Them: “If you want to change your life, you have to change your language.”

Me: “Well, duh. But how?”

Like seriously, we all know that we should think more positively. But it’s not easy to change our thinking when coaches make it appear like it’s the obvious thing to do. Someone actually must break down the process, so we can understand. This was the challenge I faced when trying to understand the foundational principles of shifting my limiting beliefs. My analytical brain simply could not connect the dots. I was the person who said one hundred affirmations daily… with no obvious results, by the way.

I was consistent. One hundred affirmations a day for one hundred days.

After some research, I found a missing piece. Positive thinking does not work if you are not also avoiding the negative thoughts they are supposed to counteract.

You might think you know all about affirmations, but many of the common assumptions are incorrect. There’s no point in wasting your time with affirmations that are doomed to fail. Educate yourself about affirmations before spending any time, money, and energy on them.

The effective use of affirmations can have a positive effect on your thoughts and behavior.

Use these ideas to make the most of affirmations:

1- Understand the characteristics of an effective affirmation. The affirmation must be in the present tense, like, “I make money each day.” A poor affirmation is: “I will make money each day.” That statement is in the future tense. Future tensing an affirmation means it’s always in the future, it never happens.

An affirmation must be positive. “I don’t have negative bank accounts” is an example of our same affirmation stated in the negative, which doesn’t work effectively either.

2- List your current weaknesses. The lower-rated areas of your life are dragging you down. It’s best to create affirmations that address your weaknesses. Make a list of what you consider your weaknesses as a first step.

In The Fulfillment Factor, I cover the four areas we should focus on. They are Family, Fun, Financial, and Friendship.

Addressing your whole life when using affirmations is essential because it's quite possible you are addressing the symptom and not the root cause of your limiting beliefs. I wrote an article all about this for the blog. 

3- Create 3-5 affirmations that address your greatest weakness. There are thousands of affirmations you can find online or invent your own. Make a list, and then choose a couple that gives you the greatest emotional boost when you read them. I’ve added a few below.

4- Avoid engaging in negative thought patterns. Negative thoughts undo your positive thoughts. It’s like baling water from a leaking boat. You can’t make real progress until you stop the leaks. When you notice you’re having a negative thought, stop yourself and repeat your affirmations to yourself.

5- Use your affirmations in different forms. Avoid just thinking your affirmations to yourself. There are many other options. Use them all. Cover all the bases, and you’ll be more likely to experience success.

Read them.

Speak them aloud.

Record and listen to them.

Visualize yourself acting as if the affirmation were reality.

Repeat them silently.

6- Use your affirmations throughout the day, but also use a schedule. Set aside five minutes, three times each day, to repeat your affirmations. Make it a part of your daily routine. You might repeat your affirmations in the shower, while driving to work, during your lunch break, driving home, or in bed at night.

7- Be prepared to change your behavior. Affirmations ultimately produce changes in your life when your behavior changes. Affirmations aren’t a form of magic, but they can change your focus and beliefs. Be ready to use those changes to facilitate changing your behavior.

Affirmations can be an effective way to begin changing your life. Affirmations can be effective if they are structured properly, address your weaknesses, and are used consistently.

Give affirmations a chance to work for you. Use the process to create a few affirmations and use them for 30 days. Notice the changes you experience!

Once you’ve addressed one weakness, move on to another. Everyone should have a few affirmations in their pocket regardless of how successful and happy they may be. You can always enhance your life further.

5 Of My Favorite Sales Affirmations

• I am a powerhouse leader, and I am recognized for the work I do.
• I am thrilled to know that there is an unlimited source of abundance I can reach for so that I can go wherever I want, with who I want, spend, buy, to give whenever I want.
• I realize the amount of money or income I want always comes to me, no matter how I feel and what I do. I am certain that Law Of Attraction really works, and it works all the time.
• It feels so good to have money flows in. The more I am feeling good about this, the faster and easier money is flowing in.
• Money just flows in so fast and so effortless that I don’t even have time to figure out where it comes from. And I know that no matter whether I figure it out or not, it is still coming.

Did you know that I have a digital affirmation journal? Grab your copy of Spiritual Affirmations For The Wealthy Woman at www.blackgirlsmanifesttoo.com.