Charlotte Therapist Says, Give Yourself a Big Fat Yes! Did you know that negative thoughts tend to be self fulfilling? We can talk ourselves into believing we arent good enough, cant do to right, arent worthy, are unattractive, failed miserably...and on and on. These kind of thoughts can cause our confidence, mood and outlook to become negative, and as a result can take a significant toll on our personal lives, our relationships, our careers and our health. So why not learn to affirm yourself, say Yes to yourself, encourage yourself, learn to treat yourself like a good friend? Consciously doing the opposite of negative thinking – using positive affirmations – can change your day, change how you feel from the inside out, and over time change your life. The word affirmation comes from the Latin affirmare, originally meaning to make steady, strengthen. Affirmations are like exercises for our mind and outlook; these positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think, and act, and even feel differently But there is more to this process of creating change with a positive view of ourselves. Our thoughts actually change brain chemistry. Much like exercise, affirmations raise the level of feel-good hormones and push our brains to form new clusters of positive thought neurons. Affirmations, when practiced deliberately and regularly, reinforce a chemical pathway in the brain, making the connection between two neurons stronger, and therefore more likely to conduct the same thought process over and over again, having a lasting impact on our well being. Researchers have found the consistent use of positive affirmations can cause a decrease in depressive symptoms and negative thinking and can lead to an overall experience of higher self esteem. For affirmations to be effective they must be in the present tense, true and repeated frequently. Here are some examples: (You can create your own depending on areas of your wellbeing you would like to strengthen.) I am worthy of being loved. Im bringing a positive attitude to work every day. I am honest in my life, and my work. I am excellent at what I do. I choose and deserve to be happy. I love and accept myself unconditionally. I can accept compliments easily. People like to be with me. I am attractive to others. I am a well loved and well respected person. If you would like to feel more positive about yourself and your life but have difficulty affirming yourself, you may profit from individual therapy where you can explore and heal the issues that underlie and reinforce the negative view you may hold of yourself. Please call my Charlotte office at 704-770-7743. M. Leslie Owens, MSW, LCSW Psychotherapist 704-770-7743 GreatTherapy100
Posted on: Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:17:55 +0000
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