Nurturing the Unborn Child

How will you know when the affirmation technique has been successful? When negative responses no longer come to mind, and the affirmations you are working with become completely integrated into your point of view and way of life.

Say affirmations aloud while looking in the mirror. As you repeat your affirmation, strive for a confident and happy expression on your face

All affirmations should be phrased in a positive way

If you do decide to create your own affirmations, here are some guidelines:
Statements of affirmation should be as simple and concise as possible.
All affirmations should be phrased in the present tense

After you have worked with an affirmation for about a week, stop using the response column and simply write the affirmation statement or repeat it aloud. After all, once you have come to grips with your negative beliefs, there is no point in perpetuating them

The affirmation technique is most effective if practiced first thing in the morning or just before going to bed at night. But if you feel particularly low or discouraged during the day, take some time out for affirmations at that point as well

Practice the affirmation technique every day, but work with no more than three different affirmations a week

are competent: You must walk, talk, and act as if you feel competent. Likewise, it is not enough to say you are loving: You must act lovingly to those who count

Please remember that affirmations work by purging negative thought-patterns and replacing them with positive ones. However, new thought-patterns often require changes in behavior; you must be willing to change not only your outlook, but also your actions and reactions in the real world before the impact of the affirmation exercise is complete

simply continue to upset you. But once you verbalize your doubts, you should be able to ease them—even if you initially agree with the doubts expressed. Eventually, the negative thoughts should subside and the positive feelings expressed by the affirmations should hold sway