Positive affirmations are a simple tool which may assist in shifting thoughts from negative to positive ones. Since it's widely thought that beliefs affect the body both mentally and physically, affirmations may not only bring about a happier mental outlook on life, but a physically healthier body as well.
Proof of the Mind and Body Connection
The idea that “we are what we think” is not a new one. This concept has been written about in a plethora of books, including, As a Man Thinketh by James Allen and The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino. The mind body connection has also been proven in a number of studies. One such study by Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer shows that changing thought patterns may inspire positive physical changes.
Wray Herbert’s 2009 Newsweek article, “Just Say No to Aging,” explains that Langer conducted a series of studies in order to show how the process works. One study in particular was conducted with senior-aged men living in a restructured daily life, recreating a period from twenty years earlier, for the span of the study.
Herbert clarifies that “The men — in their late 70s and early 80s — were told not to reminisce about the past, but to actually act as if they had traveled back in time. The idea was to see if changing the men's mindset about their own age might lead to actual changes in health and fitness.”
After one week these men showed improvement in posture, flexibility, and arthritis, among other things. Additionally, they were noted as having a younger appearance than the study controls.
Creating Positive Affirmations
In order to create positive affirmations, first make a list of unwanted traits or habits. Next, underneath every one of these qualities, write a sentence which embodies the opposite of each undesired characteristic; these new, desired beliefs are the affirmations. After creating the affirmation list, dedicate five or ten minutes a day, while in a relaxed state, to focusing on these positive thoughts.
In cases of resistance, imagine one word instead of a sentence, which embodies the desired change in behavior. For instance, if worrying about money is a recurring matter, simply focus on the word “wealth.” Once positive progress has been made in overcoming this habit, the word may be transformed into an active sentence such as “Money comes easily to me.” Affirmation beginners who experience such resistance may also benefit from using hypnosis CDs to assist in learning how to change these undesired mental habits.
Studies have shown that better health, an optimistic outlook, and a younger appearance are just some of the rewards which may be found by dedicating a few minutes each day to retraining thoughts through the use of positive affirmations.
Linda Hatton - Linda Hatton has a BFA in Acting from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Her work has appeared in Rainy Days, The Writing on the Wall, on ...
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