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Positive self-affirmations revolve around a fundamental principle. It posits that maintaining a positive self-view can translate into tremendous physical manifestation. But with a primarily mystical process, is there a scientific basis for people to believe in such? (Critcher and Dunning 2015)
Self-competence trumps difficulties.
As long as people trust themselves, anything is possible. Problems become mere obstacles which are easily overcome. However, this value can be tricky to achieve due to its distinctive nature. Not to mention, the self is often one’s biggest enemy.
Self-competence depends on and is measured by how people perceive their skills and abilities. The higher their trust and acceptance of themselves are, the higher their self-competence becomes. When people know and find assurance in their strengths and weaknesses, they begin to view themselves positively. They set realistic expectations for them to achieve and trust themselves to achieve such. With self-competence, people never waver despite mistakes and failures. Instead of taking these too personally and beating themselves up over them, people perceive them as stepping stones for future improvement.
Self-confidence is everything.
It helps people cope and bounce back whenever they crumble against the lemons life throws. With this amount of trust, people can better nurture their growth, not dwelling on failure.
How Can One Cultivate This Competence?
Someone praising themselves for being amazing seems bizarre and often narcissistic. But over time and with better means, one may believe such and live to their potential. Seeing is believing. But when it comes to psychology, saying can turn into believing.
This is the primary concept for positive self-affirmations or affirmative cognitive behavior therapy. In its basic definition, self-affirmation is a means of validating oneself. Regardless of the threats and problems people face, positive self-affirmations work when people believe and tell themselves to believe in their capabilities and skills.
How does this work?
According to research, the body has a psychological protection system. This is a combination of defensive mental strategies that work to protect the individual’s self-esteem. Self-affirmation is a contributor to this protection system. A perfect example of this manifests whenever people rationalize their mistakes. When people associate positive outcomes with their hard work but blame external factors for adverse consequences, they’re unconsciously protecting their self-worth.
While there may be some critical perspectives toward these defensive mechanisms, it’s a crucial process so people can maintain their well-being. The more they safeguard their worth, the fewer the chances of them questioning their capabilities.
“I’ve failed to achieve this not because I’m incapable but because of other factors.”
“This failure isn’t my fault. I have done my best. I am enough.”
What Exactly Are Positive Self-Affirmations?
These affirmations are simple statements to change or influence one’s perception of themselves. In simple words, they challenge an individual’s existing self-concept. They encourage people to think the opposite of what they or society might have made them believe about themselves, creating self-change.
Positive self-affirmations can act as inspiration or a simple reminder that one is worthy amid creeping doubt. They can also be statements geared toward one’s daily goals.
“I am confident in myself.”
Affirmations are designed to nurture within people an optimistic mindset to protect their sense of self. These statements are inherently crucial in the reduction of people’s negative thoughts. The chief basis of this theory’s effectiveness is the belief that the constant repetition of affirmations can shift people’s mindsets, leading to positive behavioral outcomes.
This is why positive self-affirmations occupy a powerful place within Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). As this therapy focuses on the connections between people’s thoughts and actions, self-affirmation effectively bridges these elements.
With self-affirmation, thoughts have the most influence over people’s behavior. What they think influences how they feel and how they do in behavior.
The Science Behind Daily Positive Self-Affirmations
Positive self-affirmations intervene in people’s doubt, restoring their self-competence (Critcher and Dunning 2015). Although merely statements, these allow individuals to recognize and acknowledge their self-worth and core values when self-doubt rises (Steele, 1988). Again, self-confidence and realizing that the self is enough to triumph over adversities can help actualize their potential.
Ultimately, the fear that they won’t amount to anything stops people from stepping into their potential. Before they even take a leap and try anything, their doubt blinds them from seeing what they’re capable of. Positive self-affirmations challenge these negative and typically unhelpful thoughts (Koole et al., 1999; Wiesenfeld et al., 2001; Logel & Cohen, 2012).
Believing that the simplicity of repeating words can do wonders for the human mind can be challenging. But this concept of positive self-affirmations is based on psychological theory. Like meditation improves one’s well-being, repeating affirmations’ effectively is based on close associations with the mind. It’s maximizing the mind-over-body principle. It’s the belief that when people feel good and think they’re good, then life will follow.
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