When you hear about affirmations, you might think they're another self-help fad. But hold on- there's more to them than meets the eye. Let's dive in and see how they could work in your life and for young people.
There are a few key things to consider. Affirmations aren't just a magical tool and may not be the thing that works for everyone, but there are some helpful insights on how to use them that will make all the difference.
Affirmations are the gym for the mind. They can help us train our brains to see new perspectives. Think about what you believe in and how it shapes who you are and your identity. Our thoughts and beliefs play a big role in moving through each day and tackling life situations.
The way we use our inner voice is the most powerful tool we have. It shapes not only our identity but also how we engage in everyday experiences. On a scientific level, neurons carry information throughout our body. We are communicating to our nervous system and our brain how we feel, shiting through emotions and life experiences. It can feel like we don't have any control when, in fact, we have all the control over how we feel and move through our world.
With affirmations, we can be in the driver's seat of our daily narrative, introducing new sayings to our belief system that help us achieve our goals. The key is not to think that an affirmation will give you everything you need to create change, but it will lead you to other thoughts and experiences that get you closer each time.
Contemplating how that affirmation applies to you at the moment can be the key to unlocking your next step forward. It provides a space for the 'what if that happens?' and shifts your perspective enough to grow from an experience.
As young people learn about the world, new perspectives are constant, and they try new ways of seeing their world until they find something that feels close to who they want to be.
Guiding them to activate this within themselves opens a whole range of possibilities. It teaches them not only problem-solving skills but also autonomy over who they are and the confidence to make the right decisions. It's less about the affirmation itself and more about the process of it and how it opens up new perspectives.
Download our app, Coobari, and shuffle through our Learning Minds card deck, which is full of affirmations that can help young people while they are learning.
