The Affirmation Challenge Follow-up

It all started with one simple concept. Thoughts become things.

What if I spent an entire month consciously paying attention to my thoughts? Then, what if I said "See ya later, self-sabotage!" and soaked myself in affirmations instead? Would I see a difference? Would I become more motivated? Have more confidence? Be a happier person? Or was this all really too good to be true? Just another scheme in the big ol' world of health and wellness?

Off I went, all fired up with the "New Year, New You" vibes exploding ev-er-y-where, I created The Affirmation Challenge. A challenge designed to replace that snarky mean girl in the back of your head with sparkling bursts of positivity. A challenge that would renew your passions, fuel your success, and guide you as you transformed into the most brilliant version of yourself. (Hot damn! Who wouldn't want a life filled with passion, fulfillment, and happiness?!)

WHAT HAPPENED...
For the few first days, I was ON FIRE. I was seriously stoked to get this thing going and affirmations were flying at me left, right, and centre - the inspiration was there, the motivation was there, everything was jiving! I believe in myself and my ability to do anything. My positive energy creates a powerful presence and confidence. And it really did. There was no stopping me!

As time went on, and the inital excitement wore off, I could feel those back-talking thoughts trickle on in. You have 'em, I have 'em, we all do. We're human! There's going to be days when you're feeling off. Whatever it is - the motivation isn't there, you don't feel good, something bad happened, you tried something and failed, you get overwhelmed...

Instead of letting those negative thoughts just flow in, go about their business, and flow back out easily and effortlessly, I became aware. For the first time ever, I thought about the things I thought about. (Gosh, that was a mouthful, wasn't it?) More than anything, it was the realization that I had been on auto-drive, coasting through my days, allowing the negativity to shape me, and allowing myself to believe it. I had allowed myself to believe (for far too long) that I wasn't good enough, smart enough, motivated enough, passionate enough, or simply just, enough. It was profound in the truest sense.

Once I became aware, I chose to go down a different path. I learned three important things...

1. It ain't easy! With any habit, it's hard to break, and even harder to form new ones. Somewhere along the way, we've taught ourselves to become our own worst enemies. We've turned to the typical self-sabotage tactics - doubt, blame, guilt, criticism, and at times, full-blown hatred. There have been times in my own life where I've been crippled by those things right there. Saying "enough is enough" is a concept that is simple enough, but putting it into action is much more complex. It takes brain power, time, patience, and hell, you may even need to break out the brass knuckles from time to time. It's about progress, not perfection.

2. Affirmations are not about lying to yourself. There, I said it. If I wake up and am in a bit of a funk, the last thing I want to say to myself is, "Today, I choose to be great!" Because you know it's going to be followed up with a solid eye-roll. Choose affirmations that mesh with where you're at that day, create something personal, and most importantly, be honest with yourself.

Let's say, you wake up feeling less than perfect. The motivation isn't there, the vibe isn't flowing, and maybe you just don't feel like it. You've got a to-do list that could stretch across the room but find your mind wandering somewhere else. Instead of letting the guilt seep in, step back, and think, "I am doing the best that I can, in this moment."

Lying to yourself won't get you anywhere, and neither will ignoring your feelings. It's much more destructive in the long haul, building up until you can't handle it anymore. (Cue the mental breakdown!) Know that some days the best that you can do means you're a total rockstar, and other times, maybe you just need to take a break for a little you-time. Rest. Relax. Be gentle with yourself.

3. Buddy-up. Talk to someone who isn't afraid to call you out! There were times when I was so enthralled in my back-talk that I wasn't even aware. Having someone be there to say, "Stop! Thinking like that will get you no-where." is like getting an informative bear hug. Welcome it, embrace it, and know that you are loved.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As silly as it sounds, sometimes the creative mojo for affirmation-creation just isn't there. (Especially when you first wake up in the morning and your brain feels more like a turtle than a cheetah!) (I'm laughing at that metaphor...) For you, my sweet friend, I say use one or both of these. (I use them daily!)

Heart Thoughts by Louise Hay - The kind of book that will last you a lifetime. Complete with beautiful illustrations, this book is seperated out into categories, suited for every moment. From abundance, expression, letting go, relationships and unconditional love to anger, criticism, guilt, healing, and releasing the past. Keep it next to your bed, tucked safely in your purse, or on your desk. Simply take a moment, flip open a page, and you'll find that what you'll read is just what you needed to hear.

