We’ve all heard some version of this principle: what you believe, you can achieve. 

So what do you do when you don’t believe you can achieve, and saying an affirmation out loud feels like a lie?

For many years, I didn’t know how to use affirmations effectively, and it just got frustrating. What I discovered is that using affirmations to include new and more life-giving experiences isn’t a frivolous waste of time. 

It’s literally money in the bank, earning interest until the dream you’ve been persistently loving into fruition hatches into forms of life you can touch, share, taste, smell, celebrate, and feel.

What Affirmations Are

Here’s what affirmations actually are: a spoken, intentionally directed laser of creative energy, connecting the vibration of your heart’s desire to the creative force of the universe, and always responding with yes.

The reason we don’t believe them at first is because our minds reject what doesn’t feel, sound and look familiar. 

Anatomically and physiologically speaking, it takes repetition, and/or emotional impact to our nervous system, to literally rewire a set of neuronal connections in our brain.It’s not personal, it’s just how the brain works.

So here’s a simple, profound way to work with targeted affirmations. By targeted, I mean an affirmation that’s specific and deeply desired, describing something you truly care about, versus just a want, a wish, or a hope.

Two Starting Points

Start with one of two things:

#1 Acknowledge what it is you truly love to experience, something you’d be willing to give time, attention, and emotion to nurturing. Or, if that feels unclear or challenging:

#2 Acknowledge what’s in the way of what you want: a block, a thought, a condition, a circumstance, or a feeling, anything that’s been standing between you and either believing you can have what you really want, or having it. Then, imagine yourself without that block. Imagine what it would look like when the block is solved. Your affirmation will essentially represent the polar opposite of that block.

From either starting point, using imagination and love, say aloud:

“I love that I now see myself…”

And fill in the blank with a desired image or feeling that represents an outcome you deeply want to be enjoying. Here are some examples:

I love that I now see myself gathering on the deck, enjoying time with my healthy, happy, flourishing children.

I love that I now see myself writing the check for the final mortgage payment, with plentiful amounts of money remaining in my accounts.

I love that I now see myself sitting with my ideal client, who is so happy with our work together and is handing me three fabulous referrals.

I love that I now see myself fit, healthy, vibrant, walking down the beach, sand in my toes, wrapped in a flowing sarong, feeling so proud of myself and beautiful in my skin.

I love that I now see myself ___.

Why This Works

Here’s why this works:

• When you add the words “I now see myself,” that’s what creates the image. 
• You’re not trying to push, as in “I have to believe I have this already.” 
• And you’re not telling yourself it’s already here. You’re saying it with the energy of love, andyou’re simply allowing it. 

Think of it this way: you’re not just saying words, you’re seeing a picture.

You’re prompting yourself, giving yourself a command to just observe yourself doing something, and it’s all in your imagination. You don’t have to imagine that it’s already done, or believe that it will be done.

That distinction, of simply seeing yourself in a scenario, is so important. It’s what makes it easier to believe faster.

Your subconscious mind can’t help but accept the images you give it. And images grounded in loving energy carry more clout, because our nature is love.

You don’t have to be perfect at this. Play with it, have some fun.

And when, not if, doubt or disbelief arise, simply say to that doubt and disbelief: “Thank you. I am safe. And I love that I am now seeing myself…” and fill in the blank again. Just repeat the affirmation to bring the image to mind.

This isn’t about denying our human survival mechanism. It’s about letting it inform us, but not lead us. We’re simply empowering ourselves to give our attention and feeling to a new picture.

P.S. If you love these topics, and you live in or near the Berkshires I’d love to see you in person! I started a monthly gathering, The Inner Smile Project, a tribe we’re building where growth is simple, fun and anchored in joy. Register here for our June event.