All right, so we've got a really interesting
deep dive ahead of us today.
You've sent in a ton of articles on affirmations.
Yeah.
And clearly, you're interested in how these
positive statements can lead to real change.
And I gotta tell you, it's way more
than just thinking happy thoughts.
You're absolutely right.
It's really fascinating, actually.
It's like affirmations bridge this gap
between ancient wisdom and then cutting edge neuroscience.
Right.
We're talking about practices that have been around
for centuries and now we're finally starting
to understand the why behind them, you know.
How they actually work.
Okay, so for our listeners out there
who hear the word affirmations and think
it's just a bunch of wishful thinking,
what's the best way to explain
how these things actually work?
Well, you gotta think about it like this.
Our brains are these incredible organs
constantly adapting and rewiring themselves
based on our experiences and even our thoughts.
And neuroplasticity is the term for this.
Okay.
And it's the key to understanding
how affirmations can create change.
So every time we repeat an affirmation,
we're kind of like carving out new pathways in our brains.
Exactly.
Imagine like a path in a forest.
The more you walk it, the more defined it becomes.
Right.
Affirmations work similarly.
They reinforce specific thought patterns beliefs.
They help us kind of shift from those well-worn paths
of self-doubt and negativity to these new pathways
of confidence, self-belief.
And the more we travel those new paths,
the more automatic those positive thoughts
and behaviors become.
That reminds me a lot about the whole
growth mindset concept, right?
Where instead of saying, oh, I'm terrible at math,
you would say, I'm learning and improving my math skills.
Yeah.
You're seeing those challenges as opportunities.
Absolutely.
And affirmations can be powerful tools
in cultivating that growth mindset.
Okay.
When you repeat statements like,
I embrace challenges as opportunities to learn,
you're essentially telling your brain
to approach those difficulties
with a different perspective.
Interesting.
One of curiosity and possibility
rather than fear and limitation.
It's like rewiring your brain to see setbacks,
not as failures, but as stepping stones,
like on the path to success.
It makes me think about Thomas Edison
and that whole light bulb thing.
And he said, I haven't failed.
I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
Exactly.
That's growth mindset in action.
Yes.
And think about the impact that that shift
in perspective can have on your life.
It can be the difference between giving up on a goal
because it feels too hard and persevering
because you believe in your ability to learn and grow.
It can be everything.
So how do affirmations play into figures like Louise Hay,
who's often referred to as the queen of affirmations?
She really popularized this idea
of using these positive statements for personal growth.
Yeah.
And her work was groundbreaking
because she really helped bring the power of affirmations
into the mainstream.
She understood that our thoughts are incredible powerful
and by consciously choosing to focus
on positive empowering statements,
we can really transform our lives.
It's interesting though,
because some people might hear this and think, okay,
so if I just keep telling myself I'm rich and successful,
I'm gonna magically win the watery,
but it's obviously not that simple.
Yeah.
You hit on a really important point.
Affirmations aren't magic spells.
Right.
They don't change external circumstances.
Okay.
They change our internal landscape,
which then influences how we perceive
and interact with the world around us.
Okay.
It's more like this,
imagine you're holding a map.
The affirmations are like orienting the map
in the right direction,
but you still have to choose to walk the path.
I like that.
Right.
Yeah.
That's a good analogy because it really speaks to
aligning our thoughts and our actions.
Exactly.
So it's not just enough to repeat these empty phrases.
You have to embody those affirmations
through the choices that you make and how you behave.
Precisely.
And this is where it gets really interesting.
We're not just talking about affirmations
impacting our thoughts and feelings.
There's growing evidence that they can actually influence
our physical health as well.
Yeah, I was reading about that,
the mind-body connection research.
Yes.
There was a study about how people who practice
loving-kindness meditations,
which involve repeating positive affirmations
about themselves and others,
actually showed changes in their brain activity
in areas associated with empathy and compassion.
Exactly.
And not just that other studies have found links
between practicing gratitude,
which is a form of affirmation and improvements
in sleep quality immune function,
even cardiovascular health.
Wow.
It's amazing.
So it's not just about feeling happier or more optimistic.
Those positive emotions can create a ripple effect
in our lives that impact our physical wellbeing.
Exactly.
It's like the placebo effect in action.
When we believe something will have a positive impact
on our health, even if it's a sugar pill,
our bodies often respond accordingly.
