Positive Thinking – 5 Affirmations for the Real World
You could tell yourself you’re pretty like Brad Pitt, but it won’t help. You can affirm that you’re the most beautiful woman in the world, but I just checked the list, and you ain’t on it.
The cliché, “You can achieve what you can conceive,” is ridiculous drivel.
Positive thinking improves life, but nonsense doesn’t work.
Powers of positive thinking:
Optimism is good for mental and physical health.
Positive thinking elevates resilience and life satisfaction.
A positive mindset improves learning.
A hopeful mindset lowers stress.
Negative thinking examples:
I often ask my wife, “Do you know what I like about you?” She says, “What?” I say, “Practically everything.” But one night I said, “Everything except a few things.” Where did her mind go?
Your performance review is stellar. Only one area “needs improvement.” Let the rumination begin!
You embarrassed yourself in middle school. Years later you cringe when you remember.
Babies learn negativity bias. By the time they’re one-year-old, infants give more attention to frowns than smiles.
Reject dangerous self-affirmations:
Reject phrases that stink of arrogance like, “I deserve…” You don’t always get what you deserve. Sometimes you get better. Don’t expect others to make you into the person you aspire to become.
Refuse to tell yourself lies. Telling yourself you’re a successful leader when you neglect self-improvement is lying.
5 affirmations for the real world:
- I earn it. The world owes me nothing.
- I open my ears and heart to others with curiosity.
- I believe I can make a difference when I bring my best self to work.
- I show up to serve. (Nothing is more beautiful than people who forget themselves in service to something bigger than themselves.)
- I make my skills relevant when I work to make things better.
How do you practice positive thinking?
Where do you frequently see negativity bias?
Still curious:
5 Questions That Trigger Positive Thinking
How Positive Thinking Really Works
How to Resolve the Negative Realities of Positive Thinking
Affirmation is why I continue to read this blog everyday…
I’m glad you find something useful here. Thank you, Linda.
This is one of the best 2 minute reads in a while. Thanks for the 5 affirmation section. This hits…”Don’t expect others to make you into the person you aspire to become.”
Thank you, Jenni. Love the affirmation you add.
Dan–good advice.
Some of my affirmations:
–Assume positive intent.
–I think for myself.
–Make eye contact, ask questions, and listen.
–Determine what is and identify what could be.
Thank you, Paul. My favorite that you add is, “Determine what is and identify what could be.”
I will be spending the day wondering why this post hit me so hard…!
It’s a pleasure to be useful. 🙂 … I would love to learn what you discover. Please drop me a note if you don’t mind. dan@leadershipfreak.com
I love this because I think traditional affirmations are useless. They tell lies and our mind does not believe them and rejects them and calls BS!
Years ago I created something I call “Aspirational Active Affirmations” that includes a statement of fact we can believe in that we want to work towards in one. Sentence with a specific commitment to a daily/weekly action you’re willing to take to move in the direction of your aspirations.
For example:
“Every day I am getting better as a manager and leader and today I will seek out at least one of my team members to catch them doing something right and acknowledging it to them directly.”
My clients have found these extremely effective.
Thanks Skip. Love your insights and the affirmation you included. It’s actionable and practical.
I like what you said and I get that positive thinking and good thoughts are essential for growth and a healthy life, but positive thinking alone isn’t enough. We need God to transform our minds- we can’t do it on our own strength, as much as we try.
Thanks for jumping in today, Amy. Even for people who aren’t believers, the impact of things/people outside ourselves is an important factor for development. Cheers