Rituals: Ancient practices for a modern world - Bringing an affirmation to life
I want to share with you how a simple, short phrase can tame an overwhelmed and stressed mind.
One of the things that I love the most about mindfulness has been the study of ancient practices and learning how to bring them into my life. These tools have been used, sometimes for thousands of years and now the science is starting to prove how effective they are in our modern world.
An affirmation is one that I find is one of the simplest but potentially one of the more misunderstood. You may know a little about affirmations, perhaps you’ve even given one a go. One of the big barriers is that done incorrectly they don’t work and can leave you feeling a little silly. I want to show you how you can work with an affirmation, this incredible ancient practice, make it your own so that you can use it to give you a boost of power or even soothe a stressed out mind.
What is a mantra?
One of your first questions might be what is it? Followed with, how does it work? Do you just pick a phrase and say it over and over, then suddenly you get all your dreams come true (I’ve heard this story, it involves a very shiny lamp!)? As you may have guessed, it’s not that easy! As is often the case our need for a quick fix, to perform better and faster leads us to buy into big promises that leave us wanting.
Firstly, it’s important not to get a mantra and an affirmation mixed up. A mantra is a sound based practice that carries a vibration to bring you into alignment with the universe. It’s a Sanskrit word and comes from the words:
‘Manas’ = mind or to think
‘Tra’ = vehicle
So, quite literally it means ‘mind-vehicle’ or transportation. It’s also a tool that is often used in conjunction with meditation, giving our practice a hint of a super power (think Transcendental Meditation).
An affirmation is a statement that you can use to help support to create new neural pathways. There are intentional affirmations that we use to support us, there are also unconscious affirmations that fuel limiting beliefs and behaviours. Words that we repeat have the power to program our self-conscious belief systems. This is incredibly important as our belief systems will literally shape the way in which we see our world.
find your words
There aren’t too many rules but one that has stuck with me is the importance of belief. The phrase that you choose will need to be one that you believe. It is also a phrase that will help you to feel a certain way or to view your world a certain way. You can’t repeat “I want to be rich” and you will suddenly have a full bank account. The words that you use are ones that will help you to keep on track to see through the fog that may often clog your mind. Here are some examples that hopefully will give you a little inspiration:
“Everything happens right on schedule.”
“Things are not being done to me, they are just happening.”
“Remember who you are.”
“Love the life you have.”
“Nothing lasts forever. Not the good, and not the bad.”
“No one can take your joy.”
“Happiness is a choice, not a condition. I choose to be happy.”
“You are a smart, powerful woman. You’ve got this.”
“I choose love.”
These statements are truly potent, they also have the ability to bring our mind / body connection into alignment. They are used by many successful and powerful people. Used correctly they can change your mind, your health, your body, your life even. When your brain believe something, entire neural pathways can be created / changed. So, what is your affirmation?
My affirmation is _________________________________________
Want to use this ancient practice to boost you even further? Then tag me on social media (@consciousme.nz) and tell me your affirmation and declare your intention.