I listen to several different podcasts. In one of them, these two guys are talking about how to improve yourself. They have very “typical man” discussions, with lots of High Fives and externalizing of problems. Example: where a woman might say, “My butt’s too big to fit that skirt,” these guys say, “Stupid pants - they must’ve shrunk.”
These guys, Scott and Shane, talked about affirmations. They also point out that it helps a lot to link an affirming thought to a physical activity, like snapping your fingers.
(Note: check out my earlier post on writing affirmations that can actually help you. http://livingrainbowcolor.wordpress.com/2007/07/11/how-to-create-affirmations-that-work/ )
Anyway, these guys make a big guy deal about using these affirmations combined with the physical action to really whip your emotions up. This sounded like a good idea, so here’s how I’m using the same principle in my life.
I exercise, primarily in the swimming pool. When I’m doing a lap of aquajogging, I will repeat an affirmation for, say, one lap. Then I’ll choose something else and use it for the next lap. I figure that by the time I’ve finished exercising, I’ll have done almost 1000 affirmations (about 10 different ones in total).
I’ll also use affirmations when I’m doing something that doesn’t require thought, like walking from one place to another. I’m specifically tying the affirmations to certain physical actions, like pumping my arms back and forth while jogging. Once they are well-ingrained, I expect just the arm-pumping will make me feel better, even without saying the affirmation.
Here are some of the affirmations I’ve been saying lately, which will also be my positives for the day:
- You’re great! (I’m trying to build some self-esteem here)
- You are a strong aquajogger!
- You’re getting better and better at leaving food on your plate!
- You’re certainly walking strong and tall today!
- You are taking quite good care of yourself emotionally!
