This article is all about breaking it down.
So, let’s start with just that.
PO-SI-TIVE AF-FIRM-A-TIONS
* inhale, exhale *
The meaning of positive is stated by the dictionary of Cambridge as the following: ‘‘full of hope and confidence, or giving cause for hope and confidence’’, and affirmation derived from the verb ‘to affirm’ means ‘‘to state something as true’’.
Therefore in layman’s terms, positive affirmations are statements which are true, and filled with hope and confidence. Here at NomadSoulzz we also love to call them soul statements which can be used as mantra’s.
What? Mantras…?
O(mmm) YES!
This refers to the history of positive affirmations, it’s origin is not found in the New Age movement like many people think, it’s in the New Age movement where it got ‘re-discovered’ in the west. The roots of Positive Affirmations lay in the early stages of the Vedic period (1500/1000 B.C.) way way back in the spiritual East.
The choice of words is key when it comes to positive affirmations, so let’s break it down once again.
The word mantra is of Sanskrit origin (Sanskrit is the classical language of India and Hinduism. The use of Sanskrit in India for literary and religious purposes is comparable to that of Latin throughout Europe, as both have been studied for more than two thousand years.)
When you further analyze the word Mantra you’ll find that “man”, means to think, and “-tra” meaning vehicle or instrument – a tool to transport the mind from a state of activity to one of stillness and silence. We get the words train, travel, and transportation from the Sanskrit root tra. Get the idea?
Mantras can be seen as a channel to free one’s mind from thought.
And that’s why I love them so much. Remember first grade? Where we all learned how words can hurt someone. Well, they certainly can heal & help as well!
You find countless of Sanskrit Mantras in many (ancient) spiritual and religious movements, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. Ever heard of ‘Ohm/ ॐ’, ‘Om Mani Padme Hum/ སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས’? Or how about Hare Krishna, Hare Rama? I just love to experience their joy, dancing and singing in the streets. Sharing the powerful, positive vibes to the world.
All these Mantras have incredible depth and meaning and hence they have a strong influence on one’s mind when recited in a specific, mindful way.
According to H. Alpers Understanding of Mantra’s there is no generally accepted definition of what a mantra exactly is, yet the definition of ‘sacred utterance’ by J. Farquhar or Zimmer’s ‘a verbal instrument to produce something in one’s mind’ come very close to my personal interpretation of mantra’s and their influence.
Back to the topic, positive affirmations vs. modern-day mindful mantra’s…
The expression positive affirmation is rooted in the knowledge, practice, and power of ancient mantra’s. I approach modern-day mantra’s as a technique used to facilitate change and help individuals to reach their highest potential.
The affirmations are personal and should vibrate in the same frequency as your soul, I’m not saying this to sound light headed but if you choose to implement affirmations in your life you are stating words of truth for your core self, that’s deep, life-changing work. #positivevibesalltheway
On this website you’ll come across various styles and genres of pre-formulated affirmations, not all will be for you, and that’s ok. Some might feel as if they were written for you, and then they were.
Sense where YOU need to rewrite your thought patterns to enable yourself to live more positively and at ease with your mind. Once you discover where the work needs to be done you can cater towards it with your own selection of positive affirmations, soul statements or mantras…
It’s all about whatever works for you!
Why?
I’ve touched the subject already a bit, but here follow’s a bit more in-depth contemplation on why would one want to implement the practice of these influential phrases.
In order to do so, let’s talk about the complete opposite of positive thoughts… the negative ones.
All of us have the naysaying mental critic chitchatting up there from time to time, or more often and more destructive, all the time.
Here comes that one important question, and be honest with yourself, do those thoughts truly benefit you in your life? & to elaborate even further… Do they make you feel less stressed, more at ease, more confident, more successful and filled with energy? Do they allow you to connect with your pure nature? #selfreflection101
…
Personally…
Nope. I consider it ‘’No’’tivation.
Long-term negative thoughts have drained me, gave me the feeling that life wasn’t worthwhile and dragged me into a state of depression and self-destructing habits.
And you know what? I had no one else than myself to blame for it.
Of course, there are triggers and situations that make it more challenging and you shouldn’t blame yourself for thinking negative (just adds to the counter yo’). I’m saying this because I experienced first-handed that I have the choice and the control to guide my mind and my Meraki-mantras have helped a lot.
I’m not saying it’s easy and I’m definitely not saying that I’m released from all negative thoughts #lifetimegoals.
All I’m suggesting, let’s do this together ♥
Let’s challenge and support each other and ourselves to transform negative thoughts and assumptions into ones that benefit us, and therefore benefit everyone around us. Just this shift alone whilst typing makes a smile appear on my face.
Get the party started!
Right here right now?! Kudos for the motivation and eagerness, this is good!
But patience and preparation are good too. A small recap of what I mentioned earlier ‘‘Sense where YOU need to rewrite your thought patterns to enable yourself to live more positively and at ease with your mind.’’
