Do your affirmations feel like hard work?
Do you think it takes discipline and willpower to, you know, say the same thing every day?
If not, great. Keep doing whatever you’re doing.
(At least, as long as I get results…)
If you find it strangely difficult to do this simple exercise…
Good.
I know some of you gravitate towards affirmations because it’s part of positive psychology. You like the sun and the rainbow of everything.
And some of you like it because it sounds easy.
Well, here’s some unpleasant news:
Affirmations are not a substitute for hard work. They boost your mind, preparing and motivating you to move towards success.
They are, in fact, a form of work.
Even a form of mental exercise.
So if you feel discouraged, bored or frustrated with it… well, what did you expect?
It’s up to you to make it happen.
Affirmations are a tool, like a monkey wrench. A wrench can allow you to tighten and loosen things that you couldn’t do with your bare hands. But you have to use the wrench. Leave it lying on your shelf and nothing gets tighter.
But I don’t want to get all negative here.
Because you are not defined by your struggles but by your actions. So if you find affirmations not as easy as you’d hoped, here are some actions to get you delivered.
If it is really very difficult to recite the phrase you chose, then everything will be very difficult. But that’s probably not what’s happening.
If you lose focus and forget about it for a few days, that’s okay, it happens. Just set a reminder somewhere, maybe a sticky note on your mirror or an alarm on your phone.
Frustrated by the lack of results? The worst thing you can do is anything except move on. Nothing is guaranteed to work: It is doubly true that nothing is guaranteed to work quickly. Suppose today is the day it finally pays off for you.
But what if it’s neither? What if you’re just… you know, bored with it?
This, I suspect, is the main reason why people pass up this practice.
At best, it’s fun at first. That goes away quickly.
If you know what to get into it, you have an advantage. Don’t let the fun take you away, because the fun is over. Think of the most amazing video game. It starts off being so much fun, it’s addictive. Then once you get the hang of it and know all the tricks it gets boring.
Affirmations aren’t even as fun as video games.
Keep in mind that it will be boring, boring, and even frustrating at times.
Commit to following through anyway.
You owe it to yourself and everyone you meet to do your best, so don’t let the excitement get you down. It will only break your heart.