Affirmations are short phrases that affect the subconscious mind and mould feelings, behaviours, and attitudes. They help to reprogram existing behaviours and thoughts, leading one to greater success and positive action.
Most of us have an internal dialogue that is often primarily negative. We repeat negative statements in our minds without even being aware of what we are doing or thinking. Telling ourselves that we are lazy, often make mistakes, can’t do something, or will fail, brings those exact undesirable results into being. This negative self-talk limits our potential, sets us up for failure, drains our energy, and exaggerates real and perceived weaknesses and shortcomings. The use of positive affirmations is a technique to change this negativity into something positive and empowering. It is a process of becoming aware of daily thoughts and choosing to think positive, self-affirming ones.
Children generally have no idea in regards to their internal dialogue. Teaching them to pay attention to their thoughts and to focus their efforts on positive attitudes and desires provides a powerful life skill.
The words in an affirmation help to focus on the aim, objective, or situation one wants to achieve or create. They have three elements:
- They are phrased in the first person present. For example, “I am calm and relaxed.”
- They are positive. For example, “My body is healthy and functioning in a good way.”
- They are specific. For example, “I contribute to class by sharing my ideas.”
By affirming what you want in life, you mentally and emotionally make it true. By repeating the words you focus your mind on your goal, and create a mental image of the desired result. These mental images imprint on the subconscious mind and transform your habits, behaviour, reactions, and attitude.
wheel pose
Affirmations are very influential and can have enormous impact on personal success. They help to program the subconscious mind to attract success and improve life. Affirmations can be used with yoga poses to reinforce their benefits. An affirmation for Wheel pose may be, “I am flexible. My heart is open. My brain is alert.” Repeating affirmations numerous times while in a relaxed state, as in Corpse pose has tremendous power and influence.
Repeating affirmations often, and writing them down on small cards or post-it notes which are placed in highly visible locations, such as the bathroom mirror or school desk, are two additional ways to access the benefits of these powerful, transformative phrases.
Here is a short video filled with encouraging affirmations.
Try affirmations out in your life and change your negative self-talk into something positive, empowering, and energy rich. Better yet, teach the kids you know how to create their own affirmations and watch them become masters of their own destinies.
To watch affirmations in action during a kids yoga class check out this KarmaKids video on About.com. At about the 2 minute mark they begin doing a Warrior series with affirmations.
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affirmative thought, actions, lives… I wish someone would have preempted my negativity at a young age. I was too busy believing the doubts, fears and incapabilities that came in every form. Thx, its never too late to believe in ourselves.
Beautiful topic and a good reminder! I’ve also been taught that thoughts are pictures first, and picturing positive images – what we want, not what we don’t want – helps us believe the words we’re saying.
My self-talk often falls to feeling like I’m behind schedule – which is funny because I set the schedule in the first place. I tell myself that things will be done at the exact right time and see myself enjoying my work and the creativity of it, having all the time I want to enjoy it.
I’m agree with the first comment – that affirmations are powerful for all ages.
What a wonderful post! I love using affirmations in our yoga classes. The children soon learn that certain yoga poses have powerful energies associated with them and I see that carried into life as well. I love the reminder notes suggestion. A few books focused on the topic of affirmations for children that I use often:
I Believe in Me, A Book of Affirmations, by Connie Bowen
I Think, I Am: Teaching Kids the Power of Affirmations, by Louise Hay
Incredible You and Unstoppable Me are also great discussion starting books by Wayne Dyer.
Thanks for providing a few resources for teachers and parents. I love when we share our wealth of knowledge – what works and what doesn’t. I’ll have to check out these books at the library.
Positive affirmations can indeed help children both relax and build stronger self esteem. The challenge is to get the children to say the affirmations with conviction. Carsten Sommerskov from Denmark has developed a unique approach to this problem: he has developed a series of relaxing adventure stories that parents can download and play for their kids http://www.worldesteem.com
The very cool thing about these stories is that kids listen to a great adventure story while at the same time being exposed to positive affirmations. The kids love the stories and want to hear them again and again. Such repetition of course only enhances the positive effect of the affirmations. Parents are reporting that their children are happier and more self confident after listening to the stories. Proof positive that affirmations help kids develop healthy self esteem.
Thanks so much for the tip Denis – for me your link didn’t work so I went a googling – I found Mr Sommerskov’s fantastic resources here
http://worldesteem.com/index.html
Enjoy watching your children flourish and become more self assured with affirmations.
here is a great article on children and success. Sing Out Clara
I hope you like it
http://www.elephantjournal.com/2011/01/sing-out-clara/
Love the article – Hopefully we can all sing out just like Clara!