We all know what the 4th of July’s about but did you know July 3rd is another national holiday? It’s Compliment Your Mirror Day, a day when you are to look in the mirror and say something positive about yourself to yourself. We spend far too much time dwelling on our weak points and finding things wrong with ourselves. Day after day we focus on things that tear down our personality and lower our self- confidence. Change that pattern by using positive statements, or affirmations, to yourself. It may seem awkward at first, looking in the mirror and talking to yourself, but there are several benefits of repeating positive messages to yourself. Research shows that using affirmations can decrease stress, motivate us and encourage an optimistic outlook on life. “Think of it this way, many of us do repetitive exercise for our physical self, so why not try using repetitive statements to help our mental self? These positive mental repetitions can reprogram our thinking patterns so that, over time, we begin to think—and act—differently. In fact, positive affirmations can help you perform better at work. Spending just a few minutes thinking about your best qualities before a high-pressure meeting can calm your nerves, increase your confidence, and improve your chances of a successful outcome.” So, take a minute, look at yourself and tell yourself how awesome you are. Start a new tradition with this mental exercise and start praising yourself every day.
Here are a few of my favs:
- I am happy!
- I am a great mom.
- I rock at being a wife.
- My body looks gooooood!
- I love me.
- I am smart enough.
- I inspire people.
Benefits of Positive Affirmations:
- Decrease health-deteriorating stress
- Help you perform better at work
- Maintain your sense of self-integrity
- Increase your motivation
- Improve your quality of life
- Help you define your focus
- Help you generate creativity
- Make us more resilient to difficulties when they arise (because we all know… life happens)