STOP SAYING THESE AFFIRMATIONS - AND START SAYING THESE

Have you struggled with affirmations? Written them off as being ineffective? When affirmations don't work it can be for a multitude of reasons like not being specific enough, facing resistance from your subconscious, or just simply sounding too vague to activate any real change or transformation. Here are seven affirmations that can be improved on.

"Everything happens for a reason" : I can't control the situation, but I can control my reaction to it.

This first affirmation can sound more discouraging than motivational. Affirmations should lift you up but they should not be dismissive of reality. Even when life doesn't go to plan, you can still choose to see the positive in that.

"I love myself unconditionally" : I will wake up and practice radical self-love

We tend to think of other people when we hear the word "unconditionally." If unconditional love is a choice to love without expectations, it is hard to hold ourselves up to the same standard. Framing this affirmation as an actionable step one does daily puts an emphasis on personal choice and responsibility.

"I am enough as I am" :  I was born with value

Although the sentiment of the original affirmation is self-acceptance, "enough" can carry connotations of inadequacy. "I was born with value" asserts that the worth was always there. 

“I am worthy of love, joy and happiness" : I will create my own joy and happiness

You can believe that you are worthy of all of those things but not strive for them. Affirmations only work if you do. You don't have to wait to receive all of those things - you can create them for yourself.

"I let go of self doubt" : I will make space for my dreams

Letting go is easier than making space for something. It is important to release the things that don't serve us, but we must also remember to create room for the things that we want. Often, the sheer magnitude of our dreams is enough to move us past self-doubt.

"I am living with abundance" : I will be grateful for all I am blessed with

It is hard to see the abundance in your life is that is not what your reality is. Being grateful for all that you have is a way to appreciate even the little things. You need that attitude to appreciate the larger things.

"Every day I'm learning and growing" : Every day I am becoming more of my realized self

Sometimes learning and growing can look like stumbling and failing. If you are becoming more of your realized self, you are acknowledging the not so pretty aspects of journey.

The way you speak to yourself matters. Don't be afraid to tailor your own affirmations and make them ring true in a way that fits you. Repetition is key and when you repeat an affirmation, it creates new neural pathways in your brain. Make sure you are changing yourself for the better.