Our minds are that powerful.
That's pretty amazing.
It really highlights the importance
of our thoughts and beliefs,
especially the ones that we repeat over and over again.
A lot of people are interested in using affirmations
for specific goals,
like for improving their relationships
or boosting their career success.
So how do we move from these general concepts
to applying affirmations
to those really specific areas of our lives?
Well, it starts with getting really clear
about what you wanna create.
Let's say your goal is to improve your communication skills
in your relationships.
Instead of using a generic affirmation
like I am a good communicator,
you might try something more specific
like I listen with an open heart
and express myself clearly and respectfully.
So it's about tailoring those affirmations
to what your needs are.
Exactly.
And what your goals are.
My emotion is also important to not just focus
on ourselves, but to also incorporate affirmations
about the other people involved in those relationships.
Absolutely.
For example, instead of dwelling on negative thoughts
like my partner never listens to me,
you might try an affirmation like I trust
that my partner loves me
and wants to understand my perspective.
It's about shifting from a place of blame and resentment
to a place of understanding and compassion.
So it's nice.
For ourselves and for the other person.
Yeah.
And when we approach our relationships
from this more positive and open-hearted perspective,
it naturally influences how we communicate
and interact with each other.
Yeah, it's like they say what you focus on expands.
So if you're constantly focused on the negative aspects
of your relationship, that's what's gonna grow.
Right.
But if you consciously choose to focus on the positive,
even if it feels challenging at times,
we open up the possibility
for more love, understanding, and connection.
You're exactly right.
And this principle applies to career goals as well.
It's like if we're talking about using affirmations
to boost careers, you'd think it'd be a no-brainer.
Right.
But I imagine there's some resistance there.
Yeah, definitely.
Because our careers are so tied to our identities
and our sense of self-worth.
That it can be really scary to challenge
those deep-seated beliefs
about what we're capable of achieving.
It's like that fear of failure is amplified
when it comes to your career.
Exactly.
And this is where affirmations can be incredibly powerful
because they help us to reframe those fears and doubts
by introducing new, empowering beliefs.
So instead of saying I'm not qualified enough,
you would try something like I have the skills
and experience to succeed in this role.
Okay, so it's about owning your strengths
and believing in your potential
even before you have all that external validation.
Precisely.
And here's the thing about affirmations.
They work best when they're paired with action.
Oh.
It's not about sitting back and waiting for things
to magically fall into place.
Right.
It's about using those affirmations as fuel
to take inspired action towards your goals.
So affirmations provide that internal motivation and belief
and then action is what creates the external result.
Exactly.
And as you start taking action
and you start seeing progress,
those successes become fuel for even stronger belief
in yourself and your abilities.
It's like a positive feedback loop.
It is a positive feedback loop.
That makes me think about how we handle setbacks
because let's face it, setbacks are inevitable.
Absolutely.
In any career journey.
And this is where a lot of people stumble.
Yeah.
They hit a roadblock and they think,
see, affirmations don't work.
Right.
But setbacks are not a sign of failure.
Okay.
They're an opportunity for growth and learning.
So it's about shifting from that fixed mindset.
Yes.
Where you see it as a personal shortcoming.
Yeah.
To a growth mindset where it's like,
this is valuable feedback.
Exactly.
And affirmations can help us
to navigate those challenging moments.
Okay.
By reminding us of our strength, our resilience,
our capacity to learn and grow from every experience.
So instead of letting those setbacks completely derail us.
Yes.
We can use them as opportunities to refine our approach,
strengthen our resolve, come back even stronger.
Exactly.
And here's another really important point.
Okay.
Affirmations aren't about denying
or suppressing negative emotions.
Okay.
It's okay to feel scared, disappointed, frustrated.
Right.
When you encounter challenges.
You're human.
Yeah.
You're gonna have those feelings.
But it's about acknowledging those emotions
without letting them control us.
Okay.
So it's not about pretending everything is perfect.
No.
It's about cultivating that inner resilience.
Yes.
To help you navigate the ups and downs.
Exactly.
With a little more grace, a little more ease.
Precisely.
And the more we practice affirmations,
the more natural this way of thinking and being becomes.
Okay.
It's like strengthening a muscle.
The more we use it, the stronger it gets.
This has been incredibly insightful, I have to say.
Oh good, I'm glad.
