A reader wrote:
How frequently do you do the affirmations, and do you just say that sentence? How many times? I think I need an affirmation like “I am really good at doing daily affirmations!”
I’ve been consistent about doing 8-10 repetitions of three affirmations each morning. I’ve set my cell phone to alert me with lunch and dinner time reminders but so far, that’s not working. I’m either not carrying the phone, or I’m busy doing something else at the time. I’m not sure what else to try.
I’ve edited my affirmations, adding an AFOG-type sentence to each that starts out “And I love the challenge of learning to…” So for mental toughness I’ve added, “And I love the challenge of learninq how to achieve a state of relaxed concentration whenever I need to perform.” For daily discipline I’ve added, “And I love the challenge of learning to manage a busy schedule and a full & balanced life.” No, I don’t yet love these challenges — I just want to change, damnit! But it does have an affect to say it, sort of like forcing your face muscles to make a smile can trigger the brain chemicals to make you feel happier.
It occurred to me today that this whole affirmation thing is a bit like praying the rosary — something I did a lot of as a kid growing up Catholic.
Mumbling or whispering the Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes out loud was a reverential ritual that tended to keep my mind from wandering. (Same as Tibetan prayer wheels? I’m not sure.) It’s oddly comforting, even though I can’t make the case that doing it has made a big difference thus far. So I’ll just persist.