“What you say always produces some kind of harvest. What is the lasting legacy of your words?” — Paul David Tripp

I can still remember my third grade teacher telling me I was a good writer. At a young age I had never thought of myself that way, at least, not until that very moment. But I believed her when she said it because I admired her. To this day, Ms. Ayala is still one of my favorite teachers. She took the time to encourage me and the words she used had a lasting impact on me that I am grateful for.

Today, writing still plays a major role in my life. From journaling to writing blog posts and now, to working on my own book. I know that my passion for writing stems from those early years in school and from the positive, ingrained words from my teacher. It was because of her that I grew up thinking, I am a good writer. And that affirmation has stuck with me ever since.

I can also remember certain negative words that people have said — both in person and online. Those are difficult to forget as well. I’m sure that it’s easy for you to think of examples, both good and bad, of how someone else’s words have strongly impacted your life.

Words are powerful; they carry certain vibrations. They can affect our mood, self-esteem, personality and overall view of life — they create our reality. As ‘woo-woo’ and pseudo-spiritual as it might sound, it’s been proven true by scientists in experiments such as those conducted by Masaru Emoto — Messages In Water. If you have never heard of this discovery before, I highly recommend you look into it.

There are even studies to prove the fact that words can change your brain.

According to Andrew Newberg, M.D. and Mark Robert Waldman, “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”

People, plants, animals, minerals etc. — all respond differently to words of different vibrational frequencies. That is why it is so important to be mindful of the words we expose ourselves to; the words we use when we talk to others, the words we hear from others (personal conversations, music, podcasts, movies etc.), the kind of words we read (books, texts, blogs, emails etc.) and the kind of words we think of in our minds as well.

Take into consideration that humans have anywhere from 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day.

Those are a lot of words, right? So what does this actually mean?

Even more powerful than the words that others say to us, are the words we say to ourselves. We spend so much time inside our own heads. We may not say the words out loud, but they’re there… and they count.

“Watch your thoughts; for they become words. Watch your words; for they become actions. Watch your actions; for they become habits. Watch your habits; for they become character. Watch your character for it will become your destiny.  — Frank Outlaw

If our words and thoughts are the tools that create our reality, then shouldn’t they be considered our most powerful tool yet?

Shouldn’t we only pick the very best words in order to create our very best reality?

Our thoughts also impact what we manifest in our lives. But it can be argued that the real power lies in our words. It’s our words that provide a bold affirmation of our innermost thoughts. They are a confirmation to the world of how we see others, our lives and ourselves. It is this affirmation that our words provide which enables our thoughts to manifest into reality.

What Are Affirmations?

According to Success Consciousness, this is how affirmations are defined:

Affirmations are sentences aimed to affect the conscious and the subconscious mind, so that in turn, they affect our behavior, thinking patterns, habits and environment.

The reason affirmations work is because they’re statements of what we believe, which encourages us to take action on those beliefs.

How To Use Affirmations

There are a variety of ways you can use affirmations. I know there are some people who will find using different techniques more fun and engaging, and there are also people who thrive from routine and need to have a schedule in order to follow through with things. So here are some examples of different ways you can use affirmations; take what works best for you, incorporate multiple techniques or just stick with one!

• Repeat them out loud — This is a simple way to use affirmations and it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine. If you do this right before falling asleep, your brain enters a relaxing phase with alpha waves. When you chant your affirmations then, your mind is the most susceptible to believing your affirmations.

• Chant them in meditation — I find this works best when meditating for at least 5-10 minutes before you chanting affirmations. This ensures that your mind is already in a deeply relaxed state. You can pick a phrase that you want to concentrate on and repeat it to yourself over and over again. If you’re completely new to meditation I recommend guided meditation apps like Insight Timer or Headspace. You can also listen to soothing music to help. Check out this playlist I made specifically for meditation:

• Write them down — EVERYWHERE. A fun way to do this is by writing on sticky notes and placing them all around your home. This is sweet, especially if you live with someone else, everyone can benefit from your positive affirmations! Make sure you stick them in places you see everyday. For example, your bathroom mirror, your fridge, on the dashboard in your car, etc. I also love writing different affirmations in my daily planner.

