Punctuation in parentheses because these statements always lack periods. I like pauses in my speech.
I thought they were taken from one of those inspirational websites that send you emails between 4-8am (ready for you at your desk, coupled w/ morning coffee). Apparently she makes them up herself and uses them to guide her day. I took a stab and wrote a couple this AM. After all, if you know the key phrases and the format, its as easy as writing a mid90s R&B song. But what do those songs (and phrases) REALLY mean?
Affirmations generally are slated to be effective upon repetition, and hopefully, proceeding in a way that reflects said mantra. Is this the same as speaking ideas into existence? If I tape a quote to my bathroom mirror and make a conscious effort to wash, rinse and repeat, is it any more true than the day before?
Are we convincing ourselves of truths? How is this any different than denial, or flat out lying? When one is in denial, they are repeating mantra and affirmations that convince them otherwise. "As long as I tell myself (and others) this truth, it will be true," those who lead a double life.
Or what about religious/spiritual text? Is the Bible (or Torah, or Watchtower *shrug*) just a best-selling book of daily affirmations? Are the statements by the Lord and His peoples become truer the more we cite them, in relation to our lives?
Can anything be true if you repeat it enough, even if its dead wrong, or you don't necessarily agree? Such is the case of our own esteem. If we tell ourselves were the greatest thing since sliced bacon*, if our daddies raise us to believe we can do anything we put our minds to, when our moms, from two years old, ask each night at bedtime "who's the best little boy in the whole wide world?" and you squeal "I am!" in delight, that shapes our being. Similarily, being told that you're dumb, worthless, ugly or otherwise "ain't shit" on a daily basis is just as impactful.
*sliced bacon is a play on "sliced bread," which ill refer and explain in a future post that should've been posted 2 weeks ago.
Now, you could actually be gorgeous or dumb, or the "best little boy in the world," but if it's not true, who gets to decide that?
*looks around* oh, me?
Yes, I get to decide. No fancy language, no time stamps. No question marks, but repeating it daily may require an exclamation. If I can remember to repeat this affirmation, it can (and has) slowly replace other, less desirable ones. I become more effective, and more convincing.
So today is a day of decision. Who I am is decisive, willing to pick, choose, and live comfortably in those decisions.
And so is tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
1 comment:
Wash, rinse and repeat first appeared on shampoo bottles and then found its way to direct every process of laundering. Same with affirmations; the more you repeat, the quicker it permeates other aspects of your life.
If I say, "Today is a day of wellness. Who I am is inspired, motivated, and (gosh does it REALLY have to be three?!)", I'm not necessarily limiting myself just to my physical well being. It might start there, but it will certainly overflow into my mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
I don't think you always get to decide what sticks though and unfortunately, it is helluva process to get rid of what has stuck for so long. Who knew something so trivial as "wash, rinse and repeat" would become the staple of laundering (follow me, this might go somewhere)? Can you break that cycle?
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