So as we start to wrap up here.
Okay.
What's one final thought
that you wanna leave our listeners with?
I would say, remember you are capable
of creating a life you love.
And affirmations are powerful tools
to help you do just that.
Okay.
Don't underestimate the power of your thoughts
and beliefs to shape your reality.
That's a really good reminder for all of us.
So for our listeners who wanna maybe dive
a little deeper into this topic,
what resources would you recommend?
Well, you know, there are some amazing books
and articles available.
Okay.
But I think the most important thing
is to start experimenting with affirmations yourself.
Okay.
Find what resonates with you.
Be consistent with your practice.
Right.
And most importantly, believe in your own potential.
It's about taking that first step
and then the next and then the next.
It's a journey.
It is.
Of self-discovery and growth.
And we're all in this together.
We are, you're exactly right.
And this principle applies to career goals as well.
So we're back to using these affirmations
to boost our careers.
You'd think it'd be a no-brainer.
Right.
But I imagine there's some resistance there.
Absolutely.
There is because our careers are so tied
to our identities and our sense of self-worth
that it can be scary to challenge
those deep-seated beliefs
about what we're capable of achieving.
Like that fear of failure is amplified
when it comes to your job.
Exactly.
And this is where affirmations can be incredibly powerful
because they help us reframe those fears and doubts
by introducing these new empowering beliefs.
So instead of, I'm not qualified enough,
it would be, I have the skills and experience
to succeed in this role.
So it's about owning your strengths
and believing in your potential
even before you have all the external validation.
Precisely.
Interesting.
And here's the thing about affirmations.
They work best when paired with action.
It's not about sitting back and waiting for things
to magically fall into place.
Right.
It's about using those affirmations as fuel
to take inspired action toward your goals.
So the affirmations kind of provide the internal motivation
and belief.
Exactly.
But then the action is what creates the external result.
Exactly.
And as you start taking action and seeing progress,
those successes become fuel
for even stronger belief in yourself and your abilities.
Looks like a positive feedback loop.
It is a positive feedback loop.
That makes me think about how we handle setbacks.
Yes.
Because let's face it, setbacks are inevitable.
Absolutely.
In any career journey.
And this is where a lot of people stumble.
They hit a roadblock and think,
see, affirmations don't work.
Yeah, they give up.
But setbacks are not a sign of failure.
Okay.
They're an opportunity for growth and learning.
So it's about shifting from that fixed mindset
to the growth mindset.
Yeah, yes.
Where it's like, okay, this is just feedback.
Exactly.
And affirmations can help us to navigate
those really challenging moments
by reminding us of our strength, our resilience,
our capacity to learn and grow from every experience.
So instead of letting those setbacks derail us,
we can use them to refine our approach,
strengthen our resolve.
Exactly.
And come back even stronger.
Exactly.
And here's another important point.
Affirmations aren't about denying
or suppressing negative emotions.
It's okay to feel scared, disappointed, frustrated
when you encounter challenges.
You're human.
It's natural to feel those things.
Right.
It's about acknowledging those emotions
without letting them control us.
So we're not pretending like everything
is perfect all the time.
No.
It's about building up that inner resilience
to help you navigate the ups and downs of life.
Precisely.
Yeah.
And the more we practice affirmations,
the more natural this way of thinking and being becomes.
It's like strengthening a muscle.
The more we use it, the stronger it gets.
This has been incredibly insightful, I have to say.
As we wrap up here, what's one thought
you wanna leave our listeners with?
Remember, you are capable of creating a life
that you love.
And affirmations are powerful tools
to help you do just that.
That's a great reminder for all of us.
Don't underestimate the power of your thoughts
and beliefs to shape your reality.
If our listeners wanna dive deeper into this,
what resources would you recommend?
There are so many amazing books and articles available,
but I think the most important thing
is to just start experimenting with affirmations yourself.
Find what resonates with you.
Be consistent with your practice.
And most importantly, believe in your own potential.
Just take that first step
and then the next one and the next one.
It's a journey of self-discovery. It is.
And we're all in this together.
Wait a minute.
This has been another fascinating deep dive.
Thank you to our listeners for tuning in
and for submitting these thought-provoking questions.
And until next time, keep exploring, keep questioning,
keep diving deep into the power of your own mind.
And remember, you are capable of amazing things.
We'll see you next time on the deep dive.