Do Affirmations and Positive Thinking Work? - An Honest View
Do Affirmations Work?
Ever wonder why after repeating your affirmations, praying, meditating, thinking positive, your life has not exactly changed in 60 days or less or the way you envisioned it?
The use of affirmations is a wonderful tool that is not new in the world of psychology or spirituality. It attracts men and women from all walks in life, who wonder what are the limitations and potential in repeating phrases over and over again and in actually creating change in their lives.
Are affirmations magical words? Do they really manifest the money, car, healing of a challenge? A change in one's spiritual awareness?
Not by themselves!
Coming from the creator of affirmation and meditation cards that I have not yet endeavored to sell as the printing is expensive, I can almost see a few raised eyebrows from friends who know me well.
But, I don't like to mislead...
Our Inner World
We attract what we want to experience into our lives by changing what we feel on the inside. The feelings we have around the memories of the events in our lives, the traumas. fears, disappointments, especially in childhood, is the vibration that broadcasts to the universe, and to our minds, what we think we are worthy and capable of receiving.
If we believe we are unworthy of love, because something is 'wrong' with us, we are not meeting our family's or the standards of society, no amount of repeating "I will attract the perfect partner in my life" will work. Our inner fears will sabotage and cancel out our intentions, or worse we may attract a partner that reflects our lack of self love and may be abusive. Best to work on "I release anything that blocks love in my life", observe the thoughts and fears that come up and acknowledge and work on healing them. There are natural therapies like EFT, which involves tapping the meridian points in your body while repeating phrases that helps to release negative feelings and pent up energy.
Positive Thinking Can Be Powerful
Affirmations used wisely, can be very practical in moving our focus from self defeating thoughts to higher, positive ones, that support not only our goals but health.
Scientists are finding that the brain has the capacity to alter its structure. The brain does not know the difference between 'imagination' and 'reality'. If we pretend to play a musical instrument, a PET scan (positrion emission tomography) is almost identical as the person that is actually playing the musical instrument. These are exciting findings, as the brain influences our health and quality of life.
Deepak Chopra, M.D. agrees, and has said, "We are the only creatures on the planet who can change our biology through our thoughts, feelings and intentions. Our cells are constantly eavesdropping on our thoughts and being changed by them. When we fall in love, positive thoughts and emotions course through our body and strengthen our immune system. On the other hand, the dark thoughts and feelings of depression can leave us vulnerable to illness"
Masuro Emoto has done extensive research on how thoughts affect water; words such as hate and love have different crystal formations. He has written several books with photographs that give tangible proof that thoughts have power. We are composed of water; think how your thoughts are affecting you! (check my hub on Emoto's work)
Yes, affirmations and positive thinking works as a tool to self-love, self awareness, empowerment, healing, attaining you goals, but work to know yourself first and release stories, ideas, concepts about reality that no longer work for you, through self-inquiry.
A balanced inner self, free from the clouds that hide the light of your being, can help to create more harmony and wonder in your life!
Recommended Hubs and Blogs
- Positive Thinking and How to Use it for Real
Positive Thinking is much stronger than merely thinking positively, and has much bigger effects on our lives. At least this is my opinion, and yours? - Does Law Of Attraction Really Work
We all need some kind of inspiration to walk the arduous path of life. In absence of motivation, the journey can be horrendous enough while wading through difficult waters, staggering across the sandy... - Soul Work: Joy
Soul Work Series: 1 of 5 Joy Joy is an emotion that occurs spontaneously, from the depths of our Being. It is not something that can be forced or faked. It is closely associated with happiness;... - How to materialize bright ideas or anything what your heart desires
Everyone can materialize ones ideas, wishes or life dreams... or anything else, positive or negative, because we are creating our own lives, by pure power of our thoughts and emotions. With positive emotions...
