Forgive me if someone has already mentioned this- another really important principle in phrasing affirmations is avoiding use of the word "NOT".
i.e. "I am NOT nervous when performing." The theory is that the brain will tend to dismiss the "NOT" and hear "I AM NERVOUS WHEN PERFORMING." Try looking at it this way-in this affirmation, the sentence core still revolves around the concept of nervousness. Better to eliminate the image of nervousness altogether. A more effective affirmation would be "I am always calm when performing." The core concept now becomes calm.
Same goes for Never, haven't, isn't, etc...brain will tend to dismiss the negation and at some level hear the opposite of what you are trying to say. If you are just starting to work with affirmations, it can be very powerful to eliminate these sorts of words from your vocabulary as much as possible.
One of the BIG things I have noticed about my current instructor versus prior instructor is that the current one really has a heightened awareness of the power of words and suggestion. For example, he almost NEVER uses words like not, don't etc. My prior instructor phrased much more of the instruction in terms of what "not" to do-"Don't let your breastbone sink." "Don't tighten your jaw" Which tended to draw more attention to the problem than necessary. Another small thing I've noticed is that my current instructor, when guiding me to do something, or correct something, will gently slip into the end of the sentence "which you know how to do." Boy, does that little add on make a big difference in my mind!
Sandra ---------- > From: DIANE M. CLARK (MUSIC DEPARTMENT) <DCLARK@r...> > To: vocalist-temporary@egroups.com > Subject: Re: [vocalist-temporary] victim mentality and affirmations > Date: Friday, April 14, 2000 8:07 PM > > Jana wrote: > > >>The second one is a "guerrilla affirmation"--it doesn't follow the general > positive, in-the-present formula that Diane mentioned. But it worked for > me, again because this working situation was truly impossible. This > affirmation was to be said in the mirror, before going to work in the > morning: > > "I've won. They haven't beat me, I've won." > > Hey, it's the present perfect tense...same principle! :) >
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