Written by: Gayle Terzis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
“You are what you think”. ‒ Ralph Waldo Emerson
We have all, at one point or another in our lives, heard about the power of positive affirmations. Some of us might have even tried using a few for the purpose of creating positive changes in desired areas, but haven't been totally swayed by the results.
The key to successfully using positive affirmations lies in our intent, as well as the end goal we have initially set for ourselves. And although some of us might be weirded out from the process of talking to ourselves out loud at first (I know I was), I can guarantee that the end results are worth giving it a try.
A study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience showed that using positive affirmation activates the reward centers in our brains, which in turn will make us happy and positive.
A great way to integrate positive affirmations into your daily routine is through business coaching.
First things first, what are Positive Affirmations?
Positive affirmations are powerful statements we repeat to ourselves and that can be used on a quasi-daily basis or as many times as deemed necessary. They have the ability to rewire our brains by freeing us of negative self-talk and by breaking the patterns that we subconsciously repeat.
This, in turn, will have a direct impact on our emotions, belief system, as well as our general and overall well-being. The more we use positive affirmations, the more we will see improvements in all areas of our lives.
They even enhance the way you see yourself by showing you how wonderful you are at any given moment!
What are the benefits of positive affirmations?
Our brains are incredibly adaptable and repeating positive statements encourages your brain to accept these affirmations as fact. They’re especially effective when you use them to replace self-sabotaging thoughts.
According to psychology and various business coaching studies, self-affirmations have many benefits, and some of them are:
Reducing health-harming stress in the future.
Improving physical health.
Alleviating anxiety, depression, feelings of failure, and other maladaptive reactions to stressful events.
Enhancing cognitive performance on recognition memory, verbal reasoning, problem-solving, decision making, and selective attention, thus helping propel your career forward.
Improving immune function when applied in combination with meditation practice.
How to rewire your brain with Positive Affirmations
Rewiring your brain through the consistent use of positive affirmations will liberate you from old beliefs that are no longer in alignment with your new reality.
For positive affirmations to have a powerful impact on your life, you have to say them out loud occasionally, as if you’re speaking to your subconscious.
The trick is to choose statements that resonate with who you are.
Here is a list of positive affirmations that you might find useful in your daily life:
I am capable of overcoming negative thoughts.
Today is the day to make a change.
I have the qualities required for success.
I will not give up.
My body deserves to be cared for, so I nourish it with nutritious foods and energizing exercise.
The going may be tough, but it is only for a short time. Things will improve.
I’m extremely thankful for the lessons I’ll be learning today. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn new skills and enjoy new experiences.
I’ve decided to face this challenging problem with grace and optimism.
I completely adore and accept my strong and healthy body.
I am healing every day.
This is something I am capable of. I am certain.
I’m getting better every day compared to before.
I inhale calmness and exhale nervousness as a reward. Thus, I sleep soundly every day.
I will unconditionally love myself, and I am allowed to feel good about myself.
I am forgiving, gentle with myself, and with my mistakes.
I am surrounded by the right group of supportive and positive people so that they can bring the best version of me.
I am able to attract money.
I will get money, as I deserve a prosperous life.
I will set clear goals and will take action towards achieving my goal.
I am creative and unlimited.
I believe in myself.
You can pick and choose as many affirmations as you would like. Pick the ones that serve your life purpose as well as your career. You can even create your own affirmations through business coaching and tailor them to better suit your needs.
For that, you need to determine the areas in your life where you are struggling. Then write down all the affirmations that will help you move forward.
There are many ways to integrate positive affirmations in your life, and here are a few of them:
Try coupling affirmations with something you do in your daily routine. It could be during the time you’re brushing your teeth or even when you’re making breakfast. (Pairing them with exercises like Yoga is excellent. That’s because activities centered on deep breathing exercises will take that affirmation to the next level, and you’ll feel even more grounded).
Go beyond just repeating the statements. Get reading on the topic of your affirmation. If you’re using them to improve confidence, get a self-help book on the same subject.
Keep a journal to record how the affirmations make you feel and the journey they take you on. You’ll get wonderful insights into how your target area has improved, and it may even reveal other areas you might want to improve on.
Stick to your positive affirmation: Reprogramming your brain takes time. Put up sticky notes around your house to remind yourself to do your positive affirmations, or set daily reminders in your digital calendar.
If you started business coaching services, come up with a plan with the help of your coach to integrate your positive affirmation in a way that suits you.
Positive affirmations for a positive outcome,
We all know the impact words and thoughts can have on the quality of our lives. They can either be hurtful or leave us feeling sad and depleted, or they can be very uplifting and empowering.
Carefully listening to our inner dialogue and paying attention to the tone and the words that we use to address ourselves can be the catalyst for either positive or negative change. In other words, thoughts can either break us or elevate us to places we have only dreamed of.
Positive affirmations are an important tool that anyone can apply. So let’s use that power to create the change we want in our lives today!
Gayle Terzis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Gayle Terzis is an Executive & Career Coach and the Founder of Boost Up.
With a background in banking, Gayle spent over ten years in the corporate world working on diverse missions, including the development of the first program dedicated to the financial empowerment of women in the Middle East. However, she started feeling that her job was lacking meaning and purpose, she was automatically less happy at work. She found coaching to be her calling. She quit her job and got certified by the ICF Executive & Leadership Coaching program.
Today, Gayle helps ambitious career-focused people connect with their better selves in order to reach their full potential and achieve meaningful goals faster; while having a balanced, healthy, happy and productive life.
