Guest Post - Writing Your Own Powerful Affirmations by Wendy Betterini

Writing Your Own Powerful Affirmations by Wendy Betterini

A common question I see from people just beginning their personal development journey is, "How do I write effective affirmations?" Often they will go in search of existing affirmations that they can apply to their own situation, but they may or may not find something that works for them.

In my experience, it is much simpler to come up with our own personal affirmations because they'll get right to the heart of the matter like nothing else can!

First, let's explore the reasons for using affirmations so we can be clear about our objectives in writing them. An affirmation is most often used to help us think and feel more positive, empowered, and in control of a particular situation. On a deeper level, an affirmation is meant to ALTER OUR EXISTING BELIEFS.

Remember that our current circumstances are a direct result of our past thinking. In order to change our future experiences, we need to change our current thinking. You might find it helpful to first get clear about exactly what your current beliefs are. Think about the various aspects of your life, like your career, financial status, relationships, health, and so on. As you think about these situations, ask yourself what beliefs they reveal. If you have a lot of financial struggles, your existing belief might be, "I don't have enough money," or "I can't stop accumulating debt." Because you believe these things, your outer circumstances have come together in such a way that supports your beliefs.

Affirmations can help us change our beliefs, if they are worded correctly.

The first thing to understand is the importance of wording affirmations in present tense. Notice the difference in feelings you get from saying, "I will eat healthful, nutritious foods and exercise each day", or "I enjoy eating healthful, nutritious foods and exercising each day." The second statement makes the affirmation part of your experience NOW, while the first keeps the reality off in some uncertain future period of time.

Okay, so wording affirmations in the present tense is important, but how can we tell which words will give us the result we desire? The clues lie in our existing circumstances and beliefs.

If you are unhappy with the size or state of your body, you have been holding a belief that you are unhealthy, weak, unworthy, or lacking in beauty. In order to change your negative belief about your body, you must embrace a more positive belief. "I am healthy, strong, lean, and sexy" would be a good affirmation to begin changing this perception, but remember that it will first seem like you're lying to yourself. Even though you are saying the words, you are not feeling the truth of such a statement.

Consistent repetition over time will begin to change that, but it's important to keep up with the practice. There are two times when you should recite your affirmations:

1) Whenever you notice a conflicting belief. If you go shopping for clothes and you see an unpleasant image in the dressing room mirror and your mind begins its litany of negativity, "I'm so fat, oh my god, I can't believe they let a beast like me walk around in public, I'm never going to be beautiful, I should just wear a tent for god's sake!" -- stop yourself, close your eyes and call up an image of yourself looking radiant, healthy, beautiful, and fit. Recite your affirmation ("I am healthy, strong, lean, and sexy") with full faith that it is becoming your reality, moment by moment.

2) All the time. (Or as often as possible.) Don't just wait for negative beliefs to pop up so you can recite your affirmations, say them as often as you can remember! Write them down and stick them on your bathroom mirror, the dashboard of your car, the headboard on your bed, in your wallet, or any place where you are likely to see them frequently. The more repetition you can engage in, the more quickly you will begin to replace your old, limiting beliefs with empowering new ones.

Finally, the MOST important part of affirmations is the intensity of belief you hold while you are reciting them. If you just say the words mechanically and dispassionately, guess what happens? You won't be changing your existing beliefs because the whole time you're reciting affirmations (no matter how great they are!), you will also have an inner voice saying, "Give me a break, who do you think you're kidding?"

However, if you instead CHOOSE to believe your new affirmations with full faith and conviction, you will challenge the validity of your existing beliefs. Two opposing beliefs cannot co-exist in your mind at the same time. It HAS to be one or the other. This is a good thing because it means that the more you shift your confidence in your new beliefs, your old beliefs will fade away and eventually cease to exist. When that happens, your physical circumstances will shift and change in order to support your new beliefs.

