How to Use Affirmations with Success

By Keri Nola, MA, LMHC

Affirmations are statements generally used to confirm something’s truth. When used correctly, they can be powerful tools to assist in transforming circumstances and experiences into abundant realities. When used incorrectly, they can prove to be frustrating and unsuccessful. If you have been drawn to using affirmations but have not found them to be helpful, let me introduce you to a process I have developed called: Evolutionary Affirmations, designed to meet you right where you are and support you in moving forward with ease.

After working unsuccessfully with affirmations for years, I decided to discover the pitfalls and create my own model, which I am happy to say has been working for me and others successfully! As I mentioned above, Evolutionary Affirmations are designed to meet you right where you are with compassion and serve as a stepping stone to help you travel to where you want to be.

When we attempt to affirm something that is not believable to us, we actually create more internal conflict and disconnect from welcoming that which we desire. For example, if you want to affirm your beauty, but currently feel ugly and struggle with your body image, saying “I’m beautiful” a thousand times a day will only be annoying and conflicting to what you believe to be true.

An alternative would be to gently acknowledge where you are and develop a statement that meets you there rather than trying to be somewhere you are not.

The following prompts serve as sentence stems to build affirmations that resonate with you:

—        I am curious about…

—        I am willing to learn…

—        I am learning…

—        I am…

For example, if you want to affirm your beauty, but are not currently feeling very beautiful, you would first spend some time working with the initial affirmation prompt, “I am curious about my beauty.” Take as much time as you need stating this affirmation and as you feel ready, you can move into using the next one, “I am willing to learn I am beautiful.” As this one feels true, you can move to the next, “I am learning I am beautiful,” and lastly affirming, “I am beautiful.”

You may spend days, weeks, months, or even years working with each step. Affirmations are most helpful when they are believable and worked with consistently. Remember to honor yourself and do not rush the process and you can empower yourself to welcome what you deserve and desire!

Keri Nola is author of “A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspirations to Reconnect with Your Soul,” and founder of Path to Growth LLC, a Central Florida-based integrative healing center that blends traditional and holistic techniques for journeys to peace. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Nola provides psychotherapy and facilitates therapeutic retreats for those seeking to reconnect with their inner wisdom, particularly after trauma or loss. She also offers heart-inspired business consultations for healthcare professionals. For more information visit www.pathtogrowth.com, on Facebook and Twitter @pathtogrowth.

NOTE: Picture of Keri Nola by Monica Alfonso