Rumor Has It

Affirmations: A positive assertion. Simply said per Webster’s, but are affirmations something we can use effectively in our everyday life to help us change behavior? If we use them correctly, and with dedication, they will help us overcome negative habits, such as smoking, over-eating, impulsive spending…the list goes on. I will concentrate on affirmations and smoking cessation, as this was helpful for me. I recently quit smoking, breaking a 20+ year habit and I found affirmations to be very beneficial.

1. Make a list of some of your positive attributes. Write them in the present tense (such as “I am courageous.” or “I am a good mother“). Make a list of all your attributes, think hard, you have more than you think. Go back over these and focus on them instead of dwelling on what you perceive as your negative points. This may sound simple, but it is truly difficult for people to look at themselves in a positive light, they tend to dwell on their negative points. Focus on these affirmations, with conviction (don’t just say the words) and begin to remove the negative thoughts from your mind. Every time the negative thoughts come in, replace it with a positive thought.

2. Your next step is to make a goal using affirmations. “I can quit smoking”. Make the script a positive one, not “I want to quit smoking”, make it an emphatic and powerful statement about something that you can, and are going to do.

3. Write your affirmations from #1 and #2 on 3×5 cards or paper that you can fold and put in your wallet, anything that you can take with you while away from home. You can begin stating these affirmations to yourself daily and set a “Stop Smoking Date” or go ahead and Stop now, you will know what will work best for you. If you select a date in the future, make sure to put that date on the calendar and write the affirmation “I will quit smoking on whatever day you selected”. Some people choose to cut back, but this rarely works. If you try this method, your affirmation would be, “I am going to smoke amount of cigarettes today”, then cut back daily. Just make sure you write your affirmation on paper and look at it and repeat it to yourself often. Every time you want a cigarette, repeat your affirmation and repeat as many of your affirmations from #1 that you need to until the urge passes. I chose to quit totally, no cutting back, no putting it off. This seems to work best for most people.

4. When you get the urge to pick up a cigarette (and you will), repeat an affirmation such as, “I am smoke-free today” and your positive affirmations from #1. I promise it does get easier. I still have to use my affirmations occasionally, but have found that they are beneficial in other areas of my life as well .

Good Luck!

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