About the Author: Visit http://www.MindfulAttraction.com for more great articles and ebooks about the Law of Attraction. Need some daily reinforcement? Sign up for our FREE Daily Align-ders - short and sweet reminders to help you get (and stay) in alignment with your intentions: http://www.MindfulAttraction.com/align-ders.html

Article Source: NewAgeArticles.com

Interview with Nikki Slade

Tonights interview is with Nikki Slade a pioneer of voice and sound work.  Nikki offers group and individual Voicework to help you find your Inner Voice, connecting you to your true sound.

She has recorded chanting CD's and is the founder of Chemistry at Work.  She is going to be co-hosting a workshop at Manchester this weekend with Michael James.  

"Create your Best Life Now:  Sound and Focus to Align with the Law of Attraction."

Using powerful written processes and sound meditations, this event will help you let go of any unwanted habits of thinking and negative experiences - and open the door to your best life.


We'd like to say thanks to Nikki for answering our questions.  We can't wait for the workshop this weekend!

Nikki can be found online at nikkislade.com

Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your work?


I have always been passionate about singing since early childhood.I then performed as an actor/singer and musician for 14 years professionally. As I look back what I really loved about singing was the connection it created inside to my true Self and the way it connected me to others in a way that speech rarely did. In 1987 I discovered the power of the yoga of sacred sound and chanting which dramatically changed my life.It was the missing link for me to the ‘hole in the soul’. When I chanted I felt connected ecstatic and free and I knew without question that this was my true nature. It was always a contradiction for me growing ups as to why I could feel so free singing and then so constrained in speaking and social interaction.I was however articulate even eloquent ,however my words seldom seemed to flow from my inner voice. They were always words packaged perfectly to please everyone around  me to protect myself from the continuous fear of criticism or attack. The power of chanting has transformed my relationship at the core and speaking is much easier now and particularly flows when I am facilitating sessions. I In 1990 I began offering workshops and events in sound and voice.This work has evolved over nearly 25 years years and as brought me to lead chanting  and voicework seminars in corporations such as Cisco, M@C Saatchi, and Deutsche Bank plus Wandsworth mens prison and weekly sessions on  the addiction treatment programme at the Priory hospital North London over 12 years. Since 2004 I have been resident Kirtan leader for Triyoga in London.I have released 3  successful chant Cds Nectarine ,Monsoon and Sounscape.


Your consultations look like very personal, out of your comfort zone  experiences, how do you first break the ice with a client to put them at ease?

A client is only able to have a personal breakthrough  if  they feel at ease in the space provided by the facilitator.I have always placed a really high emphasis on providing a non judgemental and unconditionally loving and supportive space to work in. I also bring in a great sense of humour on occasion to break the ice as well as a deep sensitivity in my listening  to what the client is actually dealing with and what they want to attune with to empower them in their lives going forward.


Can you tell us a bit more about Kirtan chanting?

Chanting or kirtan  is one of the main stems of Yoga.Yoga means reunion with inner light The practice of daily mantra repetition and chanting is the pathway to connecting with the heart in other words to connect to the core of our being. The vibrations of the chant are transformative  and they have the power to dissolve all  spiritual, mental and emotional  obstacles that stand in the way of us  experiencing the bliss of our connection with our  inner Self. The syllables of the chants belong inherently to all us of because they are the promordial language of the soul  first discovered centuries ago by sages in India when in deep states of meditation.


Is your training a spiritual process, and what  do non-spiritual clients think about such concepts as aligning with the movement with the Universe?

My background is the yoga of chanting which is spiritual but not religious.All clients are able to relate because the emphasis in each session is  simply on universal connection.For some people it flows to focus purely on the word ‘energy’ which  is easier to grasp. We focus on connecting with the most expanded energy within us that nourishes and inspires us and gives us the strength to move forward in life.  Through the power of chanting we connect to this space and are naturally  uplifted and liberated as we tap into this hidden treasure living right inside us where we can have an actual experience of our own blissful and free nature


Which writer/thinker has influenced you the most?

Hazrat Inayat Khan,Tukaram Maharaj and Rumi and Werner Erhard.


What's the best piece of advice you've been given?

