Another technique to help you on your fitness journey is affirmations.
Affirmations are defined as the practice of positive thinking and self-empowerment. It is said that a “positive mental attitude supported by affirmations will achieve success in anything,” 1
Personally, I would not go so far as to say that affirmations will guarantee success, but they are helpful to keep your thinking positive.
One of my earliest affirmations was taught to me by my trainer, Keith Gosline. He told me in the early days of my fitness journey to, “Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do.” This led me to the realization that it takes just as much energy to figure out how to do something as it does to spend time contemplating why you can’t.
One way to use affirmations is to write them down. When I was working with a business coach, she taught me to write “What do I choose” across the top of my to-do list. Some people use a vision board or write affirmations on a white board in their exercise area. You can also use a poster with a positive message to hang on your wall where you exercise.
Another time I use affirmations is during events. I might say “beep-beep” during a run to imagine I am the Road Runner in the cartoons of my childhood. During a swim, I imagine I am a dolphin gliding through the water. Attaching an image to an affirmation can make it even more powerful.
One of my favorite affirmations is:
Because I can
Because I like it
Because it is good for me
This helps me ensure a positive attitude when starting an exercise session and can keep me going if I start feeling discouraged.
Research on affirmations has found that they may be more valuable if associated with your core values. In other words, when choosing an affirmation relate it to something that is important to you:
I am a strong, successful woman.
I am successful at meeting my goals.
I want to be a healthy example for my children and grandchildren.
Or you can use wisdom from the past:
Greek: “A sound mind in a sound body”
19th Century English proverb: “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Buddha: “To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”
Socrates: Eat to live, not live to eat.
By using affirmations to maintain a positive attitude, you will accomplish more than you might believe. Let me know an affirmation that works for you.
Email me at noquickfixes18@gmail.com and I will share these on Instagram.
Reference: Supercharged Affirmations, The Salem New Age Center, August 2007.