🎧How do affirmations work
Do affirmations work? Can affirmations help and for how long? Free post
Hi Everyone,
A little catch up here, I have a special offer for the month of July, if you enjoyed June’s freebies, I have more to come. In fact, we are going to explore the following topics so that when January Hits (yes it’s coming) you will be cleared, purged, affirmed and ready to leap into action. We will be covering;
Affirmations
Gratitude
Believing in Yourself
Developing Powerful Intuition
Declutter Your Spirit and Consciousness
Reflection, reinvention and confidence
So, if you would like to really work on you for the rest of the year, I am offering 50% off for the rest of the year.
Introduction to affirmations
When I was living in Toronto, I loved to frequent flea markets. Today, or at least in the US they are called swap meets—or at least that is the closest thing I have come across. I was at the Kensington Market in Downtown Toronto—if you have never been oh, it is such a treat. Its an eclectic high vibe open-air marketplace with a mix of unique wares, fine goods and services, wonderful tasty treats complimenting the colorful shop fronts and murals. It is such a multicultural experience where you can travel the world in a couple of hours.
I looked over at a friendly smiling woman and beneath her was a bright yellow book with a big rainbow heart on it. I was immediately drawn to the book. The cover, slightly worn, some pages dogged ear, and yet, I kept flipping through the pages, smelling the print and feeling —something, I am not sure what. And for some reason, I do not know why, I bought it. The book, author Louise Hay, You can Heal Your Life.
I had never experienced anything like this in the pages of the book and honestly, I thought it was hokey. How could a bunch of words somehow transform my life? After reading half way through, I threw the book into the depths of a corner to succumb to the dust bunnies.
Many months later, I was cleaning up my room and I came across the book once again. Retrieving it from the grips of the dust bunnies, wiped off the cobwebs and once again, oddly compelled to read the book. Was I ready this time?
Although I did not believe in what it had to say, I was struck by the idea of being so positive about (in my opinion) negative situations, something I hadn't witnessed in my circle of family and friends. It was intriguing indeed. I thought, why not just give it a try or at the very least chalk this hokey stuff to just plain stupid shit.
I took the affirmation on “healing the past”, photocopied it, put it in a nice frame and placed it on the shelf next to the sink in my bathroom. Back then, still suffering from the perils of Crohn’s disease I used that room more than my living room! My intention was to read the poem every time I was washing my hands, getting ready for work and so on.
It was about three months later, on a crisp spring morning. I parked my car along a side street and embarked on the ten-minute walk to the Integrative Healing Center where I worked in the Bloor West Village. It was a journey I had made countless times before, usually with hands buried deep in my pockets and a constant grumble about the cold. But on this occasion, something felt different.
Suddenly, I became acutely aware of my surroundings. The symphony of birdsong filled the air, each chirp adding to the vibrant melody of the morning. I felt unusually light and buoyant, a stark contrast to the perpetual cloud of gloom that had overshadowed my life. As I walked, I found myself greeting passersby with a genuine 'good morning'—a gesture or words I never made before. Who is this person? Where was this newfound positivity coming from? I pictured the framed affirmation in minds eye. Could it be attributed to the simple act of reciting the affirmation? After all, nothing else had changed in my life. How could a simple hokey affirmation have such a profound shift? The realization left me intrigued and hungry for more.
That evening, the book I had resisted was comfortably in my hands while I read the entire pages in one night, only this time, for some unknown reason, I was ready for the message. This was the book that lead me to pivot in mind, body and spirit. This was the book that started my adventure to shifting my perceptions, thoughts, aspirations dreams and more importantly, healing myself from Crohn’s disease.
The concept of affirmations has long been heralded as a powerful tool for shaping our reality. But what if there's more to affirmations than mere positive thinking? What if, at the core, affirmations resonate with the very principles of quantum physics, suggesting that our thoughts have the potential to influence reality at a fundamental level?
