How to Create Powerful Affirmations to Support Wisdom Based Goals

Note: You can listen to the companion podcast at the conclusion of this post

In this post we explore wisdom from the Dalai Lama XIV, specifically his guidance: 

 “In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.” 

We also look at how to craft affirmations and make them truly yours. 

To illustrate how this can be done, we'll consider the powerful guidance from his Holiness the Dalai Lama and create two short, focused affirmations that could be used to incorporate his wisdom into our daily lives.

Every Statement Made in Mind and Out Loud is an Affirmation

Here is an important truth: Every statement you make in mind and out loud about yourself, to yourself, about other people, about circumstances in your life are all affirmations. Your our subconscious mind is always listening and a part of you believes everything you say. 

Your self-talk matters. 

Let’s again visit the Dalai Lama's guidance: 

 “In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.” 

Create Affirmations to Achieve Wisdom Based Goals

What affirmations could you and I create to incorporate the Dalai Lama's guidance into our daily lives.

Suggested Affirmations:

Affirmation #1: 

 "I choose to create empowering visions that will inform my actions to move me in the direction of my highest good and the goals I am choosing to achieve." 

Affirmation #2: 

 "I choose to create powerful visions in big, bold technicolor and I choose to allow my actions to align with my highest good as I move toward my chosen goals." 

I encourage you to read aloud these suggested affirmations and then allow your subconscious awareness to assess each of these affirmations to determine if they resonate with you. After sitting with the affirmations, make whatever changes are needed so the affirmations align with your heart wisdom and highest good. 

Crafting Additional Affirmations

Also, if other affirmations come into awareness, write them down and incorporate them into your daily self-talk practice. One powerful model for creating affirmations is, 

 "I choose to ___________  so that  __________________."

Repeat your affirmations regularly throughout the day as you take the actions that align with your chosen goals. Really feel the energy of your affirmations and celebrate each success step, no matter how small, as you move toward completing your chosen goals. 

Help Creating Your Affirmations 

If you would like help crafting the exact affirmations and ongoing support you need to achieve the goals you want for yourself, email me at CarterMethod@gmail.com for a zero cost, zero obligation conversation about your specific situation.

Stephen Carter

CEO Stress Solutions, LLC | https://www.EFT-MD.com | Email: CarterMethod@gmail.com

Companion Podcast Episode:

How to Apply Writer Stephen King's Powerful Secret for Success

Woman with outstretched arms at top of mountain

Note: Listen below to the companion podcast for this blogpost 

By any measure the famous writer Stephen King is a hugely successful author. He's sold more than 350 million books and counting. Several of his novels were adapted for major movies, TV, and even comic books. 

But there was a time when Stephen King the author wasn't an author. What was the magic secret that propelled him to fame and fortune?

The Power of Words

Before we dive into that question allow me to remind you about the power of words, something Stephen King knows a thing or two about. Your words really do matter. Words you say in mind, also called self-talk, and words you say out loud are all affirmations. 

Every statement you make about yourself, to yourself, about other people, and about circumstances in your life are affirmations. Your subconscious mind is always listening so it’s vital to choose positive words that empower your health, wealth, relationships and emotional wellbeing. 

Your self-talk, the words you consistently say within your mind and out loud, and the words you say to others, all matter. Empowering self-talk motives you to achieve what you were put in this world to achieve and the words you speak and write can inspire others to do the same. 

Stephen King's Guiding Wisdom

In, "On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft", King tells us the belief that led to his success:

"You can, you should, and if you’re brave enough to start, you will." 

What is King talking about? Goals: his goals; your goals; all goals.

Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway

Does it really take bravery to start? For most of us most of the time it absolutely takes bravery to reach outside of our comfort zone. 

Why? Fear. Fear of failure and perhaps fear of success. 

Yes, we can be afraid of success. There are many reasons why fear of success can occur. We can be worried about what others in our circle of family and friends will say if we achieve a significant goal, particularly if that goal relates to money. We can be afraid somehow, "I'll change; I'll become someone else; Who am I to achieve this goal?". 

What about fear of failure? Disempowering thoughts can arise such as, "What if I fail? I'm afraid people will ridicule me, laugh at me, judge me, if I fail. I'm afraid I'll judge myself as a loser. And I will be a loser!". 

Some of our fear of failure will be conscious and some will be subconscious. When going for a stretch goal, it's important to recognize you may experience subconscious resistance. 

If the goal speaks to your heart, to your highest values, if it's a 9 or 10 on a zero to 10 scale of desire, move forward one tiny step at a time. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 

Powerful Affirmations for Success

Here are my affirmation suggestions for you to consider: 

I choose to create and see in mind daily powerful images of what it will look like, sound like, and feel like when I achieve this goal. 

