Written by: Shanna Mota
What are affirmations?
I like to define them as positive words that can transform your life. They are daily reminders of the beauty that already exists within you. By beginning your day with positive affirmations, you open your mind and heart to endless possibilities.
How do you “do” affirmations?
Every morning before you get up for the day, find yourself in a comfortable seated position with your hands on your lap. Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths in through your nose and release them in a sigh. Then find a comfortable, natural pace for your breathing and repeat an affirmation for 5-10 minutes, or until you truly believe it.
Begin with these 10 affirmations below and watch your life unfold as you expand your mindset.
HEALTH
1. “My Body Is a Temple”
I want to begin by focusing on your view of yourself and your body. Many people merely exist; they go throughout their day without any thought about their health and well-being.
But your body truly is a temple, a sacred place that you should always honor. And how can you honor it? By taking care of it with daily movement, nourishment and relaxation.
Think of your food as your fuel. It is what gives you energy to get through your day - kind of like gas in the car. Now think of your body as the most expensive, luxurious car - perhaps a corvette, Mercedes or Maserati. These cars take premium gas - always. You are also a luxury and you should always fill yourself with premium gas.
PASSION
“I Choose to Follow My Passion in Life”
Many of us get stuck in a rut – a job we despise, an unhappy relationship or maybe we are just going through the motions of our monotonous days. Well, WAKE UP! Do not settle for anything less than amazing! Find your passion, find what makes you happy, find what makes your heart sing and your mind smile!
And again, remember that life is a journey. Passions can take a lifetime to discover and passions can change. So be true to yourself, and do what truly makes you happy.
LETTING GO
“I Let Go of Things That No Longer Serve Me”
Aparigraha is the Sanskrit word for “non-attachment.” Through all my Yoga studies, this was one of the most powerful lessons I learned.
As human beings, we like to control things. We often grasp so hard to things and people that we squeeze the beauty right out of them. We need to learn to loosen our grip and LET GO of things and people that no longer serve us.
This can be a job, a relationship, an opinion, an outcome, an expectation, a habit, a thought, a food... If the thing or person does not enhance your life, make you a better person and make you happier, then get rid of it.
We can apply this to food - if a particular food causes any distress to your system (gas, bloating, tummy aches, pains, acne, etc.) then don’t eat it! Just let it go.
We can also apply this to negative thoughts – if you are having negative thoughts that put you in a bad mood, bring you down and make you have doubts, get rid of them! If your job makes you miserable and no longer grows you or makes you happy – time to quit!
This can also apply to an outcome – sometimes we are so attached to the outcome of a situation and try desperately to control it that we get anxious, stressed and ultimately disappointed.
This can also apply to people - let them go with love.
“Respect yourself enough to walk away from anything or anyone that no longer serves you, grows you or makes you happy.”
BALANCE
“I Seek Balance in My Life”
Finding balance in all that you do in life is so important.
Try to find balance between happy and sad, exercise and relaxation, work and play, being social and staying at home, saving money and spending it, healthy eating and having fun. We should never lose the child within us, never lose our sense of wonder, of adventure or fun.
As long as we are good “most of the time”, we are doing ourselves a huge favor. It’s okay to enjoy the occasional cocktail, to eat French fries and to sleep in. And yes, EAT THE BIRTHDAY CAKE. When we become obsessed with being perfect, life loses its grandeur. Try not to take life too seriously, find a healthy balance and indulge every once in a while – and don’t feel bad about it! Tomorrow is another day.
POSITIVE MINDSET
“I Look to the Good in Every Situation.”
We are all human and it is so easy for our minds to automatically look to the negative part of things, to default to fear and doubt. It happens almost subconsciously. It’s time to take control of those thoughts and turn them into positive ones.
Maybe you got laid off and it seems like the end of the world. Or you’re going through a difficult break up and you feel like you’ll never be the same again. In the moment, it’s really hard to see what good could possibly come out of it. Maybe getting laid off set you on another path where you find a new job or new purpose in life, maybe it opens doors and presents opportunities you never knew were possible. Maybe you weren’t with the right person or there is someone better out there for you. Or maybe you are meant to be alone right now.
There is always a silver lining, a lesson to be learned and a positive outcome – even from the most difficult situations. So be aware, open your mind and learn from your experiences – both good and bad. Find the lesson, be optimistic and know that everything will be OKAY. Try to default to positivity, dismiss negative thoughts and keep your head up!
GREATNESS
“I Am the Best Version of Myself”
Are you the best version of yourself? If you have any doubt around this question, then something needs to change. You deserve to be the best version of you in all facets of your life. Is there anything holding you back from fully believing this? Are you in a relationship that brings you down? A job that you hate or just are not feeling fulfilled? If so, it’s time to make a change.