Spirit Junkie - Gabrielle Bernstein, author of Adding More ~Ing To Your Life and May Cause Miracles wants you to start your day off right and get the good vibes going with this affirmation alarm clock app. Each morning when your phone alarm rings, an affirmation pops up. (No thinking involved!) Simply clear your mind and meditate on the message.

If you want more information on the "how to's" of affirmations, make sure you check out the original Affirmation Challenge post, if you missed it! I hope you found this helpful and are excited to get started on your own mind-shifting, perspective-changing journey! It's just the beginning.

Did you follow along in your own affirmation challenge? How did you find it? I'd love to hear all about your thoughts and experiences! xx

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The Affirmation Challenge

What if a simple shift in your way of thinking could radically change your life? A subtle change that will invite more acceptance, appreciation, and happiness into each and every day. Sound too good to be true? It's not!

So, what am I talking about? Positive affirmations, of course! Now, now, before you roll your eyes and think I'm full of it, read on...

There's no doubt that words hold an incredible power that can both tear us down and lift us up. If we choose the latter, sparks will fly, magic will happen, à la the law of attraction. (The idea that what we give our attention to, we will attract in our lives.)

If you're anything like me, you've got shiploads of inspiring quotes saved and scattered everywhere - your inbox, Pinterest, spare post-its, the bathroom mirror. In that same way, I've recently invited positive affirmations - powerful words that help us manifest what we want in our lives - into my world.

But first things first, we've got to quit with the self sabotage. As soon as we begin to feel a hint of self-doubt and insecurity, that inner critic is all too eager to pipe in. "But I'm not good enough." "I can't do this." "I look so fat in these jeans." "What's the point? I'll never be as good as _________." We would never say that to our best friend, boyfriend, sister, brother... so why are we saying it to ourselves?

Replace that snarky voice with an affirmation. These sparkling bursts of positivity renew our passions, fuel our success, and guide us as we transform into the most brilliant versions of ourselves.

THE CHALLENGE
Embark on a journey with me! A 30-day challenge, if you will! This is something I've never done before, so we're in this together!

For the next 30 days, I'll be using affirmations to guide me in my day to day life. From the moment my alarm sounds off in the morning, I'll start my days off right by reciting it in my head before I even hop out of bed. Throughout the day, I'll keep the good vibes going, replacing those negative thoughts with positive ones. I'll become more aware of my thoughts and teach myself how to shift my perspective.

Woop woop! I'm already fired up about it! Here's some tips to get you going...

THE "HOW"
1. Use present tense. There's no "what-ifs"! If your affirmations are always in the future, that's where they will stay, rather than be invited into your life right now. Instead of "I will become success and fulfilled." say "I am successful and fulfilled." or "I am a great success! My life is incredibly fulfilling." Better yet - visualize what you want. If it's happiness, picture yourself where you're most happy, maybe it's on a gorgeous beach, white sand for miles, with the sunlight shining down on you. Or maybe it's financial freedom, imagine yourself free of debt, driving that fancy new car.

2. Be positive. This one is huuuuge! If we're talking the law of attraction (and, we are), whatever you focus on will grow. So, let's say, you're saying "I am going to get out of debt.", or how about "I am not fat." What do you think the focus will be on? You got it - debt and fat. It is better to say "Money comes to me freely and abundantly." or "I am fit and love my body."

3. Write it down! Don't just keep that gold bottled up! Write it down. Say it out loud. Make some art out of it! Post them in a place that will be highly visible to you, like a computer screen, or bed side table.

4. Repetition is key. The more you repeat these loving words, the more they'll be ingrained into your pretty self! Deal? Deal.

NEED MORE EXAMPLES?
I feel a divine sense of well being, high self esteem, and confidence.

I believe in myself and my ability to do anything

I eat healthy foods that nourish my body and soul.

I feel appreciative and grateful for everything in my life.

My positive energy creates a powerful presence and confidence.

Anything that comes up is meant to be handled, healed, learned from and released.

Does that have your heart racing yet? Good! Let's get going! Let these words encourage you to take action! Whatever it is that you want, that desire deep in your soul, do it! You want to get in shape? Build a business? Make X amount of money? Learn a new language? Pick up an instrument? Now is your time. This is your sign. You can do it! I believe in you.

