Do Positive Affirmations Have the Power to Change or Just Sound Good?

No matter how hard we try to avoid stress, it has become an inevitable part of modern life. Regardless of your profession or seemingly easy daily life, pressures and challenges are all around us. But just because we've gotten used to stress and the negative energy it brings doesn't mean we have to accept it as something inevitable.

That's why it's worth being aware of the importance of self-love and the power of positive affirmations. And since we're in the month of love, why not use it to create the foundation for a better mental and emotional state? After all, the most important love is the one for ourselves, and one of the most effective and simplest methods of nurturing it is - positive affirmations.

What are positive affirmations?

With the growth of wellbeing culture, positive affirmations are gaining importance as a powerful tool for mental well-being and building a positive self-image and future. However, it's important to emphasize that positive affirmations are not just a way to temporarily improve your mood, but a method for long-term change in thinking and shaping a more positive perception. While some actively use them as a means to boost self-confidence, reduce stress, and achieve goals, others consider them another "new age" myth that easily stays within the parameters of the "fantasy world". Of course, positive affirmations don't mean believing in a magical overnight change, but focusing on small, positive steps that gradually lead to the desired life.

Therefore, there is no universal answer to the question of whether positive affirmations work or are just a myth, because their effect depends on each individual. While they help some, they may seem ineffective or even opposite to others, and the key difference lies in personal belief, consistency of application, and the way affirmations are used -- if a person doesn't believe in what they're saying or doesn't combine it with concrete action, there will be no results.

How to practice positive affirmations the right way?

For positive affirmations to have a real effect, it's important to adjust them to personal beliefs. Above all, affirmations should be realistic and relevant, and the reason for this lies in our mind. The mind will more easily accept positive affirmations if they are aligned with the current state and goals. In practice, this means that instead of generic statements like "I am rich and successful", it's better to use affirmations that sound motivating and achievable, such as "Every day I learn how to manage money wisely". Also, it's important to use the present tense because the brain responds better to statements that sound like reality, rather than something that will happen in the future.

As for the technical aspect of positive affirmation, you can repeat what you believe and want out loud or write it down in a special notebook/journal. Ideally, do it twice a day, in the morning and evening, but if you don't have enough time, choose one of the mentioned "terms". In addition, consistency is important - the more often you positively affirm, the more likely it is that positive energy will affect your way of thinking and become part of your beliefs and, ultimately, concrete action. And here we come to perhaps the most important part of positive affirmations, which is the understanding that what you affirm should not remain only in your ideas or on paper, but sooner or later must be put into action because if you don't take steps towards the goal that the affirmation supports -- the whole process will not yield results.

A few examples of positive affirmations:

1. For self-confidence:

• Every day I become more confident in myself.
• My effort and work bring results.
• I am worthy of love, respect, and success.

2. For stress reduction:

• I manage my emotions with ease and calmness.
• I solve all challenges step by step.
• I allow myself to rest.

3. For motivation and goal achievement

• Every day I progress and learn something new.
• I have the ability to achieve what I want with effort and patience.
• I am open to new opportunities and positive changes.

4. For love and relationships

• I deserve healthy relationships in my life.
• I communicate easily and express my needs and feelings.
• I attract people who support and appreciate me for who I am.

5. For financial and business success

• I manage my money wisely and create financial stability.
• My skills and knowledge bring me new business opportunities.
• I am open to abundance in all aspects of life.

What not to do?

• Using affirmations that don't sound believable -- If you repeat the affirmation "I am completely happy and fulfilled" while struggling with anxiety or stress, your brain will reject it as untrue, which can cause frustration instead of positive change. Instead, choose gradual affirmations** **like "Every day I find more ways to feel calmer and more balanced" - which your mind can more easily accept and which gradually lead you to the desired state.
• Unrealistic expectations and lack of action -- Affirmations alone will not change reality if you do not take concrete steps towards your goal. They are a tool for changing your mindset, but only in combination with action.
• Using negative language -- The brain doesn't interpret negation the same way as affirmation. Instead of "I won't be insecure," it's better to say "Every day I build my self-confidence."
• Repeating affirmations without feeling -- Affirmations are most effective when you say them with real emotion and conviction because if you just mechanically repeat them, without any connection to their meaning, they will not have the desired effect.
• Too much focus on the end result -- Instead of affirmations being focused only on the final goal ("I will become successful"), it's better to affirm the process and progress, for example - "Every day I acquire new skills."

The scientific background of affirmations -- is there proof that they work?

The concept of neuroplasticity indicates the brain's ability to adapt and change based on repetitive thoughts and experiences, so by practicing positive affirmations, it's possible to redirect patterns of thought. Likewise, according to self-affirmation theory, affirmations strengthen personal identity and reduce stress, and research has shown that people who practice affirmations have higher self-confidence and resilience to negative circumstances. Studies conducted at Carnegie Mellon University have found that affirmations activate parts of the brain associated with reward and positive emotions, resulting in reduced stress responses, and published in PLOS ONE, this research is real evidence that self-affirmation, the process of recognizing and focusing on one's most important values, helps protect against the negative impact of stress.

Therefore, positive affirmations are not a mere illusion, but their effectiveness depends on how you use them. Consistency is key, because like any mental practice, affirmations require time and repetition to create real change, but when used in the right way, they can be a powerful tool for a better and happier life!