More of My Hubs
- The Wounded Healer, EFT and Musings
I have been working with EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to address an emotional issue I developed without my being aware of it consciously, after my nephew passed away. EFT involves tapping the acupuncture... - Authentic Spiritual Empowerment - Spiritual and Philosophical Musings
An authentically empowered person is humble. This does not mean the false humility of one who stoops to be with those who are below him or her. It is the inclusiveness of one who responds to the beauty of... - Power of Our Thoughts - Captured by Photographs in Masuro Emoto's "Message from Water"
Some may have heard recently through the popular book and DVD "The Secret", and others for decades, that our thoughts have vibrations and influences our life experience. Think negative and most likely we will... - Thoughts on Living In the Moment
Practically every teacher of spirituality teaches of the importance of being in the moment. Why does it make a difference? Why should I care, if I am in the moment or thinking of the past or the future? I have...
Has repeating affirmations helped you attain a goal?
Comments
AUTHORYes, I agree we need to do the work not just affirm. I like your analogy. Sorry for the late response; was not aware I had a comment.
You still have to do the work. It's old a perfect car will still not run without gas sort of thing.
- AUTHOR
Karen, I just saw your comments today, sorry for the late response. I love your comments as I want to lose some weight. I am going to emulate you and make this a fun experiment. Thanks so much for sharing and congrats on your weight loss!
Hi VioletSun,
I've been using affirmations for some time now. Although, of course, there are many variables that may or may not create results for the affirmation user, I believe that the words themselves have certain vibrations. Therefore it is best to phrase the affirmation in a positive manner (not using the word not, etc.). I have now lost 43 pounds by just using a phrase over and over again, "I am (what ever your weight is, minus 5 lbs). So, if you are 150 pounds, the phrase would be, "I am 145 pounds. I found that the more I repeated the phrase the sooner the 5 pounds came off. When that 5 pounds came off, I changed the phrase to be 5 pounds less, or I would take a break for a while. None of the weight ever came back on.. I have not been successful in any other areas, but am now adding visualization with color as well as the other senses while repeating a phrase to see if that will make a difference. I am happy to share any of my experiences or furner info with anyone, just leave me a message.
- AUTHOR
Hi Niteriter, No, I never followed through tough I completed the decks. It became too expensive to pay for printing and the box. Wow, your idea is a good one. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
Despite the shenanigans I engage in here on HubPages, I have a great fondness for material of this type. I have seen people's lives changed through positive thinking and affirmations. Many of them did not achieve the financial trophies they started out wanting, but they did go on to lead happier and more productive lives than they would have had they not changed their thought patterns.
By the way, did you ever do anything with your affirmation and meditation cards? Selling in PDF format is a viable marketing path; many people in the self improvement community would gladly pay for their own printing if your words and artwork appealed to them.
...just a thought. Cheers!
- AUTHOR
TyacoonSam, Thanks for your comments. This morning I was wondering if all my spiritual and psychological work has paid off, and here you are reminding me to look back at my own life. I would have to say yes some came to pass, yet, not always the way I envisioned. There is the element of surprise. :)
Very inspirational hub. A while back I was a motivational products junkie. I read all the books, attended the seminars, set the goals, visualized, did the affirmations and even did a little bit of the tapping. Nothing seemed to work, of so I thought. Just a few months ago I found an old journal which listed some of my goals from 2002. It was amazing how many of them came to pass. Goals I had forgotten about. So I have to agree that it works.
Thank you for reminding me.
Voted up and useful
- AUTHOR
Serenity, You would need to do inner work. I recommend the Sedona Method or Release Technique, both which are based on the teachings of the late Lester Levenson who healed himself from a sentence of having only 3 months to live and lived for 40 healthy more years. It teaches you to release negative emotions. I would suggest to purchase either book. You can heal, that's for sure!
www.sedona.com/
www.releasetechnique.com/
I have trichotillomania (an OCD) and I want to use affirmations. How do you let go of deeply rooted negative emotions?
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Rebecca! Sometimes we need pick me ups. :)
You know this is a great one to read now and again, it's still as true as when I first read it, and a great pick me up....
- AUTHOR
You are most welcome, Andrea! :)
Marie, thanks for the link. You're such a good girl. ;)
Have a wonderful weekend!
- AUTHOR
Thank you Born2Care for reading and your comments and support! I like your gardener analogy, we need to nurture the seeds of our thoughts.
What a wonderfully researched and presented hub. It indicates to me VioletSun that you have much personal experience as well as interest in helping others understand very important concepts about fulfillment and happiness.