I choose to achieve this goal in tiny steps if necessary even if I experience subconscious or conscious resistance as long as this goal continues to speak to my heart and my highest values. 

To harness the essence of King's guidance, consider this as your key affirmation:

I choose to affirm, I can, I should, and I am brave enough to start now and to finish.

You Can Achieve Your Chosen Goals

The secret is to start and keep moving in the direction of your chosen new reality. Frequently voiced and written affirmations and reminding yourself of your big "Why" you are choosing to achieve your goal can keep you motivated and energized as you move step by step to success.

Click the triangle to listen.

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Stephen Carter is a FREA volunteer and CEO of Stress Solutions, LLC, a company dedicated to helping people enhance physical and emotional wellbeing through stress mastery using mind-body methods. He hosts the, "Positive Word Affirmations", "Easy Stress Cures", and "EFT Tapping Junction" podcasts. Steve can be reached by email at CarterMethod@gmail.com and through his website at https://www.EFT-MD.com.

3 Stress Busting Ideas for Stress Awareness Month

April is Stress Awareness Month. This is a great time to look at the stress and the stressors in your life and create a path to eliminate or significantly lower the chronic stress response.

Good Stress Versus Bad Stress

A certain minimal level of stress can be good. It can help us focus attention and access success resources. That kind of stress is eustress.  

Eustress can happen for example when we're thinking about a first date with someone, preparing for a presentation, or doing something for the very first time. You've practiced, you're ready to go, you've done all the things necessary. But there are still those butterflies in your stomach. That type of stress is short lived, it’s episodic.

The problem stress is long term chronic stress. The sources of chronic stress can be many. They can be problematic situations at work, problems with significant others in a relationship, or ongoing financial based stress. These all (and many other situations) can create chronic stress. 

How can you successfully deal with stress? 

3 Ideas to Dissolve Stress 

Idea Number 1: Conduct a Stress Assessment

The first thing I suggest is take an inventory of the top two or three situations, people, or circumstances you believe are stressors. Write those stressors down. Naming the stress and naming the source of stress alone can often help reduce your stress response. 

Once written down, let your imagination wander and come up with three actions you can take to help reduce that number one stressor.

Questions to consider: 

• Can you eliminate the trigger? 

• Can you better prepare for the problem situation? 

• Is this a situation that can be helped or eliminated with an honest, open conversation? 

Let your subconscious mind have free rein to offer ideas that can eliminate or reduce the stress response.

Repeat the same process for the second and third stressors on your list. 

Idea Number 2: Take Defense Action Ahead of Stress Creating Situations

What do I mean by that? As an example, If you know you're going to have a conversation with someone who is a problem, plan that conversation and the circumstances related to that conversation. 

Rehearse in mind how you are going to deal with that person or situation. Create a mind video story where you act out what you will do, say, and feel. Play that video in the theatre of mind. Make the video big, bold, and in full Technicolor.

Once you have the plan in place and you created and played your video story, write down an affirmation that supports your story.

For example, if a co-worker is a problem you've created a video story about how you will deal with that co-worker on a day to day basis or in a particular situation. The affirmation would be something like, 

“I choose to develop the strategies I created in that video story. I choose to apply those strategies in circumstances where I have contact with the individual I have a problem with."

The magic two words are, “I choose”.  Before going into an interaction with that person, revisit the video story. It only takes a couple of seconds to do that. Then, reread the affirmation you have written down. This will help ensure you are emotionally prepared and mentally ready to deal with whatever comes up. 

Idea Number 3: Take 1 to 2 Minute Breathing Breaks

I recommend you apply deep breathing early and often. Breathe in for the count of five, hold briefly for a second or so, and breathe out for the count of five. That can be four seconds, five seconds, or six seconds. 

The important thing is to breathe diaphragmatically and rhythmically with a slow comfortable in breath, a brief hold for a second or so, and a slow out breath. As you breathe out, smile and say peace. Apply deep breathing for 30 seconds to two minutes as time and circumstances allow.

Doing this simple breath exercise several times a day will help keep your stress level down. You will feel better, your stress level will be lower, and you will have a much, much better day.

In Summary:

• Take a Stress Inventory and identify two or three promising stress lowering strategies;

• Create a video mind story for one or more of your chosen strategies and prepare a short affirmation using the words, “I Choose”; and,

• Practice 1 to 2 minutes of deep, Diaphragmatic Breathing several times a day.

Visit the “Mind Over Stress” Show Website

For more Stress Mastery methods visit the “Mind Over Stress Show” website at http://MindOverStress.us. 