I find this an intriguing intersection between psychology and physics opening up worlds of possibilities, inviting us to explore how our inner dialogue can shape our outer world. This I have come to understand as Quantum Principles. And, after working with clients and patients in different countries, I have seen a pattern of healing;
Physical
Spiritual
Emotional
Clarity
Love and Joy
Recently, as I sought to expand my practice and embrace the other side —after emerging from a dark five-year funk, I realized the need to shift from focusing solely on a 'healthy gut' to embracing the concept of the 'quantum gut.' It dawned on me that our well-being extends beyond mere physical health; it encompasses our mental and emotional states as well. I just was not ready to add this piece even though it was the missing piece to my healing and reversing the ravages of Crohn’s disease. And, maybe I was just not ready to put myself out there into “Hokey Land”. But it seems with existential increase in mental health imbalances and realizing the 1-6 medications are doing nothing to solve the problem, I think we are ready for Hokey! I think we are realizing that we must address our internal turmoil in order to find the nirvana we seek. And, on that note, we all have internal turmoil, you are not the only one. We just do not talk enough about it and the time to do that is now.
There's been a noticeable shift in societal focus from prioritizing physical health to recognizing the importance of mental well-being. Yet, amidst our busy lives filled with lattes, scones, and drive-thru meals, we often overlook this essential aspect of holistic health. However, we cannot separate the physical from the mental and emotional—it's all intertwined in a complex web of quantum entanglement.
In essence, achieving mental and emotional wellness requires more than just addressing our physical needs; it involves nurturing our nutrition, environment, and lifestyle choices. They are all interconnected facets of our well-being, and neglecting one inevitably impacts the others. To truly thrive, we must recognize and honor this interconnectedness, striving for balance in every aspect of our lives."
Understanding Quantum Principles
To understand how affirmations might relate to quantum physics, let's start with the basics of how the quantum world works. Quantum physics is a branch of science that deals with really small things, like atoms and particles. At this tiny scale, particles can act like both particles and waves, which is pretty cool when you think about it. They are also in a sort of undecided state until someone looks at them. This idea is called superposition. And when someone does look at them, it can actually change how they behave. This is known as the observer effect. It suggests that our consciousness, or our awareness, might have a bigger impact on the physical world than we might think.
This is why I am fascinated with quantum principles because studies are showing that not only can our emotions and thoughts affect us internally, it can also affect those around us without knowledge.
Several studies have touched on similar themes, showing emotions can also have cross-cultural physiological impacts. One notable study from Aalto University in Finland mapped body areas linked to specific emotions. This research found that emotional experiences trigger consistent bodily sensations regardless of cultural background. For instance, emotions such as happiness and love tend to create warm sensations, while fear and anger are felt differently throughout the body.
A related study emphasized the importance of cultural context in understanding the links between emotions and health. Researchers found in Western cultures, experiencing positive emotions often correlates with better health outcomes, such as healthier lipid profiles. However, this link was not as strong in East Asian cultures, where positive emotions might be perceived differently and less emphasized in socialization.
A Finland Turku PET Center study involving music-induced emotions demonstrated certain emotions and their physiological responses are universal. This research revealed music could evoke similar emotional and bodily sensations across various cultures, reinforcing the idea that some emotional experiences are globally consistent
These findings suggest that while the specific ways emotions are valued and expressed can vary, the physiological responses they trigger are often universal; we are all intertwined.
Why affirmations work
After I experienced how even the tiniest shift in my thinking opened up new possibilities, I craved more. That's the beauty of undergoing a small shift—whether it's through changes in nutrition, lifestyle, environment or opening up to stored emotions. But to truly grasp its impact, you have to experience it firsthand, even if it's just a teeny-tiny glimpse.
At the heart of affirmations lies the power of intention. When we repeat positive affirmations, we are essentially setting clear intentions for what we want to manifest in our lives.
At the time, I had no concept of what an intention was. Coming from a difficult upbringing, I simply longed to escape the pain of my past. I believed that if I could somehow detach myself from my 'story' or forget about it entirely, I could finally break free and just be myself. My intentions lacked any profundity because I had no understanding of its potential power. All I knew was that my childhood haunted me, and I desperately wanted to erase it from my mind. It wasn't until later that I realized I had the ability to just let go of the past and move forward which opened me up to so many opportunities. Opportunities I believe were just waiting for me to open my eyes.
In the quantum realm, intention plays a pivotal role in collapsing the wave function and determining the outcome of an observation. Just as a focused intention can influence the behavior of subatomic particles, our thoughts and beliefs may shape the events and circumstances we encounter in our daily lives.
Science has shown that thinking about self-preferences activates neural reward pathways, studies have shown self-affirmation can activate the same brain reward circuitry. In fact, a 2016 study showed the first functional MRI studies to identify these neural processes during self-affirmation. There are other intriguing studies and research findings that hint at this profound relationship.