You have gained a fan! I really appreciate the candor and the insight about an oft misunderstood subject.
Not all gardeners grow with the same efficacy. The ones that know how to develop and nurture the soil, feed the seedlings with love and understand the law of the harvest (of sowing and reaping), actually receive joy before they receive a crop. It is, in my humble opinion, the same with affirmations and positive thinking.
Thanks for this insightful hub!
- AUTHOR
ubanichijioke, Yes, words said out loud have more power. Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
Truth well spoken. There is power in spoken words especially when it is positive. Thanks
- AUTHOR
AmyMarie, Its amazing that the brain responds to imagination and to reality in almost identical way. It gives us hope that we can indeed heal our minds. I love Louise Hay, she was one of the first authors I read years ago when I embarked on this spiritual path.
WD: How wonderful to get confirmation from a professional who has worked with emotionally disturbed adoloscents and used these positive thinking principles. Yes, we need to establish positive patterns, a good way of wording it. Thanks for the vote of confidence on the Beyond Inspiration. :)
Thank you both for your comments! :)
You got a lot into a small space. I am more than impressed. I worked with emotionally disturbed adolescents for ten years at Devereux. Everything you say is true. We had great success by catching them "doing good, and affirming and exhorting.
It isn't enough alone, but it sure helps. For the most part, we can overcome with positive thinking. A positive thought is not enough. We need to establish positive patterns. I think your "Beyond Inspiration" is a step in that direction.
I learned about positive affirmations several years ago when my depression was severe. I have a book from Louise Hay and her affirmations helped me through this terrible period in my life.
I especially like where you said: The brain does not know the difference between 'imagination' and 'reality'.
I find that very interesting.
Rated all up!
- AUTHOR
Andrea, I designed the cards but never got to sell them as the printing is pricey, but use the images and quotes for my writings. :) Thanks for reading and commenting!
Interesting article Marie, and you're surely right when you say that changing what we have inside we can then change what we get from the outside. Now I'm pretty curious about those cards. :)
Have a great day!
- AUTHOR
Molometer and Melovy, Thank you for your comments! Unfortunately I just saw them today, as I didn't get an email notification I had comments in this hub.
Thank you for your insightful comments. I think trying and never giving up in moving in a positive direction keeps one's focus high.
I totally agree with what you say in this hub. Affirmations work if you release all the dross that holds you back from believing them, but to say “I am a beautiful, successful person” 1000 times won’t make you believe it if you don’t notice the instant mind response, “No you are not.” EFT, which you mention seems to be very effective for many people and I have used it a few times but somehow it’s not a method I’ve felt drawn to. I think different things suit different people and as long as they all lead the same way it doesn’t matter. I use the Sedona Method and the Work, and will at some point get around to writing a hub about them.
Sometimes if I feel stuck and not able to cope with a situation I just silently say, “I would really like to see this situation differently.” Often within a few moments something pops into my mind that changes how I feel about it and enables me to relax. (I’m not sure who I am talking to when I make my request - my inner wisdom/God/the collective unconscious/the right brain - but it doesn’t matter because it works.)
Thanks for posting the link to this hub on hubhoppers. I will check out your FB group now.
It reminds me of the Disney film Dumbo with the little train chugging up the track, I Think I Can X 3, gets to the top of the hill and sings I Thought I Could x 3. You have more chance of reaching your goal if you think you can make it. I play golf occasionally and you have to visualise were the ball must go. Admittedly 9/10 times it doesn't go where you envisaged it would go but mostly it's fairly close and 1/10 you hit bang on and it is perfect. Good hub very thought provoking. Voted up
- AUTHOR
Love and peace to you Nia~
Love to you Marie, reading you is always a pleasure and such knowledge to take in to grow and open up to the greatness of the Universe. Believe in the greatest good, believe in yourself and Be. Lovve and peace, NiaLee
- AUTHOR
Wow, your comments made my eyes wet and gave me goosebumps. You are so right, just the act of praying and having that faith is positive thinking...
Peace, Marie
VioletSun another great hub and another contribution to the great good and well being in this universe. I will definitely check on you facebook page.
