The Latin word affirmare, which means to make firm, reinforce, or fortify, is the root of the English term affirmation. Affirmations can be said positively or negatively & usually produce the desired results. If it is positive, one can notice various Benefits of Affirmations.
This is something that brain scientists are aware of, & numerous studies have emphasized the Benefits of Affirmations. Positive affirmations are phrases, words, or declarations that we repeat to counteract unfavorable ideas & encourage positive life improvements.
Addiction professionals advise using affirmations & positive thinking as a relapse prevention technique because their effectiveness is apparent.
Some Proven Benefits of Positive Affirmations
1. It Improves General Wellbeing
You may immediately realize how much affirmations can do for your general well-being by looking at this list of Benefits of Affirmations. You may have more restful sleep, feel more at ease, & have greater workout motivation.
That’s because repeating a powerful affirmation can alter how we view ourselves positively as we learn more about it. Finding the appropriate words is essential; fortunately, The Good Body has lots of inspiration to offer, including strong affirmations from others.
2. You Can Control Negative Thoughts & Speech
Negative or self-defeating talk is frequently the result of self-defeating thinking, which may make you resist making positive changes in your life.
Your inner critic, who tries to convince you that you ARE NOT & CANNOT, causes these thoughts to surface. If you believe this inner conversation, you could feel sad, dejected, undeserving, & undeserved.
It’s possible that negative thoughts, such as “You can’t get that job,” will keep you away from applying for the position. I don’t deserve him/her if you keep telling yourself. “He/She’s too good for me” can sabotage your chances of finding true love.
Both possibilities pose a risk to both romantic & professional success.
Self-Sabotage: Why You Hold Yourself Back, a piece by Psych Central, claims that using timely affirmations might help you change your internal story. Additionally, “you can start to stop self-sabotaging & work towards the life you deserve” by talking to yourself more positively.
3. It Decreases Anxiety
Many of us have the propensity to overthink or worry about circumstances outside of our control. Other times, we catastrophize, which is when we anticipate the worst-case scenario.
These routines have a way of bringing on feelings of terror & dread. In actuality, an anxiety disorder sign is persistent, excessive worrying.
Incidentally, one Benefit of Affirmations is that they cause less anxiety. The power of positive thought is what psychologists refer to as its soothing effects.
One study examined whether changing unfavorable thoughts to favorable ones & visualizing favorable outcomes could help people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
The researchers concluded that it would be possible to overcome concern by substituting “different forms of positive ideation” for worrying thoughts.
4. It Improves Mood
If you know What is an Affirmation, you must know how it improves mood. Depression is characterized by persistently low mood, which can negatively impact your quality of life.
Think of affirmations as a type of constructive self-talk that can alter your perspective, improve your mood, & lessen the symptoms of depression.
They function in a similar manner as negative self-talk. The numerous advantages of positive affirmations on your general quality of life make a difference, though. The phrases “I’m an amazing person” & “I grow and improve every day” are a few instances of remarks that can lift your spirits.
You can say them aloud to dispel negative thoughts, ideas, & actions. According to a study, making such encouraging words can also assist in controlling depressive-related negative thoughts.
According to the experts, affirmations are beneficial because they promote a more expansive view of oneself or one’s current circumstances.
5. It Develops Self Esteem
Your self-image & sense of worth are referred to as your self-esteem. People who experience poor self-worth are less driven to succeed. They might exhibit unhealthy coping mechanisms more frequently.
Low self-esteem has been associated with mental health problems & poor quality of life, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
By repeating affirmations, you build a protective barrier around yourself that allows you to fend off negative emotions and thoughts.
In a study published in 2016, researchers compared affirmation users with non-users. They discovered that people who used positive self-affirmations had higher levels of activity in the parts of the brain that help people understand their value.
6. It Promotes Positive Coping
When faced with difficult life situations, people have a tendency to seek a simple solution. Choosing the easiest route could entail harmful coping mechanisms like binge drinking or abusing illegal substances.
Well-established research shows chronic substance use can develop or exacerbate mental problems.
Talking oneself into self-supporting behaviors is a powerful strategy for altering bad habits & enhancing health. Use dialogues like “I am capable of getting through difficult times” to take control of the story.
Words like those have a way of relieving your anxiety & giving you the certainty that everything will be fine. Keep track of how your perspective affects constructive coping mechanisms. Instead, you can unwind by reading a book or speaking with a reliable friend.
7. Develops Problem Solving Skills
How often have you said to yourself, “I don’t think I can get through this?” When you’re under stress & have beliefs about your abilities being threatened, your likelihood of making poor decisions rises.
That might be the ideal time to benefit from affirmations’ strength by recognizing What is an Affirmation. Processing your thoughts & emotions about the circumstance enables you to approach issues more logically.
A study has shown that self-affirmation helps people increase their capacity for problem-solving under duress. Participants in the study who had chronic stress functioned under pressure just as well as those with lower stress levels.
8. It Enhances Your IQ
The fact that self-affirmation can increase your IQ by as much as 10 points may surprise you. In this study, participants were instructed to share a proud moment or past accomplishment before taking a test rather than receiving instruction on how to use affirmations.
These self-affirming words caused significant variations in test outcomes, with those who had previously performed significantly better!
Some Books About Positive Affirmations
There are several Benefits of Affirmations, but they need to be positive. These books can help you to explore the magical benefits by understanding What is an Affirmation & how to use it:
- A Year of Positive Thinking by Cyndie Spiegel.
- 10,000+ Positive Affirmations by R.M. Winters.
- 365 Days of Positive Affirmations by Nicole Lockhart.
- How to Love Yourself Cards by Louise Hay.
- Positive Affirmations: Daily affirmations for attracting health, healing, and happiness into your life by Rachel Robins.
- The Power of Positive Affirmations: 50 Daily Mantras for a Happy, Healthier Life by DeAnna J White.
- Battlefield of the Mind: Winning the Battle in Your Mind by Joyce Meyer.
- The Most Powerful Book of Affirmations Ever Written by Sheldon T Ceaser.
FAQs
Q: Are self-empathy & self-affirmation the same?
A: Though they are different, they go hand in hand. You can only offer some positive affirmations if you are practicing self-empathy.
Q: Can I use positive affirmations to boost confidence?
A: Positive affirmations can have a significant impact on confidence.
Q: Do I need to stand in front of a mirror & say things out loud?
A: Standing in front of a mirror is a helpful practice. You can also repeat them in your mind.