Basically, we all have our own mind-monsters that we need to tackle. Where do your thoughts derail? For the affirmations to have the most beneficial effect & affect we need to know which negative thought patterns we are redirecting with our mantra.
Think of it as training your body, when we do physical training we do repetitions, on a regular basis to achieve a goal, right? The same strategy applies to mental training, positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think – and act – differently.
Let’s hold onto the comparison of training the body vs training the mind for a sec…
Keyword in what about I’m bout’ to say is consistency.
When we want tight glutes we do squads 3 to 4 times a week, am I correct? And then we come back next week again because without the training you know you won’t get the result you want.
Bingo. Same with mind-training…
It’s not let me take a moment, sit, relax and confidently speak out a couple of affirmation and * poof * negative thoughts are gone. Training the mind requires consistency, repetition, and practice.
Just like any sport, just like any form of artistry, self-care is a commitment you make.
It might sound overwhelming, but really, you are so much more powerful than you trust yourself to be. You’ve got this!
How?
There are many ways to implement positive affirmations in your life.
A good way to start is by reading them out loud, slowly and with conviction. You must truly believe what you are saying in order for them to rewire your thought patterns in the most effective way.
Posture is important as well as it contributes to your feeling of confidence. Standing tall with a straight back, a slightly lifted chin, and relaxed shoulders will help gain an even more positive effect on your practice.
Alternatively, looking at yourself in a mirror when saying them works really well too, it’s tough when just starting and might feel awkward because it’s more confronting but it can certainly be a game-changer.
That being said, there are many ways you can practice your affirmations, use your boundless imagination! (Yes you’ve got that!)
Like mentioned before, practice makes perfect and therefore consistency is essential for the most beneficial results. Try to repeat them (I would suggest no more than 5, to begin with) daily (no longer than 5 min. per set) for a scheduled amount of time (2 weeks/ 30 days before choosing new affirmations).
The more you say them, the more natural it will feel, the more changes you will experience.
Many people also opt for writing the affirmations down and placing them strategically around their house/daily attributes as reminders, it reminds you to stay positive and focused on your goals. To run into them randomly sparks the consciousness and then they have the opportunity to accelerate the process and progress.
Examples of where to place them are endless. On your fridge; as a screensaver on your phone; next to the mirror; in your purse; in your bag; at your front door; on your bedside table and so forth.
You can even listen to them if that’s what works for you!
Voice record yourself and shuffle it in-between your favorite playlist #suggestion. I’m just throwing it out there, anything can work as long as it works for you, is positive and helps you achieve your goals. Look up ‘positive affirmations’ on YouTube and you would be surprised at what you come across!
When?
They say it’s best doing it as soon as possible after waking up to start your day positive, and as late as possible before going to sleep to trigger the mind to have positive thoughts before sleeping.
Having these thoughts before closing the shutters provokes them to seep into the subconscious mind for an even more deeply rooted and set belief system. I personally love to add an affirmation that either inspires a good deep rest and letting go of the day or a re-energized waking the next morning at the night-time-affirmation-round.
But above all I would like to challenge you to try to become more aware of when your negative thoughts are taking over, remember that you have the choice to neutralize them by practicing positive affirmations then and there.
It’s important to realize that there’s no guide set in stone on when you should practice your affirmations. If your mornings are too packed with toddlers demanding your attention, find another moment in the day that works for you!
Positive affirmations are there to help you, let it be practical and let it be worth your time.
We’ve covered the basics of the what, why, when, where and how.
Who?
You of course! & every other being in our endless galaxies of the wonder we call life. Yes, that’s me fully embracing my free-spirit ^_^
The choice to guide your mind into a positive way of thinking is a gift for everyone. Everyone deserves the right to control their own thoughts, creating a thought pattern that will benefit them.
Thoughts that will make them a happier person, with less stress, fewer worries, fewer fears, more enjoyable social interactions and maybe most rewarding…
peace of mind.
To conclude:
Who? YOU! Everyone can benefit from a healthy, positive mind!
What? Positive affirmations are statements which are true, and filled with hope and confidence. At NomadSoulzz also called soul statements or modern-day mantras.
Why? The affirmations can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts.
How? Choose a couple of affirmations that will inspire you to redirect your negative thought patterns into an encouraging coach. Repeat them consistently and confidently. It’s recommended to repeat the same affirmations for a set amount of time (2 weeks/ 30 days). Find a method that works for your mind.
Where? Anywhere your heart desires as long as you commit yourself to the practice. Recommended is do a set of affirmations while looking at yourself in the mirror.
When? What feels good for you. Suggested: practice sets in the morning and at night before sleep. Furthermore, throw in neutralizers when negative thoughts come up during the day. (ex. you check your look in the mirror and think ‘uh, I look so chubby’ neutralize by thinking ‘I am beautiful as I am’)
Dear friend, you’ve got this ♥
Here an affirmation to get you going.
I have the perseverance, bravery, and heart to influence my negative thoughts with positive statements.
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