Affirmation

While walking to yoga last week, I was approached by a man who said, “You are a lucky woman.”  I offered my I’m not so sure what’s happening here but I’ll just go with it smile and said, “Thank you.”  He then went on to tell me that my mind’s eye was very strong and July would be a good month for me.  Unsure of how to respond to this, I said, “Good to know, thanks!”  As I began to walk away he said, “But you think too much and I am from Bombay.”  Naturally, I began to think, “What does that mean?  Is that true?  Do I think too much?  He might have a point there…” and in the trance of those thoughts, I floated to yoga class.

I think too much…he is right, this stranger from Bombay.  What are my thoughts?  What do I spend time my time thinking about?  Analyzing, judging, processing, understanding, evaluating, pitter-patter-pit, yata-yata, so on and so on….  Upon further examination, these thoughts (which I like to think of as being productive and necessary) are polluted with criticisms, judgments, and disbelieving statements about myself—an entire catalog of self-doubting declaratives and mantras that are the main dishes of a cheap buffet of mind chatter that I routinely fill my plate with.  Since we get to choose our thoughts, why I am choosing these???  Who cares why?  It’s time to change that!

Let February be the month of affirmation.  Flip the script and offer yourself thoughts that affirm who you are, what you strive for…thoughts that affirm your ability to take risks and promote your growth and happiness.  No more “I can’t, I shouldn’t, I don’t know how, but what if, or I don’t have.”

“Our mental commentary influences and colors our feelings and perceptions about what’s going on in our lives, and it is these thought forms that ultimately attract and create everything that happens to us.” (Shakti Gawain)

An affirmation is any positive statement.  Take a moment every day and create a positive statement, one that is simple, relevant to you and your life, and in the present tense.  Repeat the affirmation silently, out loud, sing it, chant it, write it…whatever your preference is that day.    

“If my mind can conceive it; and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.” Muhammad Ali