Do you already use affirmations in your life? Have any tips for me? Hook me up! :)

P.S. I made that lovely little graphic up there just for you. Save it, pin it, share it! Heck - print it out, cut it up, and paste those little photos anywhere you see fit - your phone case, computer, alarm clock, or just hide them in places to find later. xo

The Affirmation Challenge Follow-up can be found here.

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5 Ways to a Happier You

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1. START YOUR DAY OFF RIGHT

What's the first thing you do when you wake up in the mornings? Check your phone? Race around your room trying to find your misplaced shirt? Rush out the door at the risk of already being late? How your day begins sets the tone for what's to follow. Make it positive! Do the things that make you feel optimistic and empowered.

How do you make that happen? Set aside extra time for yourself. If you can squeeze in an extra hour, that's incredible, but even an extra 15 minutes can make all the difference. (Trust me, I use to practically sprint out the door within what seemed like minutes after hopping out of bed!) Use this time for self-reflection, meditation, or even just to simply stare out your window and let your mind wander. I can guarantee that after doing this you'll feel more relaxed and your day will be much more enjoyable.

2. WELCOME POSITIVITY

It's so easy to let negative thoughts and feelings dull our sparkle. How many times have you criticized yourself? How often have you said something out loud and wished you could scoop it up and put it back where it came from? How many times have you let someone else break you down? Know this - you are the only person that can make you unhappy!

Learn to shift your mindset. It's tough, but you're packed full of superhero-like inner strength that can overcome anything! Tap into that.

Choose your words wisely. Turn negativity into something positive and you'll see that "I hope I don't fail, I can't do this." becomes, "I will not fail, I can do this!" Small changes will have a huge impact! Rather than throwing yourself a pity party over how unmotivated, uninspired, unhappy you are, ask yourself "What can I do to become more fulfilled?"

Guide yourself with words of affirmation. I have some of my favourite inspirational quotes posted on my mirror. Each day, I wake up, and those words are the first thing I see. By reciting them to myself, my days begin with that little kick I need to get going. Try this one for yourself: each morning, say this simple line (out loud!) "I accept myself unconditionally right now." At first, the criticisms will flood in. "But I'm not good enough." "Look at that pimple" "Look at that cellulite" "I wish I was more ________." Don't beat yourself up over it, know that this is okay, and you'll notice after a few weeks something will shift in your mind! You'll begin to shine.

3. EXPRESS GRATITUDE

There's no denying it: life is busy. It's easy to get caught up in the tasks, chores, and routines of every day. Our to-do lists are endless, and often, we're struggling to get them done.

Stop for a second and take a look around. Life is pretty wonderful, isn't it? Learn to express your gratitude for life daily. Start a gratitude journal. Grab yourself a gratitude rock. What is that, you ask? Pick out a small rock and leave it in a place where you're likely to see it. In your purse, on your dresser, beside your computer, next to your coffee maker, anywhere! Each time it catches your eye, take a second and say something that you're grateful for.

Easy, right? Just by expressing your gratitude, you'll start to notice that you're involuntarily welcoming more incredible things into your life. You can read more about that over here, if you'd like.

4. DO SOMETHING SELFLESS

When's the last time you did something for someone else? Without strings, without expectations, just because. By giving and helping others, it helps you grow and changes you in ways that you never expected. Be the person that make others feel special!

Volunteer your time to a great cause, lend a helping hand, be a shoulder to cry on, call someone just to ask how they are, pay for the person's coffee behind you in the drive-thru! A little goes a long way. Each and every time I do something for someone that makes them laugh, smile, feel loved... it's like I just gave my soul a giant bear hug. Heart-warming stuff! But not just that! Did you know that if you give someone a helping hand they feel more obliged to help someone else. Hello, ripple effect! Pay it forward, you never know how much that person really needs it.

5. JUST DO IT

Is there something you've been wanting to do forever but just... haven't? We often put our goals on hold because of our fear of not doing it perfectly. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Fear of rejection. Fear of life getting worse instead of better. I'm guilty of this too - the amount of mornings that I've delayed starting a meditation routine because "I don't know how" is getting a little obscene. Whether it's yoga, writing, starting a new project, taking a cooking class, learning a new language... dive in with both feet! Remember this fun fact: If you want to master anything in life you need at least 10,000 hours of practice. 10,000 hours! That means that all the experts out there were beginners at one time in their life. How many hours have you killed by procrastinating? (Hello, social media!) Do something else that will benefit you!