Research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) explores how thoughts and emotions can impact the immune system and overall health, offering further evidence of the mind-body connection.
Healing, is not just for us individually, sure, it may start there. But, once you embark on the healing journey, there is a molecular shift to attract what you need in order to continue the adventure. This is where the quantum affect truly comes into play.
At the core of our being, our cells are in constant communication, creating a symphony of signals that ripple throughout our bodies. But their reach doesn't stop there. Our cells also interact with the external world, from the food we consume to the stimuli we perceive through our senses, and even the natural environment that surrounds us. This intricate network of communication forms the foundation of our existence, shaping our physical health, emotional well-being, and spiritual connection.
When we engage in the process of healing, whether it's through practices like meditation, therapy, or self-reflection, we initiate a cascade of changes at the cellular level. As our cells begin to realign and harmonize, they emit vibrational frequencies that resonate with similar frequencies in the universe. This resonance acts like a magnet, drawing towards us people, opportunities, and experiences that support our continued growth and evolution.
This phenomenon, known as the quantum effect, is a testament to the interconnectedness of all things. Just as the flutter of a butterfly's wings can cause a ripple effect across the globe, so too can the transformational journey of one individual influence the collective consciousness of humanity. By focusing on our own healing, we not only uplift ourselves but also contribute to the healing of the world around us. It’s a wonderful domino effect.
In essence, healing is not a solitary adventure but a collaborative dance between ourselves and the universe. As we heal, we become beacons of light, illuminating the path for others to follow. This is why I continue to write these pages in the hopes someone else (maybe you,) is ready to heal.
In this shared journey of healing and growth, we discover the profound truth that we are all interconnected, bound together by the invisible threads of love, compassion, and healing energy.
Contrary to everything I read, experts suggests that you have to believe in order to receive, I don't buy into the notion at all. I am living proof! Throughout my healing journey, I didn't believe in any of it—not even a little. Even today, I still consider myself an open-minded skeptic. And you know what? Maybe that's all that's necessary. I don't just blindly believe, and I most certainly will never “drink the Kool-aide.” I’ll try something out and then decide, or in this case, experience the tiniest shift, and think, OK, maybe, there is something here. But, do’t fill the glass with ice because I am still not ready to drink! After that, maybe, I'll believe a little, and perhaps continue with this new experience and, or, keep going regardless, searching for more proof.
I am sharing this because maybe you are of the same belief. Perhaps you don't believe in the power of affirmations—and that's okay. I'm not asking you to believe; I'm just asking you to give it a try. And, bring your entire skepticism with you in fact, I welcome it!
Next week, I'll share some affirmations you can experiment with. Maybe you could imagine yourself reading Louise Hay's book. Or perhaps you might find yourself simply browsing through her affirmations until you find one that resonates with you. Then, make a habit of repeating it every day, even if it's just once, and see what happens. Actually, don’t see what happens. Just maybe, read your chosen affirmation and go about your day. Give it time. Maybe, like me, you’ll have a similar experience where all of the sudden you notice the slightest, subtle shift in your thoughts, outlook, or awareness. Who knows, perhaps, this could be the beginning of your own transformational adventure.
Affirmations bring together ideas from both psychology and physics, showing that our thoughts can actually change how things happen around us, even though we're still figuring out exactly how. That is the quantum effect. We can discover more ways to feel confident, creative, and transform our lives. It's like we're opening a secret door to new possibilities. And as we keep learning about how the quantum world works, let's not forget we have the ability to make our dreams come true by believing in ourselves and what we want to achieve.
But, maybe we just need to start with being an open-minded skeptic and try a new science to disprove it and then reap the benefits of “who-knew.”
Next week, I will cover some simple affirmations you can use to start your journey to healing.
Thank you for reading. If you are ready to explore the somatic side of trapped emotions or what is holding you back, I am an email, phone call or message away (623 203.5223)
Loved this article and feeling a mystical connection? That’s your spirit guiding you to leave a tip. 🥰
P.s. the Louise Hay link is to Amazon - I used a shortened “affiliate link” But Believe me I am not making a penny off of it! I promise. I just wanted to make it easier for you to find the book if you are interested!
And, if you like what you are reading and want more of this type of an adventure, Upgrade and save 50% for the rest of the year. I would love to share what I have with you.
Have a fulfilled week,
~Karen
I love affirmations. They are a huge part of my morning routine. 😍