What are affirmations?

Positive affirmations are short statements or sentences that induce a feeling of wellbeing when said repeatedly. They are usually short and sharp, ‘I am happy’! , ‘I am amazing’, I am a super...

Physical affects of affirmations

Daily affirmations promote a positive outlook on life. This works for the whole family. If your child begins affirmations at a young age studies have shown that their physical health will also benefit. A report by Jane E Brody in the New York Times (2017) states: ‘There is no longer any doubt that what happens in the brain influences what happens in the body. When facing a health crisis, actively cultivating positive emotions can boost the immune system and counter depression. Studies have shown an indisputable link between having a positive outlook and health benefits like lower blood pressure, less heart disease, better weight control and healthier blood sugar levels.’ ⁽⁵⁾

Why are positive affirmations important?

Positive affirmations can be life changing, just a few words in the morning and you and your child can be set up for a positive, meaningful day. Repeating the affirmations at bedtime will help you all go off to sleep feeling confident and strong. When you give your child  that last cuddle before sleep try whispering the affirmation in their ear and watch them smile as they remember what a good day they have had. Using affirmations before sleep is a great practice for the whole family.

Independence

Everybody in the family should choose an affirmation without fear of judgment or ridicule.  It is really important that children have a level of independence in choosing an affirmation. If you decide what it is going to be it will not be as beneficial as when your child does it themselves. By using gratitude and affirmations your child will start to think about their emotions and actions and how they are affecting other people.  By introducing these daily thoughts and ideas you are helping your child to be independently sensitive to the needs of others as well as themselves. If your child does not know how to show gratitude they are being unkind to themselves as well as those they may have offended. It has a two way affect when someone is unkind.  The unkind child often feels angry about something non-related   actions and will feel bad about upsetting another child if they become upset. The upset child feels shunned and has no way of building themselves back up without the help of an adult. If you allow your child to find ways and words to build themselves back up they will have a much better insight into dealing with difficult situations. A child with high self esteem and an understanding of how they fit into the world and what they can do to make themselves happy and contented will have a much better chance of life satisfaction and ability to monitor their own emotions.  

How do positive affirmations work

Affirmations become instilled into your mind as you repeat them. Its like learning nursery rhymes at a young age, I can still remember the words from them 50 years on and regularly used them with the children that I worked with.  A good affirmation can turn your child’s mood around. If someone makes them feel bad about themselves, they can think about their affirmation and disregard the negative feelings as they will know that they are not true. If you child has been affirming that they are enough, happy, and loved and someone tells them that they are useless their affirmations will override what the other person says as it has become part of their psyche. It is never too late to start using positive affirmations. If you or your child have fallen into the habit of saying negative things and having negative thoughts then a daily dose of Thankfulness and Affirmations will soon put things right. Take the time each day to think about what you are going to say to yourself and how you are going to steer your thoughts towards the positive. By writing your goal for the day and your Affirmations you will be off to a good start. You will soon be able to self-regulate and if your child is also focusing on the positives that they have chosen they will mature into confident, self assured and self-regulated adults.  Try to get into the habit of praising yourself if you have done something good.  For instance your hair may look particularly fetching when you look in the mirror, or, you may have made a particularly tasty cup of tea. No matter how small, try to find at least one thing to praise yourself about each day. Encourage your child to use this habit as a child with a positive mindset will be confident to attempt tasks and problem solve as they have given themselves the self assurance to go for it!

‘Every thought and every word you speak is an affirmation. So why not choose to use only positive affirmations to create an exceptional life? I know you can do it!’ Louise Hay