Like many, I'm a student of what some might call "New Age" thought. I've read hundreds of books, attended seminars and workshops, all in the name of more information, more techniques, more awareness. I believe, wholeheartedly, that we are powerful beyond comprehension. I believe that our minds/thoughts DO create our world. I also believe that, regardless of religious conviction, political view, or environmental circumstance, we are far more than mere 'human beings'. But these are MY beliefs.
What I hear from people I coach, more than anything else, is that it's all a bunch of nonsense. It doesn't work. It's PollyAnna naivete. And, no matter how much it works for me (or anyone else), it absolutely does NOT work for them, the naysayers. I hear this all the time.
Typically, in such a situation, my first reaction is to stop, breath, calm myself, and wait. I listen, not to their words, but to their feelings. The force that's driving them to say what they're saying and feel what they're feeling. Why do they resist so much? What has caused them to get to this place of utter despair? How can I help them to open another door, to see a new perspective?
More often than not, it is in the silence, that short pause while I 'listen' to the voice of intuition, that the words I need come clearly. There's always a bit of discomfort (on the naysayer's part) during this pause, as if they sense something ominous in the air. I don't wish to make them uncomfortable, I merely wish to hear what needs to be heard. I want to help. I want to ease their fears. I want, more than anything, to show them that they DO have power over their lives.
The one thing that has been most effective in my work is the simple, yet profound offering to these non-believers. It goes something like this:
"For just a few moments, let's try a little exercise. First, I'd like you to close your eyes and see in your mind's eye what your world looks like RIGHT NOW. Just close your eyes and tell me what you see."
I'll wait while they do this, all the while asking them to share with me what they're seeing. What does that look like? Where are you? How does this thing you see make you feel?
I can literally watch as their breathing becomes fast and shallow. Sometimes, sweat will appear on the brow or their hands will begin fluttering. They get fidgety in their seat, as they relay what they're seeing in their mind's eye. As soon as they're finished, when their own pause comes, I ask them to open their eyes and tell me:
"Right now, at this very moment, how do you FEEL?"
It's no surprise that most of them will say "terrible" (or the like). And their discomfort fills the room, as they emote the fear that fills their body, their mind, their spirit. Not a pretty sight, to be sure!
Next, I'll ask them to just sit for a moment, as we breathe...deep, long breaths, together. I wait until I can feel them calm down a bit, and then I ask:
"Now, I want you to envision your perfect day. What does it look like? What time do you get out of bed? What's the very first thing you do? Where do you sit with your morning coffee (or tea)? Do you eat breakfast? What do you eat? Tell me what clothes you put on. Are you leaving your house or staying home? Tell me about this perfect day."
Not surprisingly, this takes them a bit longer. They have a really hard time seeing what that looks like, mostly, I think, because they've simply never done it before. They've never taken the time to envision what a "perfect day" might consist of. Sad. But oh-so-true.
No matter how long it takes, I wait. I nudge them along when I feel their mind wandering to the less-than-perfect place. I guide them back to the question, gently encouraging them to just go with the flow. And as they do, the calmness becomes palpable. We can BOTH feel the shift.
Once they're finished with this portion of the exercise, I ask again, "How do you feel?" And, of course, the responses are always something like, "WOW! I feel terrific! WOW!" (smile)
Next step is the easiest (for both of us). While they are in this ether of happiness, I ask which feeling they'd rather repeat, the feeling from the first visualization or the second. You can guess the answer on that one.
Once we've established that they CAN, in fact, visualize something good, I will offer up the cream on the cake:
"Now, you've just proven to yourself that you CAN visualize. You've also experienced what those visualizations can do to your physical and emotional states. You have seen, literally, how powerful your mind is. So, if you were to do this little exercise, every single day, sitting quietly for just a few minutes to SEE your perfect day, do you suppose it would have any affect on your well-being? Do you suppose that, if after you've finished this visualization, if you spoke the words aloud, 'This is my life. I can live it however I wish. I have the power to create my world', do you think these words would have an impact on the rest of your day?"
The smiles that creep onto their faces are my reward. No matter how resistant they may have been at onset, the resistance is GONE. Because they experienced the FEELING of their visualizations, they suddenly become acutely aware of just how powerful their minds are. And, for the most part, the next time we meet, they are completely different people. The light has gone on...and they GET IT.
So, in essence, the answer to the question, "Do affirmations really work?", is YES. They work. But ONLY if they are FELT. You can walk around chanting your affirmation all day long, til you're blue in the face. But if you're not GOING THERE, if you're not seeing and feeling what that looks like, the results will be far less (if at all) effective. You must FEEL what you're saying. You must find a way, however silly it may seem, to PUT YOURSELF THERE. You must see it, and smell it, and touch it. It may sound like PollyAnna 'phoofiness', but the proof is in the pudding. Besides, what have you got to lose?
For my dollar, I'd much rather live in that hopeful, blissful place where my perfect day is within my reach, than spend even a moment in the hell I know I can create by ignoring my visions.
Camille Strate
Camille Strate is a blossoming Being who spends much of her time writing. She also spends an immense amount of time crafting magickal treasures out of wood. When she makes time for it, she rolls around in the grass with her dogs and cat, pretending to be 9 years old. More often than not, she's got a smile on her face & a whole boat-load of love in her heart. Visiting
her website is highly recommended.
