I have dealt with depression most of my adult life and it has left some major negative thoughts replaying in my mind. I've found that I love transforming, but as I transform - I tend to get in these emotional ruts when I'm just completely frustrated with my progress even when there is no reason for it. These silly negative thoughts keep coming back even with all the positive changes happening in my life.

People have told me for years that I need to learn how to do positive affirmations everyday. But, it was hard for me because I never believed the phrases I would come up with before. I think I'm ready to do this now and I was hoping for those of you who have experience with this to offer suggestions on the best way to start and keep doing this.

My future vision has really helped me visualize my final outcome. Thanks MissC and Jilly for posting such great threads related to visualizing our final outcomes! It's truly helped me overcome a lot having a picture of who I will become as well as thinking backwards!

Now, comes the hard part of re-recording the tape playing in my head.

Positive outer change requires positive inner change. I knew this was going to be one of the hardest parts of my transformation - and it's here already! YIKES!

Any suggestions will be most appreciated.
Thanks!
Mel

Just tell yourself it is easy. You spent years convincing yourself tat what you said was true so now you just have to do the same thing again - just in the realm of positivity! I am proof that it can be done!

"Tell yourself soemthing often enough and you will believe it!!!" Just be sure that you question EVERYTHING that you tell yourself!

All I can tell you is to be kind and patient with yourself through this life changing process. It doesn't just change over night. For myself, I had years of negative voices in my head poisoning my very exsistence and it took (and still takes) constant awareness and determination to silence those voices.

I have 2 daughters, 1 son and a step daughter....one of the things that helped me change my mindset was I would think to myself "Is this something I would EVER tell them?"....things like: I am fat, I will never change, I don't deserve to be happy.....of COURSE I would never tell them those things, the very thought brings tears to my eyes....so if the answer was a resounding NO then I should NOT be saying it to myself either...I can only love those around me as much as I love myself and I desperately want to give the world to my family so to do that, I had to change my patterns of behavior and thought....not easy stuff to be sure...but very very necessary and important.

So just find that awareness and in time the repetitiveness of POSITIVE affirmation WILL replace the negative!

I wish you the very best in your transformation. If there is ever anything I can do to help you please do not hesitate to shoot me an email!

You can do this...........just BELIEVE!

Thanks for all your help guys!

Mellie - That's a great way of thinking! I'll try it!

Mel

Hi Mel ...
One thing that helped me was this. Bill has often said that the body is a servant of the mind and that what we tell ourselves... The power of our words can make a significant impact on our results. SO believe that change is possible and that you can accomplish all that you desire.

There is more to this its a big subject if you want to talk about it please let me know. Shane

Mel sounds like just by writing this, you have gained some clarity.

I can relate to the negative voices and thoughts in my head that just kept coming back. When I first arrived here I did not believe in myself so it was difficult for me to belive I was capable of making positive change. So what worked for me in the beginning was each time negative voices and thoughts would challenge me, I replaced them right away by naming off my progress that day, that week or so far. Also, keeping my food and exercise on track helped me to build my confidence and keep my mindset strong during those very difficult times.

Keep working from the inside and trust the process. You will get there

Alot of good advice here!! I have to say for me that my work outs helped because my energy level went up as well as good eating!! Then I just ignored a;ot of that junk that went through my mind and realized it is stuff others told me that was true and I bought it!! Well I stopped buying it and accepted my Godly heritage and it started changing!! It was there but I really thought about it and found it was not true!! I started to laugh at it and say there it goes again and I just did not give it life and joked with it!! There goes the monkeys talking again and I would call a board meeting and I fired a few!! See I had fun and it became a game!!

You are good and wonderful just let it be!! Be patient!!

Marty

There goes the monkeys talking again and I would call a board meeting and I fired a few!!

Marty, I love that!

When I pay attention to staying on my plan with workouts and healthy nutritious foods, the self-talk becomes more positive. Everything we do is a choice and when we choose the higher road our inner dialogue becomes positive. I've read that every choice we makes takes us further or closer to our goals. Every time we make the right choice, we build our self-worth with trust and strength. In doing this every day I become both mentally and physically healthier. One step at a time with daily progress and we ARE capable of change!

Daily affirmations make a huge difference because they start my day on the right path!
Thank you Mel for the Thread.. Lot's of good stuff here

Thanks! My workouts and eating right do indeed help curb the negative thoughts. I will stay focused on the good that I'm doing - the positive results that I'm seeing (17 lbs lost so far!!!)

Thanks for the monkey's Marty! I needed a good chuckle!

