Wake Up and Shake Up- It’s About You!

An affirmation is a strong, positive statement that

something is already so.

-Shakti Gawain

I know this guy who has a habit of announcing to his inner circle of friends exactly what he’s going to accomplish. Then, with laser precision, he goes out and does it. One year it was, “I’m going to lose 20 pounds before I go on vacation.” After only a few months of healthy eating and vigorous exercise, he surpassed his goal and enjoyed the results on his vacation.

Another year he said, “I’m going to cut my commuting expenses in half.” Within two weeks, he’d done the research and switched from his SUV to a compact car. Then he sat back and smiled when gas prices went up and up.

At the end of 2005, he announced, “In work and in finances, 2006 will be my best year yet.” By all accounts, after only 11 months, he has met his goal. At this point, he’s driven to see how much he can surpass his goal and to lay the groundwork for 2007.

All of us can learn from people who possess that type of commitment to their goals, the drive to achieve them and a passion to enjoy the results. I consider myself very lucky to know this man because his drive has inspired me to think big and achieve more. Who is this guy? My husband, Chris Johnson.

Now, maybe I’m biased because he’s my husband, but I don’t think so. Chris has this amazing ability to decide what he wants, declare it and then make it happen. How does he do it? Certainly, goal setting is an essential part of his success. But beyond setting a goal, he says the key to his success is his use of positive affirmations.

According to Dictionary.com, an affirmation is “a statement or proposition that is declared to be true; the assertion that something exists.”

Okay. But how do affirmations give you the focus to turn a wish, goal or dream into reality? Whatever thoughts occupy your mind – whatever you think about the most – will materialize.

Affirmations that are repeated many times directly affect the subconscious mind, triggering the very actions and behaviors that cause the affirmations to come into existence. Affirmations are tools you can use to influence yourself.

Most people think affirmations are only positive, but actually, that’s not the case. Affirmations are any thoughts or feelings that consistently run in your head, including negative ones. And negative affirmations can be just as powerful as positive ones.

Let’s look at some examples. If you tell yourself daily, “I am having a record-breaking quarter,” your subconscious mind starts to influence your attitudes, behaviors and actions. Soon, you will find that you are servicing your clients better, interacting differently with your colleagues and doing all the extra things that create momentum toward achieving your goal. Conversely, if you are constantly telling yourself subconsciously, “It’ll be nearly impossible to make my numbers this quarter,” that too will affect your attitude and actions. This negative affirmation will steal your momentum, and you will likely not make your goal. In a sense, your affirmations are your prophesies, positive or negative.

To me, affirmations are like the theme song to a movie. When we think of the Rocky movies, we automatically think of Rocky Balboa running up those stairs with “Eye of the Tiger” playing in the background. It’s hard to get those songs out of your head. Since the 1970s, that song has been used to inspire and motivate people, to remind them to keep going and to push beyond their limitations, just as Rocky did.

Your affirmations become your theme song that plays over and over in your head. What is your current theme song telling your subconscious mind? Do you continually play a pathetic country song of woe and misfortune? Or do you hear an upbeat tune that tells of your success and pushes you to climb higher toward your goals?