Loving yourself, getting to know yourself and surrounding yourself with positive people are the first steps. The next is to find your passion, find what makes you smile. Become the best and happiest version of yourself. And know that as life changes and seasons change, so do we. It’s OKAY to go through ups and downs and sometimes it takes a lifetime to discover who you really are and what you really want, so do not get discouraged. Life is a journey; always strive to be your best.
SELF-LOVE
“I Love Myself. ”
Love begins with YOU. Once you master self-love, you will open your heart up to all those around you. Take some time every day to remind yourself of all your positive attributes, all that you contribute to the world. What makes you unique? What makes you smile? What do you do that makes others smile? Focus on the positive every morning before you go out into the world.
Look into the mirror and know that the person looking back at you loves you with all of his/her heart. Repeat this affirmation daily until it becomes your truth.
CHANGE
“I Embrace Change With Open Arms”
If change is the only constant in life, then why are we so afraid of it? Most of us like routine, stability and predictability. While these are great things to have, it can also lead to a monotonous, boring and ordinary life.
I encourage you all to embrace change with open arms, an open mind and an open heart. Sometimes things happen that send you on a completely different path in life – let it! It may lead to something better.
Try not to get stuck in routine – doing the same thing every day, every week, every month, every year. Spice things up a little bit – be spontaneous! Go somewhere new, find a new job, meet new people, take a different route home. Move. Travel. Love. Laugh. Sing. Cook. Keep life interesting and try new things.
If you are in an unhappy relationship, leave it. If you hate your job, find a new one. If you don’t like where you live, move. Don’t EVER settle for anything or anyone less than extraordinary. This is YOUR life and YOU deserve to live an extraordinary one.
BEING PRESENT
“I Live in the Present Moment”
The past is the past. Things happen, mistakes are made. Learn from them and move on. If you hold on to your past, you will never be free to live in the present moment, nor will you be open to change in your future. So if there is anything you are holding onto, work on letting it go. This includes forgiving people. Forgiving is not for the other person, it’s for yourself. Once you are able to forgive someone, a weight will be lifted off of YOUR shoulders, not theirs.
Yes, we all think and worry about our future; it’s human nature. But sometimes we are so busy planning, preparing and designing our future that we forget to live in the present moment. This has become so much more apparent with the introduction of smart phones and technology. Have you ever been out to dinner and you see couples on their phones the entire meal – not even speaking to each other? Or parents who are always working on their computers and blackberries in the evenings, not spending time with their children?
Have you ever known people who save up all of their money for “later” in life or for retirement that they forget to enjoy life or travel while they are still young? Maybe they pass away before they take their dream vacation or maybe they go bankrupt.
Find ways to live in the present moment and enjoy life to the fullest. BE with people when you are with them. SEE and appreciate the beauty of nature around you. HEAR what people are saying. ENJOY every moment, every experience and cherish the time spent with others.
HAPPINESS
“I Am Responsible for My Own Happiness.”
Whether you want to believe it or not, the truth is YOU are responsible for your own happiness and at the end of the day, YOU decide if you want to be happy or not. Yes, bad things happen and people will hurt you, but you CHOOSE how you will let that affect you. You can choose to let it bring you down or you can choose to rise above it.
True happiness comes from within. If you practice all of these affirmations and make choices that are healthy for your body and mind, you will find true happiness. Let go of all the negative stuff and don’t get caught up in the drama. You have this one life to live and you have the choice to live in LOVE and HAPPINESS or to live in FEAR and REGRET.
Always choose love.
About the Author
Shanna Mota is a Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Yoga Teacher and the founder of Live Love Detox. She works on healing the body from the inside out. Most people do not realize how amazing their bodies are designed to feel and it is her goal to help you experience this using nutrition and yoga as the foundation. Shanna focuses on group detox programs, educating her clients on how to nourish their bodies with nutrient dense foods, meal preparation techniques, simple healthy recipes and positive mindset exercises, for a full mind and body cleanse. She is excited to contribute her expertise and knowledge to the Fitlife movement and inspire healthy change to the community.
For more health tips, recipes and information, connect with Shanna: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Website
Image Source: Jennings Wire, Tanya Penny, Women 24, Irdarbs
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Disclaimer: The techniques, strategies, and suggestions expressed here are intended to be used for educational purposes only. The author, Drew Canole, and the associated www.fitlife.tv are not rendering medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. It is imperative that before beginning any nutrition or exercise program you receive full medical clearance from a licensed physician. Drew Canole and Fitlife.tv claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material presented here.