“You become what you think about most of the time.” – Brian Tracy

 “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” – Henry Ford

“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Claude M. Bristol

CMG original photo

I, like most humans, can worry about things.  There were times in my life that I felt there wasn’t anything else to do but either be in a state of bliss or be in a state of dysfunction and worry.  I know now that there is a way to be more balanced, to be more present- two things, meditation and positive affirmations.

Meditation provides me with a tool to become more present and by living in the present, more positive.  By focusing on my breath during meditation and allowing thoughts to arise and fall away, by coming back to my breath, I more quickly recognize the moments I fall into worry and distress or thinking about the past or the future.  Many times, thinking about the past or the future can cause people distress or do the opposite by taking you away to a fantasy of better times or a special moment you keep reliving but doesn’t exist anymore.

I have learned that my future is created in the moment.  What I do today, right now, is creating my evening, my tomorrow.  Live in the present and live it well.

Affirmations help me to live in the present in the best way I can and to feel good about myself while I am doing it.

We all have these negative tapes that we replay in our heads.  “My hair is horrible.”  “My clothes don’t fit right.”  “I can’t do this.”  As a yoga instructor, I even hear people saying them aloud!  “I am so out of shape.”  REPHRASE that!!!  “I am getting stronger….I am here doing yoga, I am soooo awesome!”

Affirmations are positive statements that you say to yourself, beliefs that you wish to change.  Some places that you could use affirmations in your life might be around your body image, your career, your relationships and your money situation. When do you hear that voice that says you can’t or you don’t?   Create positive statements for some of these.

If you hear yourself saying negative things around money, maybe you need to say, “Money comes easily and frequently.”  If it is around your body image, maybe you need to say, “ I have a strong and healthy body.”  Try some.  They aren’t permanent.  You can change them but say them daily, write them down and post them around your house.  We receive so many negatives on a daily basis.  We need to remember for every negative we must hear 10 positives to counter that one negative.

Note: affirmations aren’t LIES!  Some people have said to me, Carrie, I am 30 pounds overweight, how can I say I am healthy when I really am not?  I say, what you think and say is what you become.  Imagine yourself without that weight, imagine yourself eating differently, is it getting you to where you want by telling yourself how unhealthy you are?  I don’t think so.  Is worrying about a situation going to make it better?  No.  Think positive, create an affirmation for yourself and your life today!