Positive Affirmations

I write them on sticky notes and post them on my mirror, the dashboard of my car, and my closet door. I jot them down in my note catcher in meetings at work, announce them out loud even as I cast away emotions of frustration, and I let them dance in my mind as I work to fog out my own negative thoughts.

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As a teacher, I carry them in my pocket and reread them throughout the day to remind myself that I am capable and resilient. As a mommy, I tell myself it is okay to slow down and be more child-like. I give myself permission (like, seriously!?)  to play and to make mistakes. As a wife, I place them close to my heart to choose to use carefully as I interact with my husband and we discuss life fears and stresses. I encourage him to chant with me, “we are in this together, and together is the best place to be.” I use them to help me maneuver through my daily tasks and roles with the intent to challenge myself to be the best I can be in order to foster a better relationship with MYSELF than I ever thought possible.
Whether you call them mantras, pledges, declarations, or transcendent thoughts, positive affirmations live up to all the talk, and they definitely can WALK the WALK! I believe in the power of positive affirmations, so much so, in fact, that I find myself less stressed and more self-regulated during the busiest and craziest parts of the day. I talk to myself so much that my 8 year old has caught on, and I often catch her singing to herself, “you are a rockstar from the rich and ffff-aaaaaa-mooooussss!!” There truly is nothing more powerful than you telling yourself how truly amazing, careful, genuine, and human you really are, and guess what? IT’S ALL OKAY-EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY! 
How can I help you get to the point where you are using these wonderful, thought challenging, hair raising, personal self-helpers? Other than giving you a heavy dose of what they are and the best times that I use them, the rest is left to your own creativity. So, let me inspire you.
Think about a difficult event in your life where you felt powerless, overwhelmed, or even non-existent. Imagine the moment and replay your feelings, thoughts, and emotions. Connect with yourself as the painful and perhaps destructive path slowly unfolds-now push in words of confidence to your inner being. I challenge you to whisper words of power and allow those words to transform the moment. I want to hear you say; ”it’s all going to be okay;” “I am limitless and capable of succeeding;” “Standing tall and mighty like a tree, I am at rest;” “today is the day that I will break free because these chains do not belong to me.” As you let each word roll off of your tongue, envision yourself climbing up and away from those negative emotions. 
Now, just for a moment, take this all away. Remove yourself from the event and the feelings or thoughts around it. Without you giving yourself that affirmation, the memory is chaotic right? Perhaps it was even regretful? 
So, guys, we are all humans (unless you are a monkey reading this, and if you are a monkey, I am truly sorry if I offended you), and we are created to err in our own ways. BUT it doesn’t have to always be so dang painful or irritating or overwhelming or...or...you get my point. What you tell yourself and how you relate to yourself matters. If you were armed with these tools during that moment I took you back to, how you faced that moment may have been very different from how it actually ended or how it began. Making positive declarations is a great first step to teaching yourself to love You and to accept your humanity. Begin by using them as a way to start your day. (In fact, I have found that when I forget to begin my day telling myself that I am enough, I find that I feel I am less-than that as the day progresses.) Teach yourself to use them as a strategic approach to tackling any daily stressors, managing difficult situations or conversations, and overcoming negative emotions, thoughts, feelings, or self-talk. I urge you to try it on. And if you have any fun, fancy, and glorious mantras/affirmations/statements, please SHARE for the benefit of all who seek here.