Affirmations….woo woo or science? How affirmations can lift your mood

If you search for affirmations online it would take you only a couple of seconds to access a huge range of examples of this increasingly popular practice. But what exactly is an affirmation and can it help boost your mental health, creativity or focus?

What is an affirmation?

An affirmation is simply a positive statement or phrase that you can repeat to yourself (probably in your head, although you could say it out loud or write it down.) These can be as short as ‘I am calm’ or ‘my confidence is growing.’

How does an affirmation help you? Is there any science behind it?

Affirmations can be helpful to some people, supporting them in feeling calmer or more confident. It can help stop negative spiralling. However it is a very personal thing. I find some clients like affirmations but some do not. It’s a case of finding out what works for you.

If you are interested in affirmations you will be pleased to know that there is some science behind it. In some studies MRI scanning has shown a benefit to areas of the brain when people have used positive affirmations. It comes down to neuroplasticity- positive ways of thinking and the repetition of these patterns- can mean that your brain rewires itself in a more positive way in the future.

How can I use an affirmation?

One of the most important steps when working with affirmations is to find one that feels right to you. If it feels uncomfortable, cheesy or just wrong somehow when you say it to yourself this is not the right affirmation. It should make you feel calmer or stronger just saying or thinking it.

It is also key to find a practice that suits you. This might be just saying it in your head several times while waiting for your tea to brew in the morning. You might say it out loud looking in the mirror. Or you could write it down in coloured pens and draw around it.

The overlap with affirmations and hypnotherapy

Affirmations have much in common with hypnotherapy.

During my hypnotherapy sessions with a client I use positive suggestion to support clients in feeling more resilient, calmer and more in control…..the phrases I use during a trance session could be used as affirmations!

When clients listen to my tracks at home they hear the same phrases repeatedly which helps the brain take them in. The first step in hypnosis is the relaxation which maximises this benefit as the mind is quietened down to a point where it is more likely to absorb positive messages.

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