Affirmations are awesome!
Affirmations – positive statements formed in the present tense – are a great way to change habitual thinking. Especially if they’re used passionately and consistently.
But – yes, there is a but – they have one drawback.
This drawback brings out an issue that is perhaps the biggest misunderstanding in the New Age/New Thought movement:
Letting the ego highjack the spiritual journey.
When we learn that changing our thinking changes our lives, the ego jumps in and puts in its order for stuff – cars and cash.
Nothing wrong with cars and cash. But there’s a limit to the ego’s demands.
Take my life, for example.
All of the best things that have happened to me have come outside the realm of what I was visualizing and affirming for my life.
Becoming a writer, accepting my queer sexuality and gender identity, even stumbling upon the spiritual path itself. These were all things that were totally outside my purview.
I wasn’t actively inviting them in. I was, at times, resistant to all of them.
I had no idea how much these things would change my life for the better.
Indeed, it was because these things were outside the spectrum of where my life was going, they had to come from outside what I thought I wanted.
They were, in short, Divinely inspired.
I’m not saying that visualizing and affirming don’t work, because they do.
And I’m not saying that everyone should stop visualizing and affirming, because you shouldn’t.
But don’t forget to visualize and affirm something like this:
Open-ended statements such as this allow for the Divine’s idea for your life to get some traction.
If you want your life to improve in specific areas, then by all means affirm that.
But remember to make room for improvements and inspirations that are way bigger than any of your ideas.
That’s where the real transformation happens.
That’s when your affirmations can catapult you to places that are More Amazing, More Powerful, and more Awesomely-Awesome-Mc-Awesome-Town than anything you’ve ever dreamed.
Remember to send me a postcard when you get there!
What’s your experience with affirmations? Share your comments below!
Want Sneak Peeks, Insider Info, and other Fun Stuff?! Become a member of OhMyGod Life!
This blog is just what the metaphysician ordered! This really hits the spot…again! And thanks for keeping things light and lively and reminding us that healing doesn’t have to be icky poo doldrums and drama. Whew!
Thank you! Yeah, I’ve never been a big fan of icky poo doldrums and drama. Better to have fun! 🙂
LOVE these drawings!
For me, it’s all about finding thoughts that feel good, whether it’s affirmations, visualizations, appreciation, you-name-it.
Anything that we affirm, tangible or intangible, that feels good is good for us and is good for our world, for that matter.
No matter where we’re focusing, if it feels good to us, it’s opening the doors to all that we want.
And lots of time, as you point out, it’s good to “go general,” because it’s easier to feel good with open-ended statements than to tinker with details.
As we regularly direct our focus toward feeling good, things will start to transform around us. But the real pay-off is the feelings and the empowering realization that we can choose them. 🙂
Absolutely. Thoughts that feel good are a sure sign that we’re in alignment with something awesome. Plus thinking feel-good thoughts is, as you point out, a win in and of itself! And knowing that choice is possible is definitely empowering! 🙂
Hi Z,
Affirmations have been sooooo important in my life. They have literally kept me alive at a time when I thought I should die from shame. They are God’s life jacket!
Thanks for the reminder that our ego can make our affirmations smaller than God’s Idea of us. I really loved your article(s).
Hugs,
River
Hi River,
Yay for affirmations! I feel the same way about them – they have been a true lifesaver for me as well. God’s life jacket is a perfect term!! 🙂
Thanks for your comment, as always!
XOZ
Balance in affirmations. I should write a book. Or did you do that already?Thank you for clearing up some confusion I have had regarding affirmations.
Margaret Love
Hi Margaret, Thanks for your comment! Actually, I am thinking of writing an e-book about affirmations. Stay tuned… 🙂 XOZ