Vickie's Viewpoint

For more than a decade now, I have suggested affirmations as a tool to solve just about any problem. I have seen them work at increasing sales, making peace in relationships and kicking bad habits. Out of the hundreds of workshop attendees and business coaching and life coaching clients I’ve had, I have yet to see anyone who did affirmations on a consistent basis who did not benefit from them.

Here are Some of the Many Advantages of Doing Affirmations…

• We see quick RESULTS with little effort.

• They help us achieve our DREAMS.

• Affirmations build CONFIDENCE and SELF-ESTEEM.

• The repetition helps us stay FOCUSED on our goals.

• They are effective in changing worn out HABITS and creating better ones.

• Affirmations get us out of the FEAR.

• We run our business or live the life we WANT.

• They make unpleasant TASKS less painful.

• Our ANGER is removed.

• Affirmations renew our MOTIVATION.

• We eliminate the need to BLAME everyone and everything for our problems.

• The short sayings bring HOPE into any situation.

• They help us SLEEP at night.

• Affirmations eliminate CONFUSION when making decisions.

• Allow us time to APPRECIATE what we did do, instead of focusing on  what we didn’t.

• Affirmations deaden the desire to COMPLAIN.

• The right phrase can release the DRAMA in our lives.

• Affirmations keep our business and life in BALANCE.

Never underestimate the power of affirmations. As you get in the habit of using them, you will see affirmations as a strong ally in solving problems, dissolving fear and achieving even the biggest, craziest, reach-for-the-moon dreams.

See Vickie Champion’s previous blog, “What are Affirmations?” to learn more about affirmations.

I just had a coaching client from Orange County, Calif. ask me, “What are affirmations, anyway?” It’s become so natural to me that I assumed everyone knew about them. This is for those of you who could use Affirmations 101.

Affirmations are any thought you think over and over. It is the act of affirming a belief. So in essence every thought that has been adopted as a belief is an affirmation of some sort.

I usually have my coaching clients repeat an affirmation until they start believing it. Then it becomes a natural part of who you are.

You can think it, say it, or write it. I even had a coaching client from New York City who would sing her affirmations. The most time consuming, but also the most effective, is to write the affirmations down by hand. I think that’s why years ago teachers would make you stay after school and write a statement 50 times on the blackboard.

Affirmations are based on the theory, “Every thought you think has an effect.” So if you can put more positive thoughts in your head than negative, it will change your life. I’m telling you, it does.

Most of the time I start my beginning coaching sessions by having clients do affirmations for the simple reason it provides quick relief for the least amount of effort.

If you have more questions about affirmations call me at 480-838-9866 and we’ll discuss it or to write them down click here.

With everything changing so quickly, it’s easy to become paralyzed with fear. People are losing jobs, entire industries are disappearing overnight and when you go to your favorite coffee shop for a little escapism in the form of a latte, you find it closed. For good.

To Get Rid of Fear Try One or a Combination of These Suggestions:

1  Make a Plan-

Sometimes the best way to get rid of fear is to have a Plan B waiting.

2 Decide to Fully Participate-

Often we get afraid when we’re not giving 100 percent.

3 Use Affirmations-

Rather than letting our mind run rampant with negative thoughts, replace them with positive ones. Every thought – negative or positive – impacts our sense of well being. By replacing our negative thoughts with positive affirmations our fear begins to disappear.

4 Focus on What’s Going Right-

Whatever we focus our attention on expands. If we’re focusing on the woes that could befall us, then our fear increases. How about focusing on what’s going right and seeing that grow?

5 Stay in the Moment-

When we’re afraid we are either worrying about what will happen in the future or trying to rectify the past. To get in the moment, be concerned only with what’s happening right NOW.

6 Start Taking Action-

When we feel paralyzed, confused and overwhelmed by a situation, one way to get out of the fear is to break it down into small, manageable tasks. Just get moving!

7 Stop Taking Action-

When we run into lots of road blocks, it’s a good sign we’re in fear. Our need to make something happen may be interfering with a resolution. If you’re coming across lots of obstacles, the best way to get out of fear is to stop and do absolutely nothing. Wait until the fear passes and you listen to your intuition to take action.

8 Slow Down-

The more fear we’re in, the more urgent things seem. We start breathing faster, talking faster and moving faster which escalates the perceived seriousness of the situation. To get out of fear, slow down, take a deep breath and relax. Put yourself in slow motion.

9  Move Into the Fear-

This is the last suggestion, because it’s usually the hardest. When we have a situation that never seems to be resolved, it’s because we are trying to avoid what we’re afraid of. This only prolongs and intensifies the fear. Instead, move into the fear. Allow or accept the worst that might happen.  Think of the most fearful thing that could happen and give it permission to do so. Once we do that, the fear releases immediately.

We think the problem is this or that, but our real problem is the fear. Once you get rid of the fear, you can hear your intuition. And our intuition can get us out of any jam, anywhere, anytime with anyone.

To read more about intuition visit the Articles section or take the How to Listen to your Intuition Quiz.