This is the first of a three part series. In this article you will start to learn how you should construct your affirmation or self-hypnosis suggestion. Below we will start with five general guidelines for putting together effective affirmations. Always focus on your affirmations and suggestions on your behavior, thoughts, and attitudes; the things that you have control over.
1. State a Clear and Strong Motivation
List out on a piece of paper all the reasons you want the suggestion to be accepted by your subconscious. What are your motivations to change your behavior? Write them out on a piece of paper.
Do your best to identify the emotional counterweights which tip the balance in favor of changing your current behavior. What is the emotion and feeling behind your desire to change? Write these feelings and emotions out on your piece of paper.
Begin stating your suggestion by starting with the motivating desires.
Because I want to ___ I ___
For example; because I want to feel physically fit, healthy, energetic and vibrant, I exercise three times a week.
2. Be Positive
Do not mention the negative behaviors, thoughts or attitudes you are working to replace. Instead repeat and reinforce positive behaviors, thoughts or attitudes you are substituting for your old ways. Find and articulate the positive alternative behaviors, thoughts, or attitudes. Remember what is expected will tend to be realized. This is the power of affirmations.
3. Always Use Present Tense
This may seem strange to your rational mind, but always use present tense, even when constructing affirmations and suggestions regarding future behavior.
Rather than saying; ‘tomorrow I will feel good.” Phrase your suggestion such that it reads; “tomorrow I feel good.”
When repeating your affirmation imagine them manifesting in the present moment; by using your imagination you communicate with your subconscious.
See yourself as having already accomplished your goal. Imagine what you are suggesting is true, not something unobtainable or off in the far future.
What you conceive to believe you will achieve.
4. Set a Time Limit
Although you state your suggestions in the present tense, your conscious mind knows things can not be achieved instantaneously. Therefore get a realistic time frame or a feel for how long it will take to achieve your goal or desired new behavior.
Use words such as; “very soon,” “tomorrow,” “next week,” “on Tuesday” etc.
Use phrases such as; “more and more now,” “day by day,” “from this day forward,” etc.
5. Suggest Action, not Ability
This is last point is critically important. Suggest new behavior, thoughts, and attitudes. For example rather than writing; “I have the ability to be stay calm when talking to my boss;” formulate the suggestion to read; “When I speak with my boss tomorrow I remain calm, focused and clear headed, ” or alternatively “As I am talking to my boss tomorrow, I am focusing and remaining calm. Use the gerund verb form (___ing) to suggestion present action.
Next we will review the remaining guideline on writing affirmations and suggestions. If you like, I will be happy to review your affirmations or suggestions. Simply email me at briefly describe the behavior, thoughts, or attitudes you are working along with the suggestions that you have constructed.
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I really appreciated Working with Affirmations and Self-Hypnosis Suggestions – Part 1 | Creative Mind Designs. It’s exhausting to seek out knowledgeable folks on this matter, however you sound like you recognize what you’re speaking about! Thanks Agile Marketing Solutions, LLC 2905 East Point Street, Suite 91784, Atlanta, GA 30344 (404) 939-5631
Thank you for your comment Renna. I work hard to make my posts usable and actionable for my readers. What I give up for quantity, I try to make up with quality.