Make Your Own Affirmations

The basic idea of positive affirmations is that you can "reprogram" your thoughts to make positive actions more likely. This makes sense, doesn't it? If you hear or repeat something enough, it is bound to have an effect. Any one who has repeatedly thought about something bad that might happen - or explained why it might happen - and then felt stressed out, can relate to this.

If it works with our negative thoughts and pronouncements, it seems likely that it will work with our positive ones as well. One way to test this on yourself, is to buy a good affirmations CD or MP3. They are usually aimed at one particular goal, like increasing your motivation or boosting self esteem. Another way to use affirmations is to write them down on cards and repeat them several times each day.

What if you like the easier-to-use CDs, but don't want to shell out the $40 they typically cost? Why not make your own? You can do this with a tape recorder or with a disc you create using your computer. Here is an outline of how to make your own affirmations CD.

How To Make Your Affirmations

Start with a clear purpose in mind. For our example, we'll suppose that you want to boost your brainpower. Now what you want is a long list of affirmations that will program your mind to think like a genius. Interview a genius if you know one, to see what she believes and how she thinks. Otherwise, you just have to guess at what kinds of statements will be helpful. Some possibilities:

I always find a solution to problems... I have a powerful mind that sees clearly... I do the mental work necessary to understand things... I think original thoughts... I exercise my brain daily to keep it working at a higher level... I always look at things from several perspectives... I always check my premises so I know that my thinking is correct.

The general rule is to state things only positively. You don't want to say, "I don't avoid thinking about things," because your unconscious mind doesn't handle negatives that well. It may just register "avoid thinking about things," as an instruction. Instead you would say something like, "I enjoy thinking about things."

It seems that it is also good to repeat the statements several times when you record them. A little trick that some use, is to use a different inflection with each repetition. For example, you might repeat the affirmation, "I always focus on the essentials when I learn new things," three times on the recording before moving on to the next one. But each time, you emphasize a different word or phrase, and so convey a different meaning, as shown here:

I always focus on the essentials when I learn new things. (Emphasizing "I" to suggest that you are special in this regard.)

I always focus on the essentials when I learn new things. (Indicating that you are consistent in this habit.)

I always focus on the essentials when I learn new things. (Conveying the direct instruction to focus on the essentials to your mind.)

A Summary: Use positively stated affirmations. Record each several times in a row, using inflection to convey a slightly different meaning each time. Listen to them daily. That is how you make and use your own affirmations.

Note: Not interested in making your own affirmations? I have been using an affirmation CD from Mike Brescia's Think Right Now (on motivation) and I like the results so far. His basic idea is that when you become conditioned with the same thought and belief patterns as people who are successful and even the best in the world at something, you will feel and act and get the same results that they do. I highly recommend that you at least go sign up for the free newsletter Mike offers on his site.
Use the link here (so I get a commission): Think Right Now.

Increase Brainpower Home Page | Make Your Own Affirmations