January 11, 2008, Newsletter Issue #141: Positive self talk- affirm how good you are to yourself!

Tip of the Week

Whenever I start to read or research into self-development, neuro-linguistic programming and ‘getting the most out' of yourself I see the recurrence of chanting and affirmations.

There are great ones out there and this branches out into literally telling-programming yourself- that you will do or be something. They work even better when said the present tense. In Brian Tracy's book Change Your Life Change Your Thinking he describes a technique to wake up at a certain time, simply by repeating “I wake up at 6.30am sharp” before you go to sleep. On the same page, he describes how to buck oneself up after a late night. That book is one for your reading list. Tony Robbins again uses affirmations heavily in his techniques and his audio programs are particularly motivational.

I do not profess to be an expert, just offer my take on these techniques, because I have found they do work. In this book I include self-penned affirmations, often made up in 30 seconds flat to ask for what I need that day, particularly if I wake up feeling groggy or lazy or float ‘off-task'.

One of the basic ideas in the self-development area- explained in detail in Brian Tracy's aforementioned book is that fundamentally we become whatever think and talk about most. A person with low self worth is likely to talk negatively about himself and the world, likewise for a confident happy person. One use of affirmations is to change these patterns of speech and thinking through repetition. One phrase/fundamental belief that Brian Tracy has in his book is:

“I am a thoroughly good person and I am going to be a big success in life. Everything that happens to me, good or bad is simply a part of the process of achieving the great success and happiness that are inevitable for me”.

I have this plastered on stickers and cards in my diary, wardrobe doors, notice boards, sun visor in car (not read whilst driving!), wallet so I can see, read and reinforce this message.

This is one of my more long-term quotes and in this book I am going to focus on the power of short, quick lines to get the best out of the day or oneself. The reason I sometimes call them spells is because it is nice to pretend that I am almost ‘casting' good thoughts and whatever I ask for to come to me. It is almost asking and putting faith in something (I'm not particularly religious but do feel a need to trust life/the universe, and that it will provide, and karma).

I make my affirmations in the present tense- speaking as if I already have it. They are best kept short and easy to remember even you are repeating it. I sometimes combine two needs in one affirmation- “I nap until 2.30pm sharp, when I wake up recharged and ready to go again…”. That Is one I used when I need an afternoon nap, to turn it into a power nap.

Mainly I write them down on a small piece of card or memorise them- the reason I like to keep them short and repeat them over and over. In the case of the power nap example as I am lying down and closing my eyes as I drift off and similarly as I go to bed.

For bedtime chants I particularly close my eyes and see it being imprinted or severely more graphical, seared (!) onto my brain and it seems to work. It is asking for what I need with a trust that it will come. I find most of the time it works. Sometimes I find it burns better onto my brain than others, and like most things with practice, it seems to take less repetitions to become effective the more I do it or stronger I concentrate.

Another great time to do it, as I found out this morning, conversely is in the shower! You can say/whisper it out loud then, pretend to scream, dance about as your shampoo, whatever you want- don't feel silly, it's a private moment and amazing for repeating your message with, as showers are quite motivating in their own right! This morning my words are “I have an alive and productive day with all the energy I need”.

Other times- having a crap day at work?- take a private moment in

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