Positive thinking has opened the great door to life to me, happiness and health to me. I came back from a heart disease thanks to meditation, positive thinking and yoga. I went from being a cursed suffering powerless child to being an enlightened happy powerful faithfull woman... all that through faith, prayer, positive thinking yoga and meditation. All religion or philosophy when laying on the positive side is enriching, loving constructive. It is Light, Love and Light have no limit.
When you pray, you do positive thinking believing that the higher being of the universe loves you, cares about you and listens to you... and will do the best for you. When you do positive thinking, you have faith in the ability of those words said or written to become a reality, that with the help of the Universe, you can make them a reality. Yes, things are flexible, life, us can change for the best.
Love and peace on all. NiaLee
- AUTHOR
Happy to read that it was helpful for you! Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
Great hub on affirmations, I found it really useful
I agree in keeping an optimistic outlook and attitude on life. Negativity only keeps us in a negative state of mind. I also like to remember that there is power in the words we use each day. If I find myself beginning to worry about finances or my kids, I pull my mind back to thinking positive.
- AUTHOR
Rebecca, And I agree with you that as you focus on taking the steps each day to a positive outcome, something good will come ouf this for you! :)
I've enjoyed this and I get a lot of pleasure reading this a few times, I affirm that I am valued and sucessful, and plan to take steps each day to do this =)
- AUTHOR
Thanks, Ed.
Good work.
Violet Sun-- I try my best =) Happy to have mreo time to do this these days, I do enjoy reading your hubs...
- AUTHOR
Rebecca, absolutely! Important to act on our affirmations, just saying words without action doesn't help. I will see if I can add this to the hub, as it important and forgot to mention it. So good to see you, have save a hub of yours that I want to read and comment on.:) Thanks for your comemnts!
I will say yes, with one proviso, tht you aslo act on your affirmations... I've heard it said the universe loves actions. Another excellent hub
- AUTHOR
Tatjana, Yes, good point, affirmations and meditation is always a good thing to use, even if we still have that inner negativity, it increases one's vibrations. Thanks for adding your comments. Hugs and love to you.
Dear Marie,
I came to conclusion that clear intention and desire works even if it is accompanied by many negative thoughts and emotions (they shouln`t be prevalent) but is certainly easier, simpler and healthier to attain the goal with positive affirmations.
Positive affirmations and practising meditation/visualisation have even higher value than achievement of material life goals- they keep as healthy, give us vital energy and support our emotional, mental and spiritual health, give us inspiration and reason to live, what is so precious. Without healthy vital energy none of our life goals really matters.
Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring article,
hugs and love
- AUTHOR
Glad you enjoyed the article, Ahorseback! Today, I watched a few minutes of Oprah and it was about a young boy with a mental illness, and how he is much more calm and positive with the correct psychiatric treatment and lessons on how to remain positive with his thoughts. Its amazing the change in him, went from a little 7 year old boy who tried to murder his Mom to a boy with a better future, and he fully gets it, that he must endeavor to stay in place of Light, yup they talked about the light and positive thinking and its effectiveness even with the mentally ill.
Marie , You're wise discussion here is well taken and extremely powerful advice. I agree wholeheartedly. I've got to check out those cards!
- AUTHOR
Chelle, I emphatize with you because I too have had to rehash old stuff and let it out, out. Have also dabbled with switchwords, even ordered the out of print book which some sellers have. Thanks for your comments, much appreciated!
Coming from a place of high negativity it has taken some time and work to get LOA to work for me. It is hard rehashing old pains to release them but worth the effort.
Great info. I am always on the lookout for more info on LOA, affirmations, switchwords and positive thinking to share with my twitter followers as well as for helping me on my journey to great abundance in all forms
Thanks! :0)
- AUTHOR
Lovepsychic, Your thoughts are very wise and centered, and I agree! Thanks for adding your comments. :)
I believe in affirmations and I believe in the power of a Higher Being. I also believe that knowing the line between fate and perseverance makes for the perfect balance in life!
Thank you for this very meaningful article!
- AUTHOR
Mr. Williams, Wonderful! If what I write encourages at least one person to try a positive focus toward life, I am feel great. :)
Didn't realize it would work. Thank you for the hub. I will be doing this for now on.
