- Affirmations work – they are backed up by scientific research. They work by repetition, and each time you repeat an affirmation to yourself, you are reinforcing your neural pathways and making them stronger. This is possible because of something called neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new information or experiences.
- You have to believe in what you are saying, so don’t choose affirmations that appear untrue or unattainable. Instead of “I am the most confident person in the world”, say “I am confident”.
- Some people respond best with “I am” statements, and others work best with “You are…”. Research suggests starting with the second-person “You are…” style.
- Create a list of between 2 and 10 affirmations. Then listen to each one, and repeat it to yourself, either out loud, or silently in your head. You can also consider sleep affirmations where you don’t need to repeat them - you just listen as you fall asleep.
- If you make a sleep affirmation playlist, set the length to 60 or 90 minutes.
- Sometimes they can start to work almost immediately, sometimes they can take 20 to 60 days to achieve the desired effect, and they don't work for some people. Key to their success though is to repeat them daily or listen in your sleep for long-lasting and positive change in your life.
How do I choose which affirmations to listen to and repeat?
Ensure your affirmation is credible and achievable by basing it on a realistic assessment of the facts. The bottom line is:
You need to believe in them.
For example, if you're dissatisfied with your current salary, you can use affirmations to boost your confidence to ask for a raise. However, it’s probably unwise to affirm that you’ll double your salary at once, as this isn't feasible for most people or organizations. Keep it realistic and remember, affirmations are not magic spells - if you don’t believe in them, they’re unlikely to have any impact on your life.
