Affirmations
Affirmations are a modern interpretation of chanting, prayers, and mantras. As the word implies, an affirmation is a short statement designed to support and affirm the individual and her intentions. In recent years, affirmations have been widely used to break the chain of negative thinking and replace it with empowering concepts.
Motivational speakers encourage the use of affirmations to change thinking and behavior. In her bestselling book, You Can Heal Your Life, Louise Hay writes extensively about the power of affirmations to heal psychological and physical ills. Witches use affirmations to manifest outcomes of all sorts, from attracting prosperity to promoting peace.
The Power of Positive Thinking
Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can't — you are right.” Most people's negative conceptions of themselves are rooted in the opinions of other people, usually authority figures such as parents and teachers. Overcoming those old attitudes and beliefs is essential to both healthy self-esteem and effective magick. Because your thoughts are the most important part of any magick spell, it stands to reason that positive thinking will generate positive results and negative thinking will produce negative results. Consequently, you will never see an affirmation that includes negative words.
Affirmations aren't a quick fix. The longer you've held on to a selflimiting idea or problem, the longer it's likely to take the affirmation process to replace it with something beneficial. Be realistic and persistent — otherwise you'll undermine what you had hoped to achieve.
Affirmations don't leave any room for doubt, fear, or ambiguity. Their purpose is to clearly and optimistically express whatever condition you desire to bring about. Whether you write your affirmations or say them aloud, putting your intentions into words helps focus your mind and empower your spells.
The Right Way to Design Affirmations
Whether you're using affirmations to change an attitude or as part of a magick spell, there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. As you already know, an affirmation contains only positive words and images. Here's an example:
Right: I am completely healthy in body, mind, and spirit.
See the difference? The first sentence affirms what you seek: health. The second focuses on conditions you don't want: illnesses and injuries. Additionally, an affirmation must be stated confidently and in the present tense, as if the outcome you desire already exists. For example:
Right: I now have a job that's perfect for me.
Being specific is usually a good thing when creating affirmations. If your goal is to lose twenty-five pounds or you've got your heart set on acquiring a 1965 red Mustang convertible with black leather seats, for instance, list the pertinent details in your affirmation. But sometimes you don't know all the ins and outs of a situation, or you don't want to limit your options. Sometimes it's best to let a higher and wiser power work out the fine points. The earlier example “I now have a job that's perfect for me” covers the bases without being specific.
It's easy to formulate successful affirmations; just follow these points:
Keep it short.
Be clear and precise.
Only include images and conditions that you desire.
Express your desires with positive words.
Always use the present tense.
After you've created your affirmation, write it down and post it where you will often see it, to remind yourself of your objective. Repeat your affirmation frequently throughout the day, especially first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Contemplate your affirmation while meditating. Associate an image or visualization with your affirmation; for instance, see yourself performing the job you desire or donning a new outfit that's the size you wish to wear.
