Written by: Alicia Rios Wilks, 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.
Affirmations are great, but they are not the most effective tool to harness the power of your mind.
If you’re using affirmations, that’s awesome! But stop right now. There’s a much more powerful way.
I think everyone knows that what we say to ourselves has a huge effect on our lives – it affects how we feel, which affects how we act and how we show up in the world. It brings us into our power or takes us out of it. It creates intentional change when used in the right way.
We all know that we "read between the lines" and that "actions speak louder than words." So we already know that much of our language is nonverbal and goes beyond what we actually say.
What about what we don't say to ourselves? Or rather what we do say, but not in our words?
People lie. They say one thing but mean another.
How do we know when someone’s lying? By their actions.
Yet, we fail to apply that principle to our communication with ourselves. We are never not communicating with ourselves; all levels of consciousness are constantly observing the way we are being – not speaking but being.
If we can tell when another person doesn't mean what they say because of their behavior, then why do we think that we won’t perceive the lie in our own words? Why do we believe we can trick ourselves?
Did a billionaire get to where they are by writing "I deserve money" and "money loves me" all over their fridge? No. They made money by taking action. Perhaps they used an affirmation initially to inspire action, but it was the actions that created the results.
What we do tells us, and the world, who we are – without the need for words.
Our actions create silent instructions, which are far more powerful than the verbal kind. Real power for change comes from the action you take because our actions are the loudest form of communication. To make your affirmations true, you must act in alignment with them.
Repetition of words isn’t enough to override repetition of behavior. So you can tell yourself “I’m worthy” all you want, but if you’re not repeating the behavior that goes with it, nothing is going to change.
Affirmations are, at best, half of a tool. And a blade without a handle makes a knife dangerous.
Affirmations are counterproductive when used alone. If someone starts each day with "I'm worthy; I'm worthy", but they continue acting in their old ways – putting the needs of others above their own, not asking for that raise, not taking care of themselves – then what are they really telling themselves?
They're silently instructing themselves that, not only do they not believe that they're worthy, but also, that they tell themselves things they don't mean. Their own words lose credibility and they are reinforcing the same identity of "I don't believe I’m worthy". Actions can cancel words.
This is the power of silent instructions. When your actions align with your affirmations, your silent instructions reinforce that there is truth in your words. When they don’t align, you’re silently instructing yourself that your words are untrue.
What are you really telling yourself when you surround yourself with affirmations?
Does a billionaire keep “I deserve money” and “money loves me” written on his fridge? I think not. Because he already believes it.
If we want to reinforce that we do believe something, do we need to affirm it through affirmations? No. It would be as unnecessary and needless as me writing "my name is Alicia" everywhere. I already know that – I don't need external cues to convince me. It's already a fact in my mind. In the same way, we must live our life as if the things we want to be true were already true and factual. That's how you become who you wish to be, rather than imitate without conviction.
Don’t try to persuade yourself. Show yourself.
If you’re not acting as if the affirmation is already true then it doesn’t matter what you say, you are instructing yourself that it is false. You must use your actions as well as words to affirm that which you desire to be true. This is what I call AffirmAction.
AffirmAction is what takes you from wanting to being. It is the only lasting and effective way to become your desired self. It is the process of recreating yourself. It starts with the words that describe the desired outcome, like “I’m good enough”, and follows with the actions that affirm the truth of those words.
So how do you make the switch from affirmations to AffirmAction?
The key to mastering this subtle but critical difference is to ask yourself "How would the person I wish to become act? How would they feel? What would they say to themselves, really?". Next, you must follow through with those answers – they are the road map that will lead you to your new identity and reinforce it on all levels.
To truly harness the power of your mind for transformation, you must take AffirmACTION. Because, after all, "actions speak louder than words", so make the instructions you hear daily the ones that will help you build the life you desire. I invite you to get in touch! Tell me, what’s the biggest transformation you would like to create and what AffirmAction are you going to take to support it?
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Youtube, or visit my website for more information on how you can create rapid, powerful, lasting transformation and live in Radical Freedom.
Alicia Rios Wilks, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Alicia Rios Wilks is on a mission to spark a Radical Freedom Movement. She is an innovator in combining human consciousness, mind and body transformation, and breakthrough performance. Like many of her clients, Alicia had spent much of her life feeling powerless, unsatisfied and limited.
To create her own transformation, Alicia brought together top research on the nature of consciousness and the structure of reality and pioneered a revolutionary method designed for the most powerful and rapid transformation humanly possible. She has since dedicated her life to helping others harness their innate power to release emotional blocks, live as the fullest expression of their true self, and intentionally create their dream life. She is the founder and creator of Radical Freedom, creating heart-centered spaces for others to learn how to live an unlimited life, connect to their unique superconscious genius and live their true nature and purpose.