I was reading an article that spoke about the simple truth that it's our moods that hold us back from what we want. How many times have you delayed doing something because you "just didn't feel like it."? Probably more than you'd like to admit. (Me too!) Think of it this way - often times, it's when you don't feel like doing something (meditating, exercising, eating well, etc.) is when you NEED it the most! (In short, no excuses!) The key to accomplishing your goals and having those Ah-HA! moments is practice and consistency. So go on, JUST DO IT already!

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“I am compelled by some deep hunger of the soul, driven by a desire that will not leave me alone, to live life to the fullest. And I know this does not mean working endlessly, accomplishing the most, or consuming the greatest amount and variety of things and experiences. It means tasting each mouthful, feeling each breath, listening to each song, being awake and aware of each moment as it unfolds.” // Oriah Mountain Dreamer

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You Create Your Own Universe

I looked at my reflection and saw someone else staring back at me. I saw my future self. Full of happiness, joy, and gratitude. I saw someone who painted their own way, not the way that was paved for them. And then I realized something...

Have you guys heard of The Secret? Don't worry if you haven't, because I'm going to tell you all about it. And I will tell you how it can (and will) change your life.

Everything you've ever experienced in your life, you've attracted. The good, the bad, and the ugly. It's all because of a little something called The Law Of Attraction. It's something that's been known for years, a law that some of the most influential people of our time have come to know. And if you make the choice to take it and use it to your advantage, magic will happen.

What's it all about? To put it simply, our thoughts become things. If you focus primarily on the negative aspects of your life - guilt, resentment, depression, what we don't want - it will manifest into your life. If you choose to focus on what you already have to be grateful for, and accept feelings of love, joy, excitement, and gratitude - it will manifest into your life. Seems pretty easy, right? It is.

If we learn to control our thoughts, shift our emotions, live in possibility and hopefulness, it will change our lives forever. If we learn to accept those positive feelings and celebrate them, they'll be drawn to you.

Now, it may seem impossible to control your thoughts. Sometimes it can feel like your brain is on overdrive and you don't have control over anything. I mean, researchers say we have around 60,000 thoughts a day, so I bet you're wondering how the heck you're suppose to do it. The answer? Stop being so afraid of your thoughts. Everyone has good days and everyone has bad days. I don't expect you to walk around being all sunshine and roses all the time. It's unrealistic. The good thing? An affirmative thought is hundreds of times more powerful than a negative thought. And of course, our thoughts don't come true instantly. (And thank god for that. Otherwise, I would've ended up in some seriously sticky situations.)

"You create your own universe as you go along"

-Winston Churchill

Once you understand and master your thoughts, that's where your freedom is. And here's three simple steps on how to do it:

1. ASK. What is it that you want? Success? Money? Happiness? Ask for it. Say it out loud if it helps.

2. BELIEVE. You don't need to know how it will be done, just believe that it's already yours. It's easy to become doubtful - just recognize that feeling, and have faith that it will happen.

3. RECEIVE. This goes back to embracing those positive feelings. The feelings of happiness, joy, excitement, and gratitude. Feel as if you have what you want. Visualize that it's already yours.

Most people think about what they don't want and wonder why it keeps showing up. We look at what we've done or what we currently have, and think it's who we are. You are not your past. That's who you were. It's time to throw those type of thoughts out the window. And get rid of those excuses too. (We really are the master of excuses, aren't we?) Don't delay, don't second guess, just do it. 

TIP: I read an article recently about gratitude lists, which is just like what it sounds. All you do is write down what you're grateful for. It can be one thing or five things. And the results can bring so much more into your life. Since then, I've been making a conscious effort to recognize what I have to be grateful for. And I came upon an amazing (and easy) idea on how to do. It's called the gratitude rock.

A gratitude rock is just a small rock (any rock, really) that you can carry around with you. Every time you see it, you have to think of something you're grateful for. Every time you touch it in your pocket, see it in your purse, set it down on your dresser at night, pick it up again in the morning. Think of something, anything.  You will begin to notice how much happier you've become, all because you've accepted those positive feelings into your life.

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."

-Albert Einstein

Visualize and you will materialize. The power within you is greater than you know.

And besides, even if you read all this and still think I'm full of it, could it really be that bad? I think the world would be a much happier place if we all learned to flush away our cynicism, don't you?