Affirmations: FAQ, 2 of 2

Q: How do I select an affirmation?

You wanna know the best way to test whether or not a certain affirmation might be meant for you?

Try saying the affirmation aloud with intention, and then pay attention to what comes up.

This is what I do when test-driving any mantra/affirmation, and it is the surest way I’ve found for weeding out what’s needed from what’s unnecessary.

Let's say I'm listening to a podcast and hear someone comment, "We women need to know that we are worthy of receiving every good thing.”

I find I'm nodding my head in agreement, because DANG, they are speaking truth!!—so I decide to add it into my “affirmation rotation.” Upon waking the next morning, as I stretch and prepare to sit up, I say aloud,

“I am worthy and now receive every good thing.”

What happens next generally follows one of two patterns.

or…

Dear Reader, I’m sure you can guess which of these response scenarios indicates that I need to KEEP an affirmation in rotation, and which one indicates that the heart of the mantra is already growing nicely in my life and can be left off of my own personal development plan, right?

Since a daily affirmation practice is about expanding and growing what I intuitively and intentionally recognize needs to sprout in my life, I’m going to lean hard into those affirmations that produce RESISTANCE. I’m going to address the fears with purposeful tenderness. I’m going to address the harsh voice of my inner critic with firmness and an invitation to return to LOVE. I’m going to thank my body for communicating with me in the best way it knows how. And I’m going to REPEAT THAT AFFIRMATION OVER AND OVER AND OVER again in my head, out loud, in writing, in song, in dance until it suddenly gradually becomes a part of my authentic story.

P.S. I’ve worked with enough women over the years to recognize that my inner-critic is not unique in its general meanness and judgmental tendencies. But still, it’s a thing. Even after years of working with it. I figure it took me years to build up this muddled monster-who often, actually means well, (I mean, it is a good idea to NOT go over the other edge into narcissim) that I can be compassionate to it.

NOTE: I’ve been actively doing affirmations daily for a dozenish years, so just know that paying attention to what comes up is something I’ve become pretty familar with—but you can absolutely follow this process by beginning right where you are.

Q: How long should you work with an affirmation?

You should keep an affirmation in regular rotation until it shifts from sounding more like scenario 2 (above) than it does scenario 1 (also above) Some of my affirmations have been in daily rotation for years—i.e.”I savor the beautiful, messy, awkward imperfection of reality, relationships, and me.”

Other affirmations are “seasonal” and join and then leave the affirmation line-up according to Equinoxes and Solstices (Seasonal thresholds). I actually feature a Well-Seasoned, seasonal affirmation in each and every edition of the Well-Seasoned Woman’s newsletter that arrives in your email every other week once you sign up for it—which you can do HERE if you haven’t yet.

Still other affirmations have made the line-up for 6 months or perhaps for a calendar year. This is especially true of those affirmations I create to go with my WOTY (Word of the Year).

The main thing is, there is no absolute right or wrong about the length of time; it’s more about following your own lived experience, in touch with your “head talk” and your “body talk.”

Until next time,