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Inspiration July 23, 2019
Should you talk to yourself? Well, your life may depend on it.
What if the difference between nailing your interview and losing your cool relied on just a few minutes of morning preparation? Experts seem to think that a small list of positive affirmations could not only make the difference for you at work but could actually extend your life.
According to self-help experts, positively affirming yourself drastically reduces stress levels. By reducing your stress, you also reduce the risk of acquiring various stress-related diseases. In one study, cancer patients with higher levels of optimism actually saw improvement in their overall health, according to Psychology Today.
In other words, positive self-talk may just help you live longer.
On a basic level, positive affirmations increase motivation. Reminding yourself every morning of the value of your body and mind may just prompt you to tie those laces and hit the gym.
If you begin your day with pessimistic thoughts, your perspective throughout the rest of the day will most likely be governed by that mindset.
If you’ve ever been soaked by rain while running late to a meeting that you didn’t feel prepared for, you might feel like the universe hates you. However, by simply switching your mindset first thing in the morning, you may just possess the mental clarity to impress your boss anyway.
Whether you realize it or not, you are holding a constant conversation with yourself. What matters is what you’re saying.
Before anyone else has the chance to influence your thoughts, take a moment. Find a quiet place. It might be your bedroom, your shower or even your car. Just know that sometimes being in a car on a busy road actually serves to increase stress.
Have a few phrases written down and memorized so they’re easy to draw upon. Then, simply repeat them to yourself. As most politicians know, if you repeat something enough, people believe it. Why not use that same principle to improve your life?
In addition to repeating your phrases, practice slow breathing exercises. Not only will this calm your brain, but it will clear out all the junk, so your positive affirmations can take precedence.
Here’s a small list of positive affirmations to tell yourself every morning.
1. “Today is a new day, and it’s already amazing.”
Let go of whatever happened yesterday at work or last night with friends. Don’t let that negativity seep into today. You have a new chance to make the most of 24 hours. Don’t waste it.
2. “I am grateful for . . .”
Name at least three things you are grateful for. Starting your day with gratitude will radically transform how you react to various triggers throughout your day. Essentially, you are training yourself to let the small disappointments go and focus on all the gifts life has to offer.
3. “I am in charge of my own happiness.”
Remind yourself that no matter what other people say or do, you can only control yourself. Your emotional health and decisions are within your ability to maintain.
With enough repetition of these positive affirmations, you can improve your health, your mental state, and your success in life. Take the five minutes. It’ll be worth it.
