Why affirmations (sometimes) don't work

I've read hundreds of self help books and I'm frequently struck by the claims that many authors make for repeating a daily affirmation. Over the years I've known many who subscribe to this advice and yet have seen few who actually benefitted from affirmations. Why?

By writing this blog I've had a lot of fun playing with ideas to see what will work for me. So in the interest of displaying my lack of wisdom I've tried;

* repeating affirmations word for word as recommended various authors

* listened repeatedly to affirmations on tapes, videos, CDs and on the computer

* wrote my own affirmations out and tried repeating them daily

* tried affirmations once per day and up to 20 times per day

NONE of those techniques worked for me! There are several reasons why it didn't work for me and probably won't for you either;

* you say the words but you don't believe what you are saying

* you are not employing your brain power with mindless repetition of a phrase

* your brain gets bored and tunes out

* a confused mind says NO

For those of you who follow this blog, you know by now that I have some pretty wacky beliefs that I am quite proud of. Crazy beliefs like:

"Life was meant to be fun, easy and abundant"

I certainly didn't have a belief like that for most of my life. But today I totally believe that statement. So how did I change my belief (and my life). Here is my big secret.....with 3" X 5" index cards. This has also become my de facto method to;

* make it easy to write articles like this

* generate business ideas

* plan parties

* solve problems

* seduce the world (not ready to share this one with the world yet, but soon)

* write speeches

* and much more...

"as a friend said, this is so damn simple and easy...just like you Eduardo"

So lets take a common problem and show how my simple method works. Let's imagine that you have a weight problem. In your head your self talk might be something like...."I know I'm fat, I can't loose weight...it's too damn hard" A belief like that is like a bent coin in a vending machine, it just won't work!

Ah hah, I can hear you saying....dumb ass Eduardo....try saying it in a positve way like, I am healthy and fit. Good idea but that doesn't work either. Yes, it is positive but it is also not believable since you know you are fat and lazy and not healthy and fit. And after a short while your brain becomes bored and drifts away to thoughts of ice cream and chocolate instead of salads and the gym.

Here's the little change that makes the big difference! Change the affirmation to something like this.....HOW I AM BECOMING FIT AND HEALTHY or WHY I LOVE BECOMING FIT AND HEALTHY. Now your logical brain says...ok, I'm not fit and healthy but I can become it one day. So your brain buys into the logic...you can start to believe it. And more importantly you have given yourself something to think and daydream about...the how and the why.

"lazy brains like to daydream and that's why they are more productive"

This is getting interesting, right? Ok, here's the final part. Now write out your affirmation on an index card and put it where you will see it often...in the car, on the computer or bathroom mirror. Now when you glance at the card go ahead and daydream about it. Think about being healthy and fit AND how you are going to do it. When inspiration wacks you upside the idea with some idea, jot it down on the reverse side of the card. Easy...simple!

As you go about your daily duties, allow yourself to daydream about being healthy and fit and the benefits you will recieve. Mostly pay attention to how you will feel. And keep jotting down those little thoughts about how to get there on the back of the card. Just repeating an affirmation like a robot won't get you anthing but collecting thoughts and ideas will do wonders.

Now, you are using your brain power just like Einstein and Plato, contemplating where you want to go. And what it will feel like when you get there. Just try it, you have nothing to lose.

Smile, it is easier and a lot more fun to seduce life then it is to try and conquer it!

Eduardo