Purposeful Growth

Positive affirmations are important to a positive attitude and achieving goals. Learn the importance of correct format for powerful affirmations.

Positive attitude and positive thinking are linked to greater health, increased happiness, and longevity. Properly constructed and appropriate positive affirmations are an important ingredient for a positive attitude, as well as other life goals. The equation can be expressed as:

positive thinking + positive affirmation = positive attitude.

Positive Affirmations and Goals:

An affirmation is a statement of declaration, a reinforcement or affirming of a strong belief. Regular use of positive

affirmations helps us reach goals and continue thinking positively. Affirming a goal regularly keeps it front and center in our thinking. We tend to accomplish what we think about, especially when we think about it properly.

Structure of a Good Affirmation:

The structure of an affirmation is vitally important. Word it wrong–as many people do–and it can work against you. The first and most important thing to know about an effective affirmation is that it must be in first person format. Begin your affirmation with I.

The next important structural requirement is often where people have the most trouble. Format your affirmation in the present tense. Many people resist this and in doing so they diminish the power an affirmation.

With few exceptions, the first two words of an affirmation should be I am. Notice these first two words incorporate first person present tense. Follow these two words with the end result you seek. If, for example, your goal is to have a positive attitude, you could finish your sentence like this:

I am a positive person.

Here’s where many people go astray. Because they’re not yet a positive person, or not very often positive, they resist using present tense, instead preferring to state a much weaker declaration like this:

I will try to be a more positive person.

Read those two examples out loud and you’ll feel the difference in energy and power. Declaring something about the future sets an intention, but lacks an important ingredient of positive attitude and goal attainment. We’ll take care of that next.

Emotion and Affirmations:

Passionate people achieve. Passion for a goal brings a near inexhaustible source of energy and resilience to attaining that goal. The I am statement is firm and passionate. The I will try statement is hopeful and dream-like. Which conveys more passion?

We can bring even more emotion to our example affirmation like this:

I am proud and happy now that I am a positive person.

There’s More:

There’s more to know about using affirmations, such as the importance of visualizing, how habits of thinking can counteract a good positive affirmation, being aware of accidental affirmations. These are covered in this article.

This article first appeared in the Personal Development Topic at Suite101.com.

Positive psychology studies indicate a positive attitude, along with an optimistic outlook and positive thinking, can bring better health and greater happiness.

Positive attitude, positive thinking, and optimism are now known to be a root cause of many positive life benefits–the good life and well being. You’ll live longer and be healthier and happier with a positive attitude toward life. In addition, you’re

more likely to be successful. Learn to use the power of thinking positive, adopting positive attitudes, and affirmations to gain important life benefits.

What is Attitude?:

Attitude is a mental position relative to a way of thinking or being; a leaning toward that which you believe. A positive attitude is, therefore, the inclination to generally be in an optimistic, hopeful state of mind.

Psychology Studies Reveal:

A positive attitude and optimistic thinking early in life predict health and well being in later years. Analysis of 99 Harvard graduates found a strong correlation between their optimistic thinking as college students and good health at age 40 and above.

In his ground-breaking book, A Primer in Positive Psychology, Christopher Petersen, PhD, says, “…optimism has demonstrable benefits, and pessimism has drawbacks.” He goes on to say, “…optimism…has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to perseverance and effective problem solving; to academic, athletic, military, occupational, and political success; to popularity; to good health; and even to long life and freedom from trauma.”

Even if you have been a pessimistic, negative thinker for many years, it’s not too late to change your way of thinking and reap the benefits of a positive attitude.

Characteristics of a Positive Attitude and Optimism:

Optimists believe they are accountable for good things and that good things will generally come their way. If something bad comes instead, optimists tend to write it off as an isolated incident, an anomaly, or something out of their control; optimists believe things will be better in the future.

Positive Thinking Takes Practice:

If you’re a person whose first thoughts about the meaning of something that’s happened are negative thoughts, be encouraged by the knowledge that the first step toward a positive attitude and positive thinking is to simply think another thought. Thoughts are under your control. Your pessimistic way of thinking is habit; habits can be changed.

• When you catch yourself thinking a pessimistic thought about an event in your life, first evaluate the evidence. What are the facts–not the fears–but the facts?
• Next, think of alternate explanations and future outcomes. When your old car suddenly makes a strange noise you may jump to the pessimistic conclusion that repair will be costly, but maybe a minor repair will solve the problem.
• Remind yourself to follow this approach with a daily affirmation such as this: When I have a negative thought I immediately evaluate the facts and think of positive alternatives that also fit the facts.

Practice the positive thinking approach outlined above and you’ll find it soon comes naturally. You may be amazed to realize that you simply feel better with a positive attitude.

Learn to use positive affirmations to reinforce your attitude. Instructions for powerful positive affirmations are here.

Using your unique core strengths is always a positive experience.

If you like this article you may also like How to Cheer Up.

More related material here.

This article first appeared in the Personal Development Topic at Suite101.com.