{"id":623,"date":"2017-03-20T11:57:37","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T11:57:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thebeingpractice.com\/?p=623"},"modified":"2020-03-30T13:20:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T12:20:38","slug":"international-day-of-happiness-create-the-life-you-want-using-positive-affirmations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.karendeeming.com\/index.php\/2017\/03\/20\/international-day-of-happiness-create-the-life-you-want-using-positive-affirmations\/","title":{"rendered":"International Day of Happiness – create the life you want using positive affirmations"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/p>\n

According to many positive psychology theories \u201cachieving happiness” often entails changing behaviors and in order to do that, you have to change your thinking and \u201crewire\u201d your brain. Brain scientists such as Antonio Damasio and Joseph LeDoux and psychotherapist Stephen Hayes have discovered, through the use of MRIs, that habitual behavior is created by thinking patterns that create neural pathways and memories, which become the default basis for your behavior when you\u2019re faced with a choice or decision. Trying to change that default thinking by \u201cnot trying to do it,\u201d in effect just strengthens it. Change requires creating new neural pathways from new thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n

So how can you develop new thinking? Let’s imagine that you want to loose some weight:<\/p>\n

Instead of focusing on deprivation and starving yourself, ie scarcity, begin your weight loss goal by firstly approaching it sense of curiosity and with a positive mindset of abundance.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how:<\/strong><\/p>\n

(1) firstly, adopt a positive affirmation statement in the present tense such as \u201cI\u2019m happy and grateful that I have lost 5lbs this week\u201d repeat this at least 40 times each morning and then just before you go to sleep for at least a two week period<\/p>\n

(2) then, find a photo of yourself when you were slim or a photo of someone else in a magazine who is slim and look at this following each affirmation<\/p>\n

(3) Be mindful. Become physically, emotionally and mentally aware of your inner state as each external event happens, moment by moment, rather than living in the past or future<\/p>\n

(4) Last but not least, reflect on this statement: you never fail if you never give up<\/p>\n

In other words, it\u2019s about moderation not deprivation and adopting a small steps approach such as:
\nsetting a specific realistic goal such as aiming to loose 5lbs by the end of March not something vague like to loose weight.<\/p>\n

Sounds simple and perhaps mumbo jumbo doesn\u2019t it? However, I have used this technique with several clients and friends to help them tackle issues such as:<\/p>\n