Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that can help you to challenge and overcome self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. When you repeat them often, and believe in them, you can start to make positive changes.
Here are several key strategies you can teach your students about using affirmations:
Affirmations must be firm, defined statements. Conditional affirmations are not nearly as effective. Avoid words like “hope,” “should,” or “wish” because these are soft and lack the confidence to be effective.
Keep affirmations in the present tense. They should not be something you will become in the future; they should always speak to what you are now.
Repetition and frequency is critical. We all know the power of repetition when building new habits. The thoughts we have today are simply habits we’ve solidified throughout our lives, so applying affirmations frequently is the key to rebuilding them. Just before bed at night and first thing in the morning are the two most powerful times to employ affirmations.
While saying affirmations to yourself is a start, saying them out loud is more powerful. Writing them down is even more potent. The most impactful time to make an affirmation is in the moment of need (e.g. saying or writing the affirmation, “I am good at math” while you are taking a math test).
It is important to manage the number of affirmations. Prioritize the top 3 to 5 and start off by focusing on those. You can always expand into new areas over time.