Today’s Mandala Message: We are what we say we are after we say “I am”.
I’m continuing with Principles #9 and #10 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Success Leaves Clues” and “Release the Brakes” respectively. Today I set my intention to focus on #10 and look at the power of affirmations. Per Canfield: “One way to stretch your comfort zone is to bombard your subconscious mind with new thoughts and images…of all your goals as already complete.”
He suggests creating affirmations that start with “I am…”, stated in the positive and present tense, kept brief personal and specific, and also includes a feeling and an action word ending with -ing, and having it with: “…or something better.” For example: “I am enjoying my hiking tour of Ireland or something better”.
That being said, Dr. Malachi Thompson III offers 7 tips on how to change our self-perception wherein tip #5 he offers this most intriguing suggestion: “Forget Positive Affirmations and Practice Truthful Self-Perceptions.” He states “no amount of positive self-talk can transform negative self-perceptions if we don’t believe they could be true.” He suggests that we instead…”develop phrases which you actually believe, that guide you to look in the direction of how you want to see yourself:”
“I’m working towards
improving how I see
and/or feel about myself.”
I have to admit sometimes it feels awkward, even cringy, to state affirmations mainly for the reason Dr. Thompson states. I do like the idea of transforming them into “directional” statements… for instance: I am working towards the completion of my Archangel Mandala series this year.
So how about you? Do you use affirmations? Have you found them effective? Do you have trouble believing them? Would using directional statements instead serve you better?
“My favorite affirmation
— Wayne Dyer
when I feel stuck or out of sorts is:
‘Whatever I need is already here,
and it is all for my highest good.’
Jot this down
and post it conspicuously
throughout your home,
on the dashboard of your car,
at your office, on your microwave oven,
and even in front of your toilets!”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 