOT of personal development; courses, books, techniques. But affirmations have never hit the mark for me.
I've always felt extremely self conscious the times that I've tried (amazing how embarrassed I can be in the privacy of my own mind!) and I've been so uncomfortable with it that I know it wont stick. I can feel that its not landing, not breaking through whatever mental blocks are there that make me need the affirmation in the first place.
But I've recently been re-using a technique I first tried decades ago, and been blown away with the results.
I remember it being pretty powerful back when I was a teenager. I'm in my forties now and some of those unhelpful unconscious beliefs have really had time to slow cook and simmer in their own juices for a couple 'o decades. Some of them have been so good at staying unconscious it's quite shocking to see their obviousness, once all has been revealed…
Anyway, maybe it's the current phase of my life, maybe it’s that I’m just not remembering my teenage years with as much clarity, but I sure am getting some bang from re-using this technique.
Its a simple practice that uses free association to shine a little bit of light onto some of the thoughts connecting with your affirmation.
Here's what to do;
Decide on an affirmation sentence. (Make sure it’s framed in the present tense of whatever you want to feel / do / be.. eg "I am ........." (Put whatever details you want in the sentence but you'll be writing it out a few times so don't make it too long. Short and to the point is good.)
Write it out, and immediately afterward write a stream of consciousness response, just a sentence or two. Whatever comes to mind, whether related to your affirmation sentence or not.
It could be "I need to take something out of the freezer for dinner". It could be "remembering our driveway and a particular song" whatever pops into your head. Write it down, then refocus your mind back on the affirmation. Rewrite the affirmation, and see what pops up next.
Rinse and repeat.
The suggestion is 21 times in a row, for 21 days. The repetition of 21 times in a row really helps illuminate patterns. Just like with dream journaling (writing down your dreams each night) you will notice connections over a number of repetitions, with things that don't seem related on the surface. The 21 days in a row enhances the chance that the affirmation (new pathway, or thought pattern) will stick around for the longer term.
The effectiveness of this technique, I believe, is in creating increased and more variable links to your affirmation, resulting in greater neural connectivity to the new thought pattern you want to implement.
In addition, by allowing an unfiltered internal response , you have a much better chance at identifying unconscious blocking beliefs, and the memories, thoughts and responses associated with them.
Your unconscious sneaks in, and it speaks.
Enjoy!