Podcaster Talks about Personal Affirmations

Last Friday podcaster Rob Dial discussed on his show the subject of personal affirmations, an area that he admittedly has had his own doubts about in the past.  There are the people, mainly prominent in self-help and name-it-and-claim it faith-based circles, who think that fervently believing in something can somehow manifest it into reality.  You're welcome to believe that or not as pleases you, but I was relieved that Dial covered it in a different light.  He focused on how personally affirming a desired goal, even if yet unfulfilled, can rewire the brain on multiple levels in a way that facilitates its accomplished...sounds reasonable to me.  To this end, he simplified the process by suggesting we simply state to ourselves the goal, as specifically as possible, and phrase it as "I am ----ing ----" to place into our brains the notion that it is already successfully being implemented.  Okay, dude, so is that all?  Well, Dial refined his idea by adding, beyond the need to be specific, bringing in an emotional charge to heighten the perceived experience while both consistently repeating the affirmation and visualizing the fruits of the goal's fulfillment.  He suggested that the combination of all these elements within an affirmation can transform it to more resemble an incantation, something that can dramatically transform the mind in the desired direction.  Of course, the goal does need to be realistic as well. Also, having a time deadline in mind sounds advisable, giving the matter a stronger sense of priority.  I remember one night many years ago sitting in a local Waffle House when a group of slightly intoxicated customers came in, talkative and loud.  One woman in the party kept saying repeatedly "Life's a bitch, life's a bitch". I wonder how many of us unthinkingly repeat the negative stuff like that while ignoring the possibilities of talking to ourselves (and others) in a gentler and more encouraging manner.  Then again, like I wrote last Friday on this blog, life can indeed sometimes be a bitch...