The Power of Positive Affirmations: Fostering an Optimistic Attitude and Self-Confidence

2024-05-14 02:30:00

Phrases like “I can achieve my goals”, “I like myself just the way I am” or “I believe in yourself and everything will be possible” not only decorate the rooms of many adolescents and young people but now as part of their daily lives. . Repeatedly regularly in front of the mirror, before leaving the house or in a stressful situation, the ‘positive affirmations‘used to change negative thought patterns and foster an optimistic attitude.

Functioning, as explained by the psychologists of Conradh na Gaeilge Wake Up Consultationit’s simple: influence the subconscious and reprogramming limiting thought patterns. « ‘Positive affirmations’, although they can be a useful tool when used in a balanced and complementary way with other self-care and therapy practices, it is also important to take into account their potential disadvantages» and he adds: «It is necessary use them consciously and criticallyadapting their use according to needs as well as recognizing that they are not a magic solution to solve deep problems or avoid difficult emotions.

In favor of positive affirmations

Raise self-esteem and confidence

Positive affirmations are like having a friend (yourself) who tells you good things, and unlike criticism, they can help improve our perception of ourselves, promoting greater self-acceptance, self-love and confidence in our capacity.

By focusing on positive aspects of life and self, the glass half full and not half empty, positive affirmations can help foster an optimistic mindset and a more positive attitude towards the challenges and difficulties of everyday life.

By repeating “Everything will be fine” affirmations that promote calmness, inner peace and emotional well-being, you can reduce stress and anxiety, which in turn promotes calmness and peace.

Encourage personal growth and good habits

Positive affirmations can act as constant reminders of good habits, healthy habits, goals, aspirations and personal values, encouraging people to work on their personal growth and reach their full potential.

As they strengthen calm, confidence and good habits, positive affirmations can really help improve performance in different areas of life, such as work, studies or sports.

Not everything is positive

Although there is research that supports the power of positive affirmations to improve emotional well-being in certain circumstances, the scientific evidence is not always conclusive.

Avoid “toxic positivity”

If used excessively or as a way to deal with difficult feelings or underlying issues, positive affirmations can become a form of denial or avoidance of reality. This can make the process of coping and problem solving more difficult.

Positive affirmations can conflict with deeply held personal beliefs or create resistance if they do not match the individual’s experience or perspective. For example, someone who feels chronically sad may have difficulty accepting a positive statement such as: “I am completely happy and I love my life.”

If positive affirmations do not feel authentic or true to the person who repeats them, they may lose their effectiveness and even lead to a falsehood or hypothermia.

If you can dream it, you can get it, be… The expression “delulu” is fashionable among young people (abbreviation for attractive in English it means “delirious”). In the context of informal conversations, especially on the internet and social media, “delulu” is used to describe someone who has unrealistic thoughts or expectations, but be careful as it is sometimes used to refer to someone’s ability to think outside the box of the box to recommend .

Some critics warn of the danger of becoming dreamers, expecting us to always maintain a positive attitude, even when we have legitimate feelings such as sadness, anger or frustration. Sadness and anger are necessary, they serve to understand that “Something” has happened to us, to recover and to lick our wounds.