#NerdsUnite: The Ramblings of a Raconteuse (About Affirmations)

<editorsnote> Nerds, meet my buddy Helenna. We met on twitter not too long ao, and she's totes mcgotes one rad chiquita banana with a flare for all things flair! That's right, Helenna here is what we call an artsy fartsy nerd. She's a poet, into all things dramatic arts, and she's going to come on board to write each week about her love of said drama. Well not like actual drama drama, like some cat fight shit - but you get the idea. I only have one thing left to say ... HIT IT HELENNA!!! </editorsnote>

#TalkNerdyToMeLover's @Helslevy

So, I mentioned affirmations briefly in a past post, but I thought it’d be a good idea to elaborate.  Some of you might scoff at the idea of saying affirmations out loud or even in your heads for that matter, but I’ve found that they do wonders.

Affirmations are essentially something that you say over and over again. They can be seen as a practice in positive thinking, a prayer focusing on a positive outcome, and/or a declaration that something is true.

For me personally, there are certain types of affirmations that work, and certain ones that don’t.  I’ve found that I can’t lie to myself at all by saying things like, “I am a millionaire”  because my brain goes, “um, no you’re not.”  Then I’m just back in a negative cycle.

I love career coach Dallas Travers‘ take on affirmations which she calls “Living Mantras” which turn a statement into a question.

As she states on her site, “Your subconscious mind is programmed to affirmatively support the questions you ask it.  It will automatically answer your questions and even provide evidence to support the idea you’re inquiring about.  So if you ask, “Why do bad things always happen?” your subconscious mind will give you all the reasons why bad things do indeed happen to you.”  She has a great way to flip this around and says that “the trick is to simply ask yourself different questions.”

For example, “Why am I so lucky?”  The idea behind the affirmation formed as a question is that your mind answers you with a reason which is positive i.e.) “Because I have wonderful friends and family in my life” or something like that.  It essentially puts you in a different head space.  This works for some people, but unfortunately not for me.

For me, the affirmations that really seem to be effective are the ones that acting coach Jack Plotnick teaches.  Perhaps this is because I’m an actor and he has designed them around the specific needs and circumstances of this profession, but they just work.  I think that he’s been a student of Marianne Williamson‘s so I’m not sure if some of these are affirmations taught by her, and while I don’t know if he also reads a lot of Louise Hay‘s books, the teachings are also similar.  You can read his affirmations on his site, but these are a few of my favorites. (NOTE: The affirmations below are fabulous no matter what profession you are in)

“I release and destroy my need to feel unworthy.  I know I am worthy of all of the good in my life and now lovingly allow myself to accept it.  As I repeat this affirmation the outer effect of procrastination fades away and I no longer feel the need to delay my own good.”

“This or something greater for my highest good and the highest good of all concerned now manifests.”

“I release and destroy my attachment to results. I am here to enjoy the journey.”

“I am grateful for all of the good in my life, I am worthy of all of the good in my life.”

“All is well in my world.  I am one with the universe and I have more than I need.”

“I am relaxed trusting in a higher plan that is unfolding for me.”

Why do I love these particular affirmations?  I think it’s because they come from a place of gratitude and giving.  I also love the idea of releasing and destroying something because then it no longer has power over you.  Personally, when I say these affirmations they put me in a very calm place instead of the crazy monkey brain I find myself running around with a lot of the time. I often experience a great energetic positive shift that seems to trickle out into my daily life in a really powerful way.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Sometimes I’m really diligent about reciting affirmations throughout the day, and sometimes I just completely forget.  I’ll then go for a month or so feeling really crappy about life, realize I haven’t been doing any affirmations, and then as soon as I get back on the affirmation bandwagon things begin to change. The best part is that you can say them anywhere: in the car, on a hike, while brushing your teeth, before you go to sleep at night, taking a shower, on the treadmill, waiting in line at the grocery store. You can say them out loud to yourself in the mirror, or quietly to yourself doing the dishes. Personally, I say them everywhere and anywhere, especially while in audition waiting rooms.

I have definitely noticed a shift in my perspective about life in general and the way I go about my day to day actions.  For my career specifically, they have made a huge difference.  Somehow they have put me in a place of “trusting” as opposed to “needing” and “feeling desperate.”

So, thank you Jack Plotnick for selflessly sharing these wonderful affirmations with everyone.  These may work for you, they may not.  Perhaps Dallas’ take on affirmations will be more effective for you, or maybe someone else’s.  I think it’s important to figure out what works for you and run with it!

Until next time,

#xoxo hels

tweet me at: @helslevy

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