How to Do Affirmations: Transform Your Thoughts and Life

How to do affirmations correctly, or in a way that they actually work, can be tricky. But when done right, positive affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you shift your energy toward the life you want. You can discover where your energy is on a certain topic through engaging with affirmations. They can also clarify your destination.

In order to get the most out of affirmations, there are a few rules to follow. If you’re ready to find out how to do affirmations and make positive changes in your life, this post is for you.

How to Do Affirmations

What Are Affirmations?

Affirmations are positive statements about a topic that you want to create in your life.

Everything is energy. Words, sounds, and sentences contain specific energies, or frequencies. You’re aligning to a specific set of frequencies by reading this post, for example.

The idea behind affirmations is that, by repeating these positive statements about something you want, you can align your own energy to desired life experiences.

It is not expected to make drastic changes overnight. But with focus and patience, it is an incredibly accessible tool at your disposal.

Do Affirmations Work?

Some spiritual teachers dismiss affirmations as a waste of time and energy. They assert that, if the vibration of these words is far from your true feelings, simply making the sounds in repetition is not going to change anything. There is truth in this statement.

BUT, if your focus on these words keeps you from ruminating on the bad things, then the affirmations can stop your energy from going lower. It is a mindset hygiene tool that can prevent your thoughts from edging closer to your worst fears. And that is powerful.

Other teachers are all about the power of your WORD. Have you ever heard of Florence Scovel Shinn? She is the author of The Game of Life and How to Play It and Your Word Is Your Wand.

According to Shinn, our words have a special power to direct our intention and energy. Another notable teacher is Louise Hay, the founder of Hay House. Her self-love affirmations have helped so many people.

“Be careful what you say, it just might come true.” Right?

I agree with a lot of Shinn’s teachings. Not only that, the more I practice energy work, the more I see evidence of the power of your subtlest thoughts.

It also works like a loop. The more you do it and believe in it, the more you see it manifest in your life.

These days, I have so many tools to work with energy. But affirmations are still a force in my creative process. Especially when I want an easy way to align myself to specific, higher frequencies. I can also tell you instances where using affirmations brought me surprising manifestations to help me see that something connected.

The Case of the Free Smoked Salmon

Here is an example. In my late twenties, I lived at a fun group house in Washington, DC. There was a period when I was doing lots of affirmations for self-love and abundance. I’d be repeating affirmations when I was on the train or walking. And I did a lot of both.

One day, I’d been repeating, “Money comes to me easily. My income is constantly growing. Good things come to me easily.” You get the idea.

I had walked to a grocery store, saying these affirmations under my breath. I picked up a big package of smoked salmon for a brunch I was planning. Smoked salmon is expensive. I believe the product was at least $25 (at that time). I would not have even looked at it if it weren’t for a party.

When I reached the register, the cashier could not find a price tag on it. Rather than finding out the price, she decided to give it to me for free!

I don’t know if that was a store policy or if she just felt generous. But it sure felt like my affirmations were working! I giggled all the way home.

I know this is a small example. But it is a good one in its simplicity.

One could say that it might have been just a coincidence. And that person would be right.

I’d say that it was the power of my intention that pulled it. And I’d be right, too.

The more you do it and see the evidence of it working for you, the more you’d be inclined to do it and see even more success.

Don’t ever underestimate the power of your thoughts, intentions, and WORDS, my friends. Maybe, one day, you’re doing your own affirmations and just happen to be in a moment of non-resistance. BAM! The energies will align, and magic will show up. It’s just how it is.

11 Tips to Supercharge Your Affirmations

So how do you do affirmations in a way that actually sticks? Without further ado, here are my tips for using affirmations to your best advantage.

1. All statements are in the present tense.

You’re trying to trick your mind into believing that what you want is already here. Hence, all affirmation statements are claimed in the now, in the present.

2. Do them when you’re feeling good or just before bed.

The best time to practice affirmations is when you’re most receptive to them. Like I mentioned, it helps if you start at a more neutral or higher place. When you’re angry, frustrated, or disappointed, it’s nearly impossible for positive statements to impress upon your mind.

So affirm your new state of being when you’re feeling either neutral or content. It’s just a better use of your time and energy.

Another huge trick is to listen to affirmations just before bed, as you are winding down and have relaxed your mind and body. This is because your brainwaves change in order to get ready for sleep. And in that state of openness, in Theta, your subconscious mind is more ready to imprint on these new states described in the affirmations.

