In spirituality, an affirmation is a method people use for personal development in which a statement is deliberately meditated on or repeated in order to implant it in the mind and bring about a positive change. Psychologists believe that everything is possible when your mind believes that it is possible. Many believers actually recommend reciting these affirmations along with the mental visualization of the desired result. In the case of negative thinking, negative results often come about as a result. A patient may feel more ill if he really doesn't want to get well. A headache, for example, can be felt even if, medically speaking, the patient has no symptoms that would suggest such a thing.



Affirmations can be viewed both positively and negatively but negative affirmations are always the result of conditioning from without, such as in the case of children who are trained to think less of themselves because of a poor upbringing. Positive affirmations are more often the result of an individuals work on themselves in which a conscious effort is made to produce the positive result rather than just allowing the outside world to work on you in a reactive manner. When the affirmation mobilizes our inner resources, such as our feelings and beliefs, and begins to produce a fruit which can be used to further the benefit of ourselves and others, it is said to be positively affecting us.

For an individual to exercise a positive affirmation in his or her everyday life, it is important to say it aloud and to think about it as if it were already real. Saying, ?I am making more money everyday!? is better than saying, ?I will be making more money everyday!? Positive affirmations begin with present tense "I am" rather than the future tense "I will". They are designed to increase the realization of the statement for the person who is delivering that statement.

Positive affirmations are believed to be a very powerful means to re-conditioning our unconscious mind. Those who practice basic positive affirmations often say that this is an effective means of achieving a desired outcome. It is first experienced in the mind and later results in more positive emotions being felt afterwards. Anybody can do this when repeated in a quiet and restful state of mind and body, such as in the meditative state.

According to one psychologist, the word ?Amen? could perhaps be the most well-known affirmation in the Western world. This word is translated as ?so be it? or ?and so it is? and these translations are said to affirm the truth of whatever is written or said prior to that statement. In addition, while the word ?Amen? is often used to conclude prayers, the word itself is neutral and exemplifies a logical affirmation more than a spiritual one.

Positive thinking is a great practice and one that will benefit you if you decide to use it in the future. Through positive affirmations, you will develop a pattern for positive thinking which many people say is an optimum method for turning your life around. Still, this is only something you will learn over a long period of time. Positive thinking is not something that you were born with and it is not a ?natural? thing. It requires persistence and effort to bring it about. Remember that the power they have can only be felt if you repeat them everyday and when you are thinking negatively. Try to focus on one affirmation and consider what it means in your life. You can tell yourself, ?I deserve to be happy and successful?, ?I can forgive others and understand their motives.?, ?I have the power to change myself and be great!?, or ?I deserve to love and be loved.? All of these affirmations can be repeated each day and will eventually have a profound effect on your inner being which will translate to more success and happiness in the near future.