Affirmations accompanied with a positive mind works for me. We must put aside what is negative and stop hurting ourselves- this can help us keep a positive mindset and have a better life. Thanks for another thoughtful hub that gave a positive tone to my day! Voted up for a useful and awesome hub! Here's wishing you the best of life! God bless! =)
- AUTHOR
Kislany, Thanks for stopping by and offering your thoughts, it helps with enhancing the message of this hub.
I think affirmations work only when in conjunction with positive thinking. If you are in a negative frame of mind and you keep repeating your affirmation mantra, you won't get the desired results. You do really have to put a bit of your 'belief' in these affirmations to get the results that you want from them.
- AUTHOR
De Greek, ah, for some reason I though you guys were behind us. :)
Gypsy Willow: Thanks for the wishes this hub is read by many, would be wonderful! :) I agree, we only have this moment, so best to be positive!
Hi Docmo, thank for sharing your encouraging words. I hope more people will become more open to seeing that we pretty much choose the life experience we want to have, even in the midst of challenges.
I am a strong believer in affirmations and positive thoughts. The mind/body dichotomy is a very western thought and medicine is poorer for it. I try to enrich treatments with positive affirmations and these have helped 'unlock' blocked potential and enhanced treatment plans. Great hub and thanks for sharing.
Useful hub, hope lots of people read it. I am a great proponent of positive thinking and being cheerful. We only have the moment!
We are ahead of you, not behind you timewise. It is now 19:15 :-)))
- AUTHOR
DG, Isn't it very early on your side of the fence? I am too lazy right now to check the time zone.:) I guess, some people are born with the ability to succeed as they have an innate positivity which is needed in business and in life in general. I had a young boss, who expected nothing but the best from himself (that's a form of positive thinking) and was successsful with most things. He told me he was succesful from the time he was a boy.
Thanks for stopping by!
I know from personal experience that positive thinking does work, or at least it worked for me. Whenever I truly beilieved in some business project, I always made it succeed. The other stuff, I don't know :-))
- AUTHOR
Shalini, Affirmations that are selfish, meaning ones that would hurt another one, comes from our lower selves; I hadn't thought of that, that some people may actually affirm something that is not for the highest good of all involved. You raised good points, thanks for sharing!
Ruzica, I agree, that we need to clear what is in our subconcioius, glad that it worked for you, and teachers of the Law of Attaction should emphazise the importance of internal/emotional health,while teaching about the use of affirmations.
Nellianna, Exactly! We are not controlling, we are simply opening ourselves to our good, or rather our highest good, which may not always be what we want but may need. Thanks for adding your valuable perspective.
Skye, You don't know how timely your words are and how much I appreciate your wisdom. Isn't it amazing how feelings change moment from moment? There are days when I feel great, but others like this morning, when I woke up feeling a little sad, sort of not feeling very centered, so YES, I am going to be in the light by continuing to plant good seeds and living in the light. I feel better already! :) Love to you.
violet sun Beautiful up and awesome. Yes sister we do have control of our thoughts and emotions. God created the seed principle. Plant good seed reap a good harvest. Plant bad seed guess what. It is a choice one make. Our feelings change daily and sometimes from moment to moment. SO keep planting the positive the light and live in the light. It takes practice but is oh so worth it.
All Glory to God the creator of Heavens and Earth. He controls the rivers that flow. Hugs Galore.
Yes, this is the real secret and essence of the power of affirmations:
"We attract what we want to experience into our lives by changing what we feel on the inside."
It is by repetition - preferably in first person, as though in real time, accomplished, that we become able to actually FEEL it is possible and to peel away the doubts and hindrances to accepting our worthiness and power. Then our whole being becomes a magnet for the conditions and opportunities which will help make the affirmation become reality. It is a process, rather than an effect or instant "reply" from outside our beings. We make it happen by our inner conviction. If someone expects it to descend - it will probably be disappointing.
We must also be aware that how it happens may not be exactly how we visualized it in the primary stages of our beginning to feel its possibility. We are not controlling everything outside of us, we are simply opening ourselves to the good that IS there - and believing totally that we have a right to it, as we choose from among the possibilities.