[For more on brainwaves, see How Does Meditation Work? A Simple Guide for Curious Moms.]

3. Pick affirmations that “click.”

As you read through the statements, you will find some that make you feel especially good or a particular pull inside. Those are good affirmations to work with. This is one of the most important tips on the list. If it clicks, then it’s worth doing and will be more effective, too.

4. Pick statements that you hate.

Or those against which you feel the most resistance. These are signs of the negative belief you hold. Then think of a softer statement from that idea.

For example, maybe you find yourself hating the statement, “I love myself.” You can change it to “I am learning to love myself” or “I am open to loving myself.” (Notice they’re still in the present tense!)

See if you click with any of these softer statements. The strong resistance indicates where you need the most work. The edited, softer statements can serve as the bridge.

5. Commit to at least 10 minutes a day.

Just spewing out affirmations once or twice a day is not going to cut it! The more energy you give it, the better it will stick. Consider that you’re training your subconscious mind through these statements.

I don’t know about you, but it takes me a few minutes just to focus and align my energy to something specific. Make sure you commit at least 10 minutes a day. (Yes, mama, even if those 10 minutes happen in the carpool line.)

6. Use your senses to really feel their vibration.

What would it feel like to be totally healthy? Would you feel freedom and joy? Relief? Would you have a smile on your face? Would you feel grateful? What would you look like in this new state?

Take a moment to figure out what your desired state means to you. Then, when you do the affirmation, feel the positive feelings of already having it. Your emotion is a profoundly powerful force of attraction that will help create the positive things you want.

7. Pick a few affirmations to work with for a period of time.

The idea is to prioritize and focus. Then repeat and feel them as much as you can, consistently, for a period of time. See what shifts for you.

8. Be open to change.

After you work on an affirmation for a while, you might feel like it no longer clicks, or you just simply get bored. Then, it’s time to change it up. It may mean that you’ve already gotten to where you can go with that statement at this time. Look for a stronger statement or a different one to work with.

9. Record the affirmations in your own voice and listen to them.

Listening to yourself telling you something can be powerful. The idea is that it catches your subconscious because you recognize your own voice.

It’s also so easy to listen to your own recording on repeat as you go to sleep or when you’re doing a mindless task. Also try recording in the “You are” perspective. It hits you a little differently when you hear it. See what works better for you!

10. Write them down.

If you love putting pen to paper, as I do, write them down. The act of writing a statement gives it more power. This should be an easy task if you’ve picked a few affirmations to focus on at a time. As you write, sound it out and feel the feelings of your affirmation.

11. Pair them with energy work.

Did you know Reiki has affirmations built right in? The Reiki Principles (Just for today, I will not worry. Just for today, I will not be angry…) were meant to be repeated morning and evening. Sounds a lot like affirmations to me!

In Pranic Healing, we learn that repeated thoughts become thoughtforms, and they grow stronger every time you feed them. So every time you repeat an affirmation, you’re feeding the thoughtform you want.

Try placing your hands over your heart, taking a few slow breaths, and then saying your affirmations. Feel them land.

Affirmations for Tired Mamas

Not sure where to start? Here are a few positive affirmations to try. Read them slowly, and notice which ones click.

• For rest: I am allowed to rest.
• For mom guilt: I am a good mother, even on the hard days.
• For energy: My energy is restored every time I breathe deeply.
• For overwhelm: I release what I cannot control.
• For worried mamas: My child is surrounded by love and healing light.
• For you, always: I am more than enough.

Want to pair your affirmations with a guided practice? Try Fall Asleep Feeling Loved & Worthy: Affirmations for Moms with Reiki & Binaural Beats (2 Hours) on my YouTube channel, or find my guided meditations on Insight Timer. They’re a lovely way to relax into that open, receptive state before you affirm.

Final Thoughts

Learning how to do affirmations isn’t about finding the perfect words. It’s about choosing where your energy goes, one statement at a time.

So start small, mama. Pick two or three affirmations that click. Say them while the coffee brews, write them in your journal, or play your own recording as you drift off to sleep. Then notice what shifts.

You might not walk out with free smoked salmon. (Then again, you might!) But you will be planting new seeds in your subconscious mind. And seeds grow.

Your words are powerful, my friends. Use them on your own behalf.

This post was all about how to do affirmations so they actually work for you. ✨