Want to Improve Your Self Esteem? Use Affirmations
Low self esteem often results from the barrage of negative messages that our minds are exposed to daily. This becomes even more important when we stop to think that many of these messages are being absorbed subconsciously and having an effect on our conscious lives. There are several things we can do to improve your self esteem including limiting our news consumption and increasing our exposure to positive thoughts and messages.
I’m not going to concentrate on how to limit your news consumption because there is so much information available about that. (But I will remind you that we can choose which news to watch and when to watch it). But I do want to dwell on how powerful affirmations can be for retraining our minds and making long-term behavioral changes.
I had a brilliant mentor in a network marketing company who really encouraged me to use positive affirmations to help me get out of my own way and reach my business goals. The challenge was I didn’t really believe they could work and I didn’t really know how to use them. In case that is holding you back also, here are some ideas on how you can create and use affirmations to improve your self-esteem.
- Write in the present tense. Affirmations are most powerful when written in the present not future tense. When you write, “I will exercise daily” the timeframe for that to happen is so vague it could be now or 3 years from now. But when you write, “I enjoy exercising daily” it is obvious that this is something you am doing right now. The urgency will improve your self esteem.
- Repeat regularly. You need to hear your affirmations more than once for them to have the desired effect on your self-esteem. Try memorizing them and repeating them to yourself several times a day. Many women find recording their affirmations and listening to the audio several times a day works well also. Your subconscious mind is constantly playing back old, negative messages – so it’s important to counteract those as much as possible.
- Speak enthusiastically. When you repeat your affirmations, you can do so by reading them to yourself several times a day, reading them out loud, or recording them and listening to the audio. Be careful that you don’t sabotage your efforts by letting a disbelieving or sarcastic tone enter your voice. How would you encourage a dear friend? Use that level of enthusiasm and belief when you are talking to yourself. Imagine for one moment how differently you would feel if you said or read the words, “I really love sharing my art with people” with a tone of belief, confidence or sarcasm. Which do you think would have a greater impact on your subconscious mind?
- Be patient with yourself. Remember that it will take time to change those negative messages in your mind to something more positive. If you don’t feel an immediate difference you might get tempted to quit. It takes 21 days to form a habit so at least give affirmations a 21-day trial. The changes that you see will be more gradual than an instant flash but you will see results if you don’t quit.
Are you willing to try affirmations? If you would like a head start I update these affirmations monthly so feel free to visit often and change affirmations as your situation changes. What other things have you tried to improve your self esteem and attitude? Let me know in the comment box below. And if this was useful to you, please share it with your friends using the Pinteret, Twitter, or other share buttons.
I love using affirmations. I agree that our self esteem is effected by negative things we think about or things or negative things people say to us. Affirmations really help focus the mind on positive things and counteract things that are negative.
You can really change your mindset with affirmations. I have also recorded myself saying affirmations so I can hear them while I do other things or even while sleeping. It’s amazing the power of the mind. We even have the ability to reprogram our subconscious mind. Really COOL!
Hi Melodie –
Do you find that listening to your affirmations works better at certain times of the day? I have recently begun listening to them right before I go to sleep. Interesting! Have a great week, Allegra
Great post, Allegra! Affirmations are so very important.
I have a vision statement, based on the steps Napoleon Hill talks about in Ch.2 of Think and Grow Rich. I say that a couple of times a day, morning and evening. Then I also have a much shorter self talk that I aim to say at least 100 times a day! Easy enough to do when filling in all those blank spaces between tasks or while doing tasks that don’t take a lot of thought.
Willena Flewelling
Willena –
Hey there! I have recorded my affirmations and listen to them on my iPod or whenever I’m at one of my computers. I love it! It’s so powerful hearing my own voice telling me great and positive things. I don’t know how I got along without it.
Take care, Allegra
Hey Allegra!
Great Post. Nothing can a destroy a person faster than negative self talk. I was just talking to my daughter today who is 27 and she told me that she started telling herself every day “I am lucky, good things come to me easily”. She used to have all sorts of bad stuff happen in her life. Now, she says she is attracting a ton of amazing people, prosperity, and circumstances. She said people are even saying to her “Shanna! You’re SO LUCKY!!”..pretty amazing how powerful it is huh?
Hi Laura –
Thank you for sharing that powerful story about your daughter! It just gives me chills seeing the power of words coming to life. A positive thought life is no accident, it requires intention and focus. Have a POWERFUL day! Allegra
Hi Allegra!
I really loved your post. It is so true what positive thoughts and affirmations will do for your well being. It is just amazing how simple little words can change our whole life and outlook on the future. Thanks for the post, I am sure I will be back to your blog very soon.
Cori Hughes
Hi Cori –
Thanks for the encouraging words! Thoughts are so powerful and we don’t pay them nearly enough attention. Have a great weekend! Allegra
Very powerful article it seems to me that using positive affirmations and raising your self esteem is similar to setting your goals and sticking with it. Your 4 points can be used just as effectively on your goals and goal setting. Thank you for your positive insight. Have your best day ever. Paul
Hi Paul,
Thanks for stopping by! I see the similarities you mention between raising self-esteem and goal setting. Positive affirmations can certainly help us stay focused on our goals even when we might not be seeing results yet. Have a powerful weekend! Allegra
Allegra,
Fantastic post about affirmations. I truly believe that are a powerful tool that can make a difference in someone’s self esteem, mindset as well as success. I bought a Louise Hay book with 365 affirmations and trying to use it as much as possible. Like you said it’s hard to undo old habits but I’m patient and confident it will happen. Thank you for your post, I look forward to reading you next one!
God Bless,
Trish
Hey Trish,
Thanks for your kind words. You are so good for my ego! I love Louise Hay! She is a really powerful writer. Have a great week! Allegra
Great blog post Allegra. Positive affirmations will reprogram your subconscious mind and allow you to increase up your self esteem. By developing the habit of using positive affirmations regularly and consistently your subconscious will adapt to the new information it is being provided with.
Hi Jorge,
Thanks for visiting my blog! It’s comforting to know that we have the power to change our lives by changing our thoughts. I hope you’re having a great day! Allegra
Hi Allegra,
powerful stuff. Low self-esteem is a deadly poison and a self-fulfilling prophecy. Positive affirmations are an awesome way to chase away the negative thoughts and emotions that are stored in our subsconscious mind. As a matter of fact, we have to take action according our affirmations.
Thanks for sharing your insights.
Take care
Oliver
Hi Oliver!
Thanks for stopping by again! I love how you described low self-esteem as poison. That certainly elevates it to the level of import it deserves. Be well, Allegra