Affirm! Affirm! Affirm! Here's Why Not

Affirmations are promoted along with visualization as essential keys to success. Affirm your intentions repeatedly and reap rich rewards is the recommendation.

Affirmations do in fact add value in your quest for success but they are just not enough.

The challenge with affirmations is that sustained results are really controlled at the subconscious level. The subconscious records all our actions and identifies patterns of behaviour that it uses to formulate an image of who we are. This image that is etched into our subconscious plays a significant role in determining our future actions.

Our minds have the equivalent of a cue card or placard development unit or if you are more technologically inclined, a "teleprompter". Our teleprompter throws up thoughts, words and actions for us to use. Right now, a range of those are coming into your head. Your teleprompter is at work.

Now, you will notice that your teleprompter usually presents content that it thinks will be appealing to you. The source that supplies us with prompts does not want to send ideas that will be rejected. It prompts in accordance with deep-rooted habits. Some prompts will just not appeal to you.

The fact is that your teleprompter is directed by your subconscious which has a record of your every thought, word and deed. So the teleprompter is guided to motivate you to think thoughts, speak words and perform actions that are aligned to the image that your subconscious has of you.

That is why behavioural change is so difficult. While we are reciting affirmations at the conscious level the subconscious is funnelling invitations to our conscious mind that might be diametrically opposed to the affirmations.

One of the principles on which the use of hypnosis in behavioural change and transformation is based is the recognition that there is a barrier to the subconscious mind that is not readily penetrated by conscious affirmations or the leading of Will Power. The mechanism that filters messages coming from our conscious minds to our subconscious is focused on protecting the status quo. It recognizes our established style and any ideas that run contrary to that image are blocked.

That explains why so many attempts to quit smoking are not sustained. The same thing with fitness programmes. We march into those projects with affirmations in tow. However, the subconscious crowds out the affirmations with prompts that fit the image that is etched into it.

That is why the distinction between affirmations and Afformations is so vitally important in your quest for success. Afformations are designed to overcome the natural inclination of our subconscious minds to shut out ideas that are not in keeping with the pattern of behaviour that has been established over time.

The technique tricks the gate-keeper whose role is to stop new ideas that come from your conscious thoughts from interfering with what your subconscious has grown used to accepting as reality.

Afformations use the mind's need to find answers to unlock paths to greater happiness, improved health and fitness, stronger relationships and overall fulfilment.

The mind is trained is find answers to questions that are asked of it. It is in automatic research mode. Its job is to find answers. So, the secret to success then, is to ask our minds the right questions!

Think back to times when something slips your mind and you just can't put your finger on it when you need it? Not able to find the solution in the moment you decide to give it a break and go to some other activity. Presto: "I remember now...This is an instance in which by giving our subconscious minds room to find answers we get the desired result.

That is how Afformations work. Ask the right (empowering) questions and move on so that your mind gets the opportunity to find the answers. Do NOT interfere. That would be like storming around fuming in search of the misplaced item. Simply cast your would-be affirmations in the form of empowering questions and leave your subconscious mind to do its work!

I am a firm believer in the effectiveness of Afformations in support of believing prayer.

If the goal is to be a great spouse, you raise it in prayer and afform it in the form of this type of empowering question: "Why am I such a thoughtful, caring spouse?"

Resist the urge to give up because of the flood of prompts from the subconscious that questions how you could even think that given the historical situation. Your job is to ask the empowering questions repeatedly and leave the answers to your mind.

This much is true. Show me the output of your teleprompter and I will tell you where you have been and where you are headed. Start re-programming your subconscious today with empowering Afformations!