Using Positive Affirmations

Emile Coué was a French psychologist and pharmacist who is credited with having discovered the placebo effect, he discovered that if he praised a medicines efficacy people seemed to respond better to it, he also included a little encouraging positive note for customers with their medication.  Coué also studied hypnosis so understood the power of the mind and imagination. 

While Coué regarded medication as effective, he also understood that the minds power and mental state could be harnessed to positive effect. He began to teach patients to use positive mantras, his most famous and the one most people recognise is 'every day in every way, I'm getting better and better'. The hit comedy TV show starring Michael Crawford and Michele Dotrice 'Some Mothers do 'Ave 'Em'  broadcast from 1973 - 1978 also made the affirmation famous (or infamous) and psychologists a little less likely to use it!

The point is we know the use of positive affirmations is very useful if you speak to yourself in positive terms the subconscious does accept the message, just as it does negative self-talk. I often ask clients to select or create a positive message to repeat to themselves, especially if they are prone to negative thinking; I then ask them to do this at least 20 times a day.

Louise Hay is famous for the positive affirmations she creates, a visit to her web site will offer you many helpful examples.  Here are a few to give you the idea  'My body takes me everywhere easily and effortlessly', 'I believe in myself and my abilities', 'As I forgive myself it becomes easier to forgive others' and 'I handle my own life with joy and ease'.

You can create your own affirmation and I do honestly think you will feel the benefit if you do, just remember to repeat it to yourself often and you must make it in positive terms. It can be useful to print the affirmation on a piece of card small enough to fit in your pocket or leave it someplace you will happen upon it often, then just as a reminder to use it!