Affirmations: Do They Help?
Updated: Jun 25, 2023
If you're neurodivergent and seeking strategies to manage daily challenges, affirmations could be a beneficial tool to consider. Affirmations are short, positive statements that you repeat to yourself to reprogram your subconscious mind.
While some people might be skeptical about the effectiveness of affirmations, research suggests they can help boost self-esteem, reduce stress, and improve overall mental health. They can also help improve problem-solving under stress and engage regions of the brain associated with positive valuation and self-processing.
There are various ways to use affirmations. One popular method is mobile apps like "I Am." These apps provide daily affirmations that you can read, repeat out loud, or listen to as a form of guided meditation. The benefit of using an app is that it can provide structure and consistency to your practice, making it easier to incorporate affirmations into your daily routine.
Another way to use affirmations is to write them down. By physically writing out your affirmations, you engage your brain differently than just reading or listening to them. You can use a journal, a notepad, or even a set of pretty handmade watercolor cards like the ones linked in this article. Writing your own affirmations can be empowering and help you focus on the specific issues or challenges you want to address.
The best way to use affirmations depends on what works best for you. Some people prefer to repeat their affirmations out loud, while others prefer to repeat them to themselves silently. Some people like to set aside a specific time of day to do affirmations, while others prefer to do them whenever they need a mental boost. You can experiment with different methods to see what feels most effective for you.
Here are some tips for writing your own affirmations based on the research we've discussed:
Keep it positive: Write your affirmation in a positive tone. Instead of focusing on what you don't want, focus on what you do want.
Use present tense: Write your affirmation in the present tense, as if you have already achieved what you desire. This will help you feel like you have already accomplished your goal.
Make it specific: Be specific in your affirmation about what you want to achieve. The more specific you are, the easier it will be to visualize and work toward your goal.
Believe it: Choose an affirmation that resonates with you and that you believe to be true. If you don't believe your affirmation, achieving what you desire won't be easy.
Keep it short and simple: Keep your affirmation short and straightforward so that it is easy to remember and repeat. This will help you to integrate it into your daily routine.
Visualize: As you write your affirmation, visualize yourself achieving your goal. This will help to make your affirmation more powerful and effective.
Repeat, repeat, repeat: Repeat your affirmation daily, multiple times a day, if possible. Repetition is vital in helping to reprogram your mind and change negative thought patterns.
By following these tips, you can create powerful affirmations that can help to transform your thoughts and beliefs and ultimately help you to achieve your goals.
If you're looking for a simple and accessible way to improve your mental health and manage the unique challenges of being neurodivergent, affirmations might be worth a try. Whether you use an app, write them down, or create your own, affirmations can be a powerful tool for building self-esteem, reducing stress, and promoting positive thinking.
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