Mel

Already a ton of great stuff here. I am a newbie to visualizing, working with intentions and positive affirmations, but one thing I can tell you is... once you get rolling, it gets easier and easier. It's like the snowball effect. Hard to get started, but watch out once you start rolling!!! Just gotta keep with it!

I can't believe how genuinely positive I feel on a day-tp-day basis, not just on the outside, but on the inside, as well! It definitely works, so keep at it! The best thing we can learn, I think!!

You are doing great, btw!!!

So much great information and suggestions from everyone. On the days I seem to be down on myself, I just remind myself that I am worthy of this transformation, and every day and every minute that I stay on tract that I am that much closer to make my goals a reality. This is such a great community to come to when you need a pick me up. We are all fortunate to have one another because each and everyone of us has something to offer to someone, a kind word , a prayer, a helpful hint, etc. Never give up on yourself, you are beautiful and worth each second you spend on your transformation. Have a blessed day and week. Michelle

Mel,
I can totally relate to what you are feeling and thinking. The mind can deceive us in many ways but through some positive exercises you can change the way your mind works.

I was in the same situation that is sounds like you are in. I would wake up every day and find mind telling me to roll over and go back to sleep. As I walked through the kitchen it would tell me I needed to eat again. As I drove past McDonalds it told me I needed a BigMac. It was horrible.
What has worked for me was to get a journal together. I purchased the Bill Phillips Success Journal. What is great about a journal is that you write all the positive things that are going to happen with your transformation and at times that you are down, pick it up and read it. Mine sits next to my bed on the night stand and each morning I read it. It gets me up and moving.

The positive reinforcement I get from my journal really makes a difference.

Nice One Terrie!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fit_mommy Just tell yourself it is easy. You spent years convincing yourself tat what you said was true so now you just have to do the same thing again - just in the realm of positivity! I am proof that it can be done! "Tell yourself soemthing often enough and you will believe it!!!" Just be sure that you question EVERYTHING that you tell yourself!

LOVE IT!!

The Staples catchphrase: "THAT was easy!!"

(((HUGS)))

I think we can all relate to you! the fact that you posted this is just proof your already changing...AWARENESS is powerful...don't tell your God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is!!! I read a daily devotional every morning to get the strength and power to be all God wants me to be...if you ask he will give, everytime, yes, everytime!!! May God bless you alot (I pray to be blessed alot, I have a book on it if your interested), Renee'

This is a great thread....

For me, I think just consistently creating new pathways in the brain is so important, just keep doing it and it will get easier with time and actually tell yourself it is easy...

It is easy to change my thoughts to positive (actually this is true it takes more work to be negative)

It is easy to grow and change and be the best I can be

I also like to speak in the present tense

I AM happy
well
fit
kind
loving
Being the Change

You get the drift..... I AM

Chris Winters (cwinters) has some awesome videos, the Tuesday Videos....

The last one was great and talked about the pathways in the brain and how to reprogram our brains and that is pretty much what we have to do....

wash the brain!

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoToGirl64 I think we can all relate to you! the fact that you posted this is just proof your already changing...AWARENESS is powerful...don't tell your God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is!!! I read a daily devotional every morning to get the strength and power to be all God wants me to be...if you ask he will give, everytime, yes, everytime!!! May God bless you alot (I pray to be blessed alot, I have a book on it if your interested), Renee'

I LOVE this!
and.. so true about AWARENESS... it is KEY for sure..
Thank you Renee
~Kathleen

Obviously Louise Hay is one of the greatest authorities on Positive Affirmations and a quick google or YouTube search will yield plenty of examples for you Mel

As Thia says above; be sure to put yours in the present tense (or "I am ...")

Such as ...

"I am healing in every moment, as I breathe in and out"

"Every cell in my body is vibrating with energy and health"

"I am healthy, healed and whole"

"I naturally make choices that are good for me, I take loving care of my body and my body responds with health, an abundance of energy and a wonderful feeling of well-being"

"I deserve to be happy"

One of her better known ones is ...

Deep at the centre of my being there is an infinite well of love.

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.

It fills my heart, my body, my mind, my consciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied.

The more love I use and give, the more I have to give, the supply is endless.

The use of love makes me feel good; it is an expression of my inner joy.

Yes, I love myself, therefore I take loving care of my body.

I lovingly feed it nourishing food and beverages.

I lovingly groom it and dress it and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy ...

I love myself, therefore, I behave in a loving way to all people for I know that that which I give out returns to me multiplied.

I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am.

I love myself, therefore I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences and I am free.

I love myself, therefore I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright, and joyous and secure, for I am a beloved child of the universe and the universe lovingly takes care of me now and forever more.

And so it is.

(Louise L. Hay )