Words have the power for good or bad. You may remember the children’s song “Stick and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” It was supposed to help a young one not be impacted by the negative words of a bully or others. However, negative words can hurt us. They literally affect our brains. And if you’ve been the target of insults or unnecessary harsh criticism, then you know the results are far from good. Sometimes harsh words linger throughout our lives. On the other hand, positive words can alter our brains in a healthy way. They help to offset the effect that harmful words can have on us.
In their book “Words Can Change Your Brain”, Dr. Newberg, neuroscientist, and Mark Waldman, communications expert, remark on their study, “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.” So what are the known benefits of positive words in the form of affirmations?
BENEFITS OF POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
- Stress Management
- Reduce Negative Thoughts
- Improving Self-Worth
- Enhance Self-Confidence
- Increased Happiness
- Build Resilience
- Overall Wellbeing
- Better Cardiovascular Health
- Improves your Mood
- Reduce Anxiety
- Improve Academic Performance
- Better Focus, especially on Goals
- Reprogram your Subconsciousness
- Positive Mindset
As you can see there are numerous benefits of positive affirmations. How can words do all of this?
WHY AFFIRMATIONS WORK
Most of the benefits listed are about improving your mental health. And that is exactly what they do. They help rewire your brain through a process that helps your brain to adapt to new situations. Just in case you like to know the technical words, that process is called neuroplasticity. Affirmations can help you disrupt negative thought patterns and build new pathways for positive thoughts. Now that’s powerful!
And who hasn’t been in a slump or feeling negative and someone gives you a nice compliment. It tends to lift your spirits. Sometimes it makes your day. If you’ve had this happen, then you already have experienced the power of positive words on your mental wellbeing.
You don’t have to wait for someone to give you a compliment or say something positive to you. You can use positive words as affirmations that you say to yourself. This gives you the power to use words to help your wellbeing.
HOW TO USE POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS
For the most benefit, affirmations should be used daily. Spoken out loud gives affirmations even more validity to what you’re saying. Writing it down, you give additional power to the words. Your affirmations should focus on the present or future. Given time, that focus can help you be able to change how you view things that have happened in the past.
Doing an affirmation first thing in the morning is a great way to start your day in a positive way. And fortify you for whatever life throws at you the remainder of the day.
Some people use “I am…” affirmations, but any positive words, statements or calls to action can be used.
Using affirmations in combination with other stress management techniques will give you a definite advantage in reducing your stress and improving your mental health.
IMPORTANT TAKE AWAYS
Affirmations:
Cause your brain to rewire for positive thinking
Give multiple health benefits
Should be done daily (time of day not as important)
Say them out loud, if possible
TOOLS TO USE AFFIRMATIONS
Affirmations on Cards, Wall Art, Cups, T-Shirts and anywhere you can see and use them easily. Write down affirmations that resonate with you in a journal to look back on.
Here are your first affirmations to use today and tomorrow:
“My Health is Important to Me”
“I Always Matter”
Enjoy this step to stressing less today and increasing positivity and happiness. As I am big on combining stress management techniques together to get more out of your stress reduction, I encourage you to combine affirmations with other techniques that you enjoy. Take a look at some of those techniques here on this website.
AFFIRMATIONS I’VE CREATED THAT ARE ON MY ETSY STORE:
Cards
Wall Art
Bookmarks
Stress Less Today 