To love people the way they are and the way they are not and to just ‘LET IT BE’


Could you name 6 Desert Island films/CD's?

1] The Mantra Om Namah Shivaya

2] The Disney cartoon Ratatouille.

3] The French film The Intouchables

4] The musical Half a Sixpence with Tommy Steele.

5] The Wizard of Oz.

6[  Sweet Love [the track by Anita Baker.

Interview with Alison Forge

Today we've got an interview with Alison Forge, author, speaker and mentor.  An "Agent for Positive Change"  Her book "Pocket Positivity" has been described as "Self-help without the woo woo" and "Tea and toast for the soul!"

Alison will be talking at the Monastery this sunday, her talk "One Leap...to Health, Happiness and Success" will help show you how you can grow in every aspect of your life.  Alison can be found online at www.alisonforge.com


To start, could you tell us a little bit about yourself please.

For over 30 years, I suffered serious health problems which included Cancer and Crohns Disease, through fear I embarked on a journey to find a solution to change my life. I had to find out why my body was no longer responding to conventional medicine and why my relationships were failing. It is through that journey that I have become a successful mentor, inspirational speaker, author of ‘Pocket Positivity’ and creator of ‘One Leap’ & ‘Forging Ahead’. I have a passion to share with others how easily they too can transform their lives with the use of structured and proven techniques. I am told I have faced what most people hold in their hearts and minds as fear and that I am an example of what is achievable.

I'm fascinated by the idea of non-dominant hand drawing. Could you explain a little bit about the therapeutic implications?

We cannot make change happen on just a conscious level, we need to tap into the subconscious and with the use of non-dominant hand drawing negative’s that are being held can be uncovered and a clearer understanding gained as to why certain patterns have been put in place, then released. For many years both writers and artists have used non-dominant hand drawing and writing techniques to shift creative blocks and stimulate creativity. It is only when we can connect on a subconscious level and release what is sabotaging our health, happiness and success, that new patterns are able to form and more importantly stay in place. These readings prove invaluable in tapping into the subconscious and releasing those patterns that lead to stress and anxiety, as we know when stress and negativity is held long term in the body it can be damaging to both mental and physical health.

In your blog you mentioned that things didn't feel right for a while before hiring your assistant, do you think it's important for people to see their mentors still having issues, does it show we are all still "works in progress"?

Of course, we are learning everyday more about ourselves and evolving on many levels, we never stop learning new things with change inevitable. I like to share in my newsletter that I too am human and although healed on many levels and help many others to do the same challenge and change is inevitable in life. People can relate to me I believe because of this and become inspired, after all if I can turn those challenges into positives and manifest what I need to make my life as I desire it to be so can they. I strongly believe that the best teachers are those that have lived what they are teaching.

You were invited to the "Venture World Summit" can you tell us a little bit more about that, it seems different to the MBS shows.


This event attracts business leaders and investors with international prestige, with years of experience and success. The event in September boasts a range of speakers from various backgrounds including inspirational ones. The Summit Event offers both management solutions and business opportunities. The event will address and promote an extraordinary range of topics including Funding; Asset Management; Businesses for Sale; Mergers and Acquisitions; and Inspiration and Personal Development. The Summit Event will focus on helping existent businesses grow in an inspirational and innovative setting. The talks will offer informative insights for business development and sustainability. The mission of the event is to promote, discuss and help economic prospects grow in the best way possible.

Which writer/thinker has influenced you the most.

I have many .. too numerous to list, but I believe there is only one truth that holds with every self-help book I have ever read. Release old hurts and find true love for yourself and the world we live in.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given.

‘Don’t hold your breath ... breathe’!


Would you name 6 “Desert Island” books or films (ones you would like if you were stranded on a desert island - for young ones who don’t know about Desert Island discs!)

A Star is Born – Film
Saving Grace- Film
High Society - Film
Many Masters, Many Lives - Dr Brian Weiss - Book
Heal Your Life – Louise L Hay - Book
Healing Inside and Out –Gillian Bowles – Book
.. and of course my own book ‘Pocket Positivity’!