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Week Six: Think Yourself Thin - The Power of Positive Thinking

Posted by Tawnia The Promo Girl | POST A COMMENT

The average person has up to 51,000 thoughts a day. Could these thoughts be keeping you from achieving your weight loss goals?

A woman awakens to her alarm clock and thinks, "Oh, I wish I didn't have to get up today." As she dresses, she says, "I have nothing to wear." While doing her hair she thinks, "I wish my hair looked like Jennifer Anniston's."

Another woman awakens and to herself says, "Today is going to be such a great day." As she dresses she thinks, "I am really losing weight and looking great in my clothes." While doing her hair she thinks, "I am beautiful."

How do you think the self-esteem of these two girls would compare?

What are you saying to yourself?

We reap what we sow; this rule applies to our thoughts as well. Many of us have limiting core beliefs that cause us to face failure over and over again. Could you be saying something to yourself that is holding you back, such as, "I am never going to lose weight so why even bother trying" or "being overweight runs in the family"? These negative thoughts that we have from time to time are limiting core beliefs. They limit us from achieving success because they are negative beliefs we have of ourselves. It has been said that you can create anything that you can imagine.

Psychologists and neuroscientists have established that every person in the world carries on an ongoing inner dialogue, or self-talk, of between 150 and 300 words per minute. This works out to between 45,000 and 51,000 thoughts per day. You can't go more than 11 seconds without self-talk unless you are an experienced meditator. Most self-talk is as harmless and insignificant as, "Should we go out for dinner or stay home?" However, negative mental self-talk can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Think positive

Negative beliefs can be replaced with positive beliefs through repeated affirmations. Affirmations should be in the present (I am), and positive (I do, I have, I am, I weigh). Positive affirmations create new beliefs. With repetition they form new habits and over time they develop character.

The 4 Ps of Affirmation

Personal: Your affirmations should be personal. Start your affirmations with "I". When your affirmations are specific and personal to you, you will take ownership and responsibility for them.

Positive: Keep your affirmations and self-talk positive. If you are trying to quit smoking you should say to yourself, "I am a nonsmoker," not, "I am going to quit smoking". Your affirmations should be positive and motivating to create belief.

Present: Keep your affirmations in the present tense. If you are on an exercise program and aiming to lose weight you would say, "I weigh 150 pounds," not, "I'm going to lose 25 pounds". Speak in the present tense as if you have already achieved your goal. Declaring the accomplishment as if it has already been achieved will propel you closer to your accomplishment.

Powerful: Repeating your affirmations over and over again with strong feeling, enthusiasm, belief and confidence will drive them deep into the subconscious. Repeat your affirmation aloud 5 to 20 times: When you begin, repeat your affirmations once daily and work your way up three times a day. The more you declare your desires, the quicker your brain will turn them into reality.

Sample affirmations

Below are some sample affirmations. You can modify them to fit your needs.

My self-discipline and inner confidence are becoming stronger every day.
I am influenced only by positive thoughts.
I can keep this weight off.
I eat only healthy food.
I love exercising.

When to use affirmations

Psychologists say the first significant encounter in the morning has more influence on your attitude that day than the next five people you encounter. They also say that the last thing that goes into your subconscious mind at night is what you will mull over throughout the night.

Spend the first and last moments of your day engaged in positive self-talk. Some motivational experts recommend standing in front of the mirror and chanting phrases like, "I like myself, I like myself, I like myself". Repeating affirmations in the morning during exercise is a very powerful activity. Write your affirmations on a piece of paper and read them as many times as you need to during the day. Stay positive and you will benefit from the long-term effects of your actions.