What do you want your story to be?

Yay! It’s Day 9 of 31 Days of Healthy Ways to Enjoy the Holidays More.  Today’s tip is to start an affirmation routine.

Many of us have a very ingrained way of thinking about ourselves or our lives and it’s not always positive.  How do you start to turn the negative talk around? One way is through affirmations. Affirmations help train your brain to view things in a better light and they’re a great tool to have in your back pocket. Words can change your brain.   Studies are even starting to show that using affirmations during times of stress can improve problem solving performance. So it’s not just BS!

What should you use as an affirmation to start?  What is the worst negative self-talk you say about your self?  Whatever it is, turn it around into positive statements on how you want to feel.  A few possible examples:

• “I’m so dumb” becomes I’m a powerful and intelligent being.
• “I’m too fat to date” becomes I am improving myself everyday and worthy of love as I am.
• “I’m a bad parent” becomes I am a loving mother and I am becoming more patient.

Write them down, as many as you like and then look yourself directly in the mirror when saying your affirmations. Try saying them in the morning, before you jump in the shower or right before you leave for the day.  It takes just a few seconds so I know you can squeeze this in. If you don’t believe what you are saying, pretend you are an actor rehearsing lines for a role.  Put some effort and energy into it. It’s okay if you don’t believe the words yet.  The benefits will come the longer you say them.

If you make affirmations a part of your routine, you will leave the house a happier & more confident woman and it will grow each day that you do it.   Less negative self talk means more room for love, growth and moving forward.  What a great gift to give yourself this holiday season!