How many of you have tried affirmations? Or any kind of mantra, something you recite over and over again with the goal of infusing a thought pattern and changing mindset and feeling?
How did it work for you? Not so well? Not at all? Just a boring exercise of talking to oneself with no apparent results?
For some, it works incredibly well. Remember that the words we use around us and about us have a powerful effect on our own being. The more we surround ourselves with language that describes our desired state and not anything else, the more we become the vision of that language. That goes for what we say about ourselves, as well as what people are saying around us, including what we read on social media and our devices!
But what could make it work for me but not you?
Let me say that affirmations and mantras can reveal parts of ourselves we don’t want to face.
I AM WORTHY.
Wait no I’m not. I’m fearful, anxious. Someone(s) may not love me if my own worthiness blossoms forth. My whole life someone(s) has(ve) told me that I am not so how can I instantly be worthy now? And I fear loss of their love if I am. And on and on.
If we close ourselves to facing what is buried inside us behind walls and fear, we limit our ability to bring resolution to ourselves and move beyond.
But if facing these parts of ourselves is fearful and painful, how does this relate to affirmations and mantras?
It is precisely the appearance of a shift, a reaction, a change that signals you are moving into some fearful and painful territory that shows you that you are on the right track!
So if affirmations and mantras don’t seem to work for you, try this.
Find one that is appropriate for you. Usually that means test driving a bunch. You may already know what is problematic for you: self worth, self esteem, feeling unloved and so on. Or you may be unaware and there are many lists of typical mantras and affirmations out there to try.
If you state one and something inside you shows up, you’ve likely hit on one to double down on!
This can be an uncomfortable feeling. A knotting up of your insides. Something twisting. Churning in your stomach. Tightening. Discomfort. Fear. Pain. Or something else.
This is what you need to watch for, to select the right one for you.
Then when you say the phrase, first, keep saying it until you feel that reaction inside you. It may show up immediately or it may take a few repetitions. You may be avoiding the issue, so be patient.
Keep repeating it until some other shift happens. Usually this is a calming reaction, going from agitation and discomfort to calm.
Then take a few deep breaths and reflect on what may have changed. Move on with your day!
Give it a try now! How do you feel after trying this affirmation/mantra process?
Leave a Reply