3 Steps to Change Negative Thought Patterns by using Affirmations with Your Family
By using this Affirmation Practice together, you will deepen connections with yourself and your family. A family that thinks, does, and believes the best in themselves and each other is a family that succeeds, both in and outside the home.
The first step is thinking, the second is doing, the third is believing!
Thinking
If you want your child to have a positive outlook on life, then you must model the way by having a positive outlook on your life. Children can’t be what they can’t see. Whether you are a leader at work or at home, the key is to truly live what you want to see in your employees, your children, and even your spouse.
You have thousands of thoughts a day. How many of your thoughts support you reaching your goals and aspirations? Then consider: how many of your child’s thoughts are in support of them reaching their goals and aspirations? By practicing positive affirmations, you empower yourself and your child to put on a new record. A record that you create in service to believing in who you are and who you want to be.
You are at an opportune moment to learn the Affirmation practice and gift this practice to your child. The Affirmation Practice can be used as a technique to keep your mind focused on the best parts of you.
Doing
Live into your affirmation and openly demonstrate what that looks like for your child. They will follow in your footsteps.
Doing something daily makes it a habit. Create for yourself a prompt, for example: Every time you see your favorite color, or look at the time, stop and look at your affirmation. Have your child do the same. It helps if you keep your Affirmation cards on your desk, and if your child keeps them somewhere like their backpack. Do this together and while you are apart.
Using the Affirmation practice daily is key to shifting negative thought patterns into positive ones. “I’m not good enough” becomes “I love myself.
“No one likes me” becomes “I am attracting quality friends.”
“I’m stupid” becomes “I am open to learning.”
Notice how the negative outlook feels once it is closed and shut down and how the positive outlook feels once it has been opened.
Affirmations set the tone to achieving desired outcomes in life. To live a life with intent is to live the life we want. We either live life or life will live us.
- Pick an affirmation from the list provided below, purchase our Affirmation Cards (the Affirmation Cards also come with inspiring spoken word videos that deepen the understanding of the affirmation), write your own, or find an affirmation you like elsewhere.
- I am loving.
- I am listening to my heart.
- I am safe.
- I have lots of friends who love me.
- My dreams are coming true.
- I am helpful.
- I am friendly.
- Every problem has an answer.
- I am kind.
- I can do it.
- I play well with others.
- I am smart.
- I learn from my mistakes.
- I act responsibly.
- I am calm.
- Every day brings new opportunities.
- I am accepting and loving myself.
- I am relaxed.
- I believe in myself.
- I am brave.
- I trust myself.
- I am generous.
- State your chosen affirmations from a place of positivity and always use the present tense. For example, instead of; I want to focus better so I can get a promotion / good grades. Try: I am focusing my mind on what I am learning, and I am always curious to understand more.
- Share affirmations among family members and put your affirmation in a place you can see and read it.
- Note positive and challenging feelings that surface surrounding your journey in using the affirmation. Share your feelings with a family member. Teamwork makes the dream work.
- Remain accountable to yourself and others.
Marieke Van Woerkom Senior trainer, coach, and curriculum writer for Morningside Center for Teaching Social Responsibility states,
“Affirmations are a powerful antidote to prevalent negative messaging. They work best when you use the present tense, highlight the positive, and repeat them multiple times a day. For instance, you might confidently tell yourself “I am enough,” “I am worthy,” or “I am powerful” first thing in the morning and before going to bed. Then reinforce your affirmations with physical touch, like tapping the back of your hand.”
Believing
Believing in oneself and the process is essential to creating lasting change. Changing one’s mindset is not difficult. It takes consistency and dedication to forming new thought pathways. This does not take a lot of time, but it does take dedication.
The Mayo Clinic, voted best hospital for 6 consecutive years, is a nonprofit American academic medical center focused on integrated health care, education, and research states, “If you tend to have a negative outlook, don't expect to become an optimist overnight. But with practice, eventually your self-talk will contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. You may also become less critical of the world around you.”
Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:
- Increased life span
- Lower rates of depression
- Lower levels of distress
- Greater resistance to the common cold
- Better psychological and physical well-being
- Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease
- Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress
Thinking – Doing – Believing
There is no better time to start than right now! If not you, who? If not now, when? Lead the way for your family to be filled with SELF-LOVE and ensure that your children will live into the best parts of themselves. Commit to the Affirmation Practice.
Support Your Family’s Social and Emotional Awareness with:
- Home Grown: An online transformational course in social and emotional learning.
- Affirmation Cards and Poetry
- Uplifters: Guided Visualization Album - 18 tracks.
