by JP Morgan Jr on June 28, 2009
I’ve had a hunch for awhile that positive affirmations could in some cases be destructive. I know it sounds strange, but keep reading…
I use positive affirmations almost daily, usually in short bursts before I’m going to do some activity or need a bit of motivation.
“I can get this done in 5 minutes, so start it now. I’m awesome.”
“I’m incredibly good at this. They will love it.”
Most of the time I find the little trick very empowering and motivating. However I have also noticed that in rare situations, positive self talk can result in an onslaught of “but” and “what if” internal dialogue. Such dialogue is self-defeating and usually shifts my emotional state in a negative direction as well as reinforces my doubt.
I’ve also noticed that when complimenting people with a motivating statement, when they believe me, they become more motivated and when they don’t, they become more frustrated. Their emotional state is obviously also a critical factor. (And evidently if I happen to be speaking into their right ear versus their left, this can have an impact as well!)
Today I saw this article which summarizes some recent research on these exact ideas.
Reportedly people with low self esteem (or I’d suggest even confident people in a low self-esteem moment or context) who tell themselves something positive, will actually strengthen their negative view.
For those of you holding onto “The Secret” as your last chance at achieving your dreams – don’t throw your hands up in the air. This is good news!
The powerful point of this research is simply this – Don’t bullshit yourself.
Before you go telling yourself you’re a God among Gods, you need to first honestly believe it.
Self-persuasion can be very useful for this. If you can’t manage persuade yourself, get in touch and I’ll help you.
by JP Morgan Jr on March 3, 2009
Next time you’re down or even just in a less than spectacular mood, go ahead and try this…
Grab your headphones and find that one song that gets you feeling positive and full of energy more than any other. You might want to find a reasonably private spot, where you can at least close your eyes comfortably.
If you’re sitting, stand up.
Put the headphones on, start the song and close your eyes. Breath slowly and deeply through your nose.
Clasp both of your hands into light fists and now as the song picks up, pump your fists with each beat. Just a quick clench and release.
Pump….2….3….4….Pump….2….3….4….
As you feel those small surges of energy jolt from your pumping fists through your arms, let it flow up your back, straightening your posture. Let it flow up into your head, raising your chin a bit higher each time. Let that energy spread through your lips and into your cheeks, while on it’s way pulling up and back the corners of your mouth, spreading a wide smile across your face.
Now with your eyes still closed and you still pumping your fists to the beat, feeling that energy and still breathing deeply, imagine a time when you had incredibly high energy. Remember a time your were confident and gloriously happy. See that picture or movie in your mind and then begin to analyze it.
Who else is in the memory? What perspective are you at? First person? Second person? How big is the image? Is it color or black and white? Blurry or clear?
When you have a good handle on all the qualities and aspects of that visual memory, start to intensify it. Make it bigger, brighter and more colorful. If you’re not already in first person perspective, then bring yourself into that perspective of the memory.
Once you’ve done that, do the same with the sounds of your memory. What were they? The pitch? Loudness? Speed or intensity? Voices of others or yourself? And then make everything more intense. Make the sounds louder and clearer.
If you can recall any associated smells or tastes, do so and amplify those too.
Keep pumping your fists to the beat, straighting that back, lifting that chin, widening that smile, amplifying the sights, sounds tastes and smells of that memory. You might find yourself starting to life onto your toes, wanting to jump or fly from the jolts of positive power surging through you.
Whatever your mood was when you started, by the end of the song, your mood is remarkably better. If it is anything less than the ultimate high you know you’re capable of having, then rewind and do it again.
The positive effects are compounding. Do this with intense focus and desire for ten minutes and I promise it”ll blow you away how great you’ll feel.
The more times you practice the technique, the more powerful it becomes and the easier it is to achieve. After awhile you will be able to elicit a high energy and positive mood without the music.
In the same way that Pavlov’s dog would salivate when he heard the bell ring, with ample practice, simply pumping your fists with the correct intent will be enough to send chills up your spine and take you quickly from a whatever mood to a super positive mood!
Ask questions if you have them and let me know how it goes!