Stephen Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com | Podcast: www.MindOverStress.us 

Harness The Positive Power of Your "But"

Self-talk matters. Of the stream of words we say out loud and within mind day in and day out, one of the most powerful is the word “but”. Unfortunately, our use of “but” is typically negative.

Consider these all too common examples of self-talk:

“I try so hard, but everything always turns out bad!”

“I really want better relations with my partner, but I never can say anything without being criticized!”

“I deserve a raise, but I know if I ask for more money my boss will say, 'No' and then probably fire me!”

The Role of "But" in Affirmations

What’s the problem with such self-talk examples? Every one of these statements and hundreds of other similar comments we say to ourselves in mind and out loud are affirmations.

Affirmations? Yes. Everything that follows the word “but” is the real affirmation your subconscious hears and believes. Our internal self-image is in large measure shaped by self-talk affirmations.

The Secret to Making Your “But” Work for You

Can “but” be used to create positive self-talk affirmations while still voicing what seems to be a truthful assessment of a situation? Yes, absolutely.

The secret to making your “but” work for you is to change the way it’s typically used in a declarative sentence and then add a Choices Statement immediately following the declarative sentence.

Let’s take another look at the three self-talk sentences, but this time let’s engage your “but” in a positive way:

“I’ve made mistakes, but with each mistake, I learned something important. I choose to put that new knowledge to work and up my game!”

“My partner and I aren’t talking in a loving way, but I know we love each other and we can do better. I choose to talk lovingly and ask how I can be a better communicator and partner every day!”

“I haven’t had a raise in three years, but I know I deserve one. I choose to put in writing a short, but clearly stated summary of why and sit down with my boss to talk about how much more I’m adding to the success of our company. If he says, “No”, that summary will be useful as a foundation for a resume.”

3 Simple Steps to a Better “But”

To help you use your “but” more effectively, I suggest doing the following:

• Pay attention to your self-talk whenever “but” shows up. 
• If it’s a negative “but”, say, “Cancel Cancel”.
• Restate the self-talk statement with positives following the “but” and then add a Choices Statement. That Choices Statement is your call to action to change the original unwanted reality you perceived.

Next Steps

Put your positive “but” in action from today forward. You’ll think better, feel better, and perform better in every area of life.

Use a journal or otherwise record your successes. Any new habit takes time and repetition.

Writing down your successful use of this little word “but” tells your subconscious you’re serious about creating a happier more successful you.

With light and love,

Steve Carter

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The 2 Key Questions to Discover the Hidden Good in Unwanted Surprises

One of the most beneficial actions you can take to set a positive intent for your day is voice an affirmation. 

First, you immediately begin to notice circumstances and experiences that align with your intention - circumstances and experiences you would have likely not noticed absent your affirmation. Secondly, it acts as a command to your subconscious to bring about the circumstances and experiences that meet your intention.

As an example of how this can work, I share my journal entry for today about choosing to discover the hidden good in unwanted surprises and the two key questions to discover the hidden good in those unwanted surprises. 

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Today's Affirmation: I choose to discover the hidden good in unwanted surprises.

As good as it is to experience pleasant surprises, true changes in perspective, new ideas, and new insights about ourselves and life are the fruits of unwanted surprises. 

The Two Key Questions to Discover the Hidden Good in Unwanted Surprises

If we roll through our initial reactions and reach a state of acceptance of what is, we are then positioned to answer the two most important questions we can ask about unpleasant surprises:

• What is the hidden benefit of this experience?

• How can I use this experience in ways that improve my day, my life, and perhaps the world?

What Can I Do to Make This Choice a Reality?

We know from research that an affirmation is most effective when it's made before a charged event occurs. A properly formed affirmation sets in motion a positive mindset that acknowledges we have the right temperament, will, and ability to navigate any storm and turn it to our advantage.

The Secret is in the Questions

Questions focus attention and open the conscious and subconscious minds to new pathways, new perspectives, and new ways of seeing and being in the world. 

Today, I choose to look at unwanted surprises as a precious gift wrapped in coarse unattractive paper.

Today, I choose to look beyond the wrapping to discover the gift waiting patiently to serve.

Today, I choose to discover the hidden good in unwanted surprises.

Why not have a go at journaling your thoughts, insights, and actions that emerge from this or another affirmation? It's fun and it's a powerful path to self-discovery.

Blessings,

Steve Carter

Stress Solutions, LLC | www.EFT-MD.com | StressMastery.blogspot.com | Steve@theHealersCircle.us | 804-677-6772

P.S. To join our Healers Circle family and receive low volume, high-value messages on Stress Mastery and holistic methods, visit the Education Resource page on our EFT-MD.com site by clicking HERE.