• Have it on your iPhone wallpaper — I currently have an affirmation that says “I have the power to create change.” This is a phrase that I love re-reading, especially during moments of conflict or struggle because it reminds me of my capabilities and potential to turn any situation into a positive one. We all know that we pick up our phones too many times each day. So what does this mean? Every chance that you get to see your affirmation is a chance that your mind will start to believe it!

• Use an app — There are plenty of apps that will give you reminders on your phone. I use one for iPhone called My Daily Affirmations. There’s also an app called Vision Board that allows you to upload and create images so that you can see all the things you desire to manifest in your life directly on your phone!

• Use them in your yoga practice — Using affirmations during your yoga practice is a great way to encourage yourself to reach new levels, both physically and mentally. Pick one or two positive statements to use throughout your session, not just when a particular pose starts to feel difficult. Constant encouragement will keep your mind focused and help to prevent feelings of negativity — making it much more likely that you’ll enjoy and benefit from your session! Check out this Yin Yoga Class with Affirmations.

Helpful Tips

• When coming up with your own affirmations, start with the words “I am.” (not always necessary, but definitely powerful)

• Use the present tense.

• Keep it brief and specific.

• Include at least one dynamic emotion or feeling word.

• VISUALIZE your affirmation.

It’s not enough to write your affirmation and read it. You must visualize it as well. From my personal experience, words, by themselves, do very little to bring about the desired result.

For example, if you use the affirmation, “I am deserving of having the most amazing clients and business that I can dream of”, start visualizing what that looks like for you.

• What will you be wearing?

• How will you feel?

• What does a day in your life look like?

• Who will you be spending your time with?

• What would your office look like?

• Where would you be working from?

Visualize it. Create a movie. Watch it happen. This is what brings amazing changes because you are aligning your frequency with a real tangible feeling of success on many different levels.

Oh and one last important tip: be patient when it comes to using your affirmations. This isn’t an overnight ordeal. It works but you need to be patient while the universe is working in your order. In the meantime you can take inspired action very day. Take small steps. You can’t expect to want an affirmation and not take aligned and inspired action very day to make it com true. There is some kind of physical work involved.

So, are you ready to try it?

Below is a list of some of my favorite affirmations:

Confidence

• I am confident in my abilities.

• I am capable of achieving anything.

• I am the creator of my own reality.

• I trust that my intuition will lead me to the right path.

Money

• I am financially abundant.

• Money flows freely to me and through me.

• I am open and ready to receive money now.

• I am in harmony with the energy of money.

Goals

• I am able to achieve my goals.

• I am open to receiving all the blessings of this abundant universe.

• I will get to where I want to be and enjoy the journey.

• I believe in myself and my ability to achieve my goals.

Happiness

• I can choose to be happy in any given moment.

• I have everything that I need to be happy.

• I am appreciating the little things in life.

• I am worthy of feeling happy.

Health

• I am prioritizing my physical and mental health.

• I am strong and healthy today.

• I nourish my body with healthy choices.

• I am grateful for my health, strength and vitality.

Love

• I love myself and I allow myself to be fully loved.

• I am grateful for the love that is around me.

• I deserve abundant love.

• I attract loving relationships into my life.

Peace

• I am present within myself.

• I can center myself with the ease of my breath.

• I am grounded, worthy and whole.

• I release what no longer serves me.

Self Worth

• I am proud of myself and my achievements.

• I am worthy of love and respect.

• I am free of all limiting beliefs.

• I am enough and who I am in this moment is enough.

As you start to create a new reality for your life based on the words you speak to yourself, and the actions you take, watch your life unfold in beautiful new ways. Remember the powerful impact that your words have on yourself and others. Be compassionate, speak kind words and give this world some much needed positive energy. You never know what kind of transformative effect or lasting impact you may have on others.

All my love,

Jessica