Certainly releasing negatives is important but it should not be assumed that they must control us even if they are located in our vicinity and around us. It becomes our effect on them, rather than their effect on us which really tells the tale. The world - the universe - is populated by negative energy. We can't eliminate it. But we can neutralize its direct effect on us and our choices.
Good article, VS. As always - you have great clarity of sight and expression of it!
A wonderful article VioletSun!
The subconscious mind is the reason why affirmations and positive thinking don't work with some people.
The good news is that we can release and reprogram our mind set. Personally, I attended EFT workshop and found it to be a great way in clearing and reprogramming our subconscious mind.
Marie - I've sometimes wondered whether we need to 'ask right' too. I've known people who feel that as soon as they ask, it should be given - and very often the 'affirmation' might hurt another. Then, is it positive? Or does it stem from the negative? Just my two bits - but I feel if we were to ask for strength and 'our daily bread' for each day, I think what we get will be abundant and overflowing. Too often, greed insidiously enters many of our positive affirmations.
Maybe positive affirmations should be about what we need and not what we want :)
As always, a wonderful thought-provoking hub, thanks!
- AUTHOR
Anjali, I am fascinated by brain studies, have read a few books on brain health; will be checking out the brain mapping, as I am reading books by Dr. David Hawkins, and he reminds us of how powerful our minds are by giving examples of people with multiple personalities who develop illnesses under one personality and heal when the other personalilty takes over.
And yes, as I am moving forward in my journey, I have realized that "methods', are okay, but in the end all that really works is our inner work and being aligned with the Presence of a Higher Power. It never fails, it never falls apart, its the only constant that remains when all else changes.
Thanks for your insightful comments, much appreciated!
Recently I read an article about 'brain mapping' which helps (they say) in altering the existing thought process. Not sure how successful it would be in the long run. These days they seem to have a pill or a medical procedure for every disorder / malfunction and after experimenting on human guinea pigs for years they suddenly start alerting the people about the harmful effects of the procedures. (like the way they are doing in case of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures). There are no short cuts ..not even to happiness. One needs to put in a lot of effort to make space for 'peace' inside the chaotic mind. I'm not sure if the affirmations work but I can vouch for the presence of Higher Power with each one of us. We still have to face our share of ordeals but the journey through life can become relatively easier with the help and grace of the 'Unseen'. This is what I've experienced.
- AUTHOR
Michelle, I also like the way you explain how to put affirmations to work. I personally experienced attracting an emotionally abusive ex when I wasn't feeling very good about myself, and I was into affirmations even then. When I shifted internally, the relationship eneded and I met Phil. Cheers to a life filled with wonder!:)
FP,Oh, how cool, you are joining? Whooo, will try to recognize you without the cat suit. LOL.
Nancy, Positive thinking is crucial in life, and you seem to be the role model for the rest us. Having a career as teacher, and then becoming an Innkeeper is quite an accomplishment, and am sure required being positive.
Drbj, I agree, positive thinking does work, and affirmations at times; emotion is important as the brain "feels' it, so saying affirmations flatly may not be as effective. Good points...
Happy Valentines ladies, and thanks for stopping by!
Does positive thinking work? Yes, yes, yes. Do affirmations work? Sometimes. Depends on the words you are using in your "self-talk" and your emotions. Should you use them. Of course.
Happy Valentine's Day, VioletSun.
I definitely believe in affirmations. Whenever I'm doing something that is difficult for me, I always start saying over and over: "I can do this." "I can do this." It' helps a lot. I'm a very positive thinker. I use affirmations and I know when to "let go" Thanks, VS, enjoyed your hub. I'm with you girl!
VS, your hubs always make me feel that anything is possible! I'm off to find Beyond Inspirations on facebook...I hope you will recognise me without my feline avatar! :)
Hi Marie, I loved how you explained this so beautifully. Yes I agree that affirmations do work if we are not sabotaging ourselves unconsciously. Releasing whatever is not in alignment with ourselves does help and then we can accept the new mindset that is positive! To a beautiful life...Happy hearts day!
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