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Today is Blog Action Day. It is our day, as bloggers, to stand up publicly and help those less fortunate than ourselves.
Each day, millions of people in the United States and around the world struggle just to get through each day. I have been a single mother, feeding myself and two children for $25.00 a week. Ten years ago, that wasn’t as difficult as it would be today. I had the benefit of a family support network who would help out if things became too lean. Or, I would be hungry so my children could eat. It was my goal that they never do without.
What about the hard-working mothers and fathers who are doing their best, but can’t quite reach even that small goal? What can we do for the families who want better for their children, but struggle just to put food on the table?
There are a wide number of worthy charities to which you can donate. It doesn’t have to be money. It can be time. Cooking, serving, teaching, or creating in order to help those less fortunate get on their feet.
How do affirmations tie into this? Use them to counteract the negative of poverty. Affirm those less fortunate (while actively helping them). Tell them that they are valuable. That they do matter. That they are not losers or lazy or bad in any way. Let them know that they can reclaim their self-respect. It is simple to do this.
While you are working with or helping someone, look them in the eye. Shake their hand with firmness and respect. Treat them like a friend. Become a friend. Encourage their dreams. Open your doors to them – physically and mentally. Help them make those connections that can change lives. It might be as simple as introducing them to someone you know. Or giving them the right book to read. Any positive action counteracts the negative strains of poverty.
Helping families get out of poverty is our responsibility. Not the government’s. Let’s do what we can, today and every day, to break this devastating cycle.
Relationships are a lot of work. We all know this, especially if we are in one. Some days, you look at your significant other and wonder, “what was I thinking?” Other days, they walk on water, so to speak.
Keeping the relationship strong is a two-person job. And you can use affirmations together to further strengthen your bond.
First, make sure your partner wants to participate. Not everyone is comfortable using affirmations in front of others. That’s okay. There is another way (I’ll discuss it in a minute). If your partner is willing, the next step is -
Love one another
Choose an affirmation to use. Remember to keep them positive, present and simple.
Samples:
I love you. (When sincere, this is one of the most
powerful affirmations
couples can use.)
You are special.
We belong together.
We are a team.
After you’ve chosen an affirmation to use, you can use it in a number of ways.
1. Sit together, facing one another. Look each other in the eye and repeat the affirmation back and forth to one another with feeling.
2. Say the affirmation to one another as you enter or leave each other’s company throughout the day. Even if you are walking out of one room to another, stop, look at your partner, and repeat the affirmation.
3. When you are being intimate, this is also a good time for eye contact and to share the affirmation you’ve chosen.
Over time, you may develop signals or other “inside” gestures to share the affirmation without saying it. A quick squeeze of your partner’s hand can say, “I believe in you.” A kiss on the ch
eek can say, “I love you.” Each of these builds intimacy and strengthens the core of your relationship.
It won’t make problems go away, but it will serve to remind you why you bother to work on those problems in the first place. A strong affirmation between partners will also reaffirm
to each of you why you are together in the first place. You will begin to see your partner in a less critical light, recalling all of the little things that made you fall in love.
As I promised, there is a way for couples to
share affirmations, even if the exercises above are more than they are ready for. All the person has to do is mentally repeat the affirmation each time they look at their partner. This can be used together with a physical gesture to reiterate that commitment. Over time, confidence and intimacy may make the partner willing to share in one of the above methods for reaffirming your relationship.
Remember, this is about strengthening your bond and sharing your love. Keep it simple and don’t force it. Let your partner do what is most comfortable to begin with. And -
Affirm your relationship!
Affirm Each Day is pleased to be moving here to WordPress. We are in the process of moving all of the posts from our original platform. Comments are welcome.
Enjoy the new digs. I look forward to being around for a long time.
Have you ever been depressed? I’m not even talking about a psychological diagnosis, necessarily. Have you had days where you couldn’t get going? It seemed like you were a hamster on a wheel. Running and running and getting nowhere?
We’ve all felt that way at one time or another. Some of us struggle with more serious forms of depression, including clinical depression. Not fun.
When the blahs attack, what can we do?
We can affirm brighter days.
What do I mean by that?
I mean that you can create and use affirmations to take the edge off of the blues. To help the sun peek through the clouds of your emotional atmosphere.
You can get off the hamster wheel.
How?
Figure out what would make your day feel brighter, better. Would it be a nap? Or seeing an old friend? Keep it simple. Make it something small. All it takes is one little ray of sunshine to light the dark places.
Once you figure out what would make you feel better, affirm it.
- “I am taking a therapeutic nap today.”
- “I am seeing my friend at lunch.”
- “My child’s smile brightens my day.”
- “A cup of tea and a good book make me happy.”
Use these affirmations exactly the way you would use any other affirmation. Repetition, repetition, repetition. Focus your mind on the ray of sunshine. Before you know it, the clouds will disburse and you will feel better.
Of course, if you suffer from a chemical imbalance or other medical condition that causes your depression, you will also need to see a doctor. There is no shame in treating what ails you.
If you are having self-destructive thoughts and feelings, please contact someone who can help. Your life has great value and you should be here to live it.
Up to now, I’ve talked about affirmations to deal with emotional issues. I’ve also touched on it to help with physical fitness and raising children. Still, there is one area where affirmations can be the difference between success and failure.
Motivation.
Have you ever started a project just to lose interest halfway through? Did working on it become a hassle? Something you tried to avoid?
Don’t worry, it happens to all of us.
My grandmother used to get on my case all the time for starting things and never finishing them. Unfortunately, this became a self-fulfilling prophecy for a long time. Right out of the gate, I’m enthusiastic and work hard. Over time, however, my enthusiasm wanes. The hardness of the work sets in. And I quit.
Or at least, I used to.
Then I stumbled on a secret.
I learned that I could use affirmations to get and stay motivated.
No, not the frantic, excited motivation that comes with starting a new project. More like a steady low hum of motivation. A sense of looking forward to the next part of the task. I’ve applied this to writing. To my day job. To housework, even. It’s effectiveness with housework is debatable.
How can you get motivated with affirmations?
Easy. Create and use a strong motivation statement. Make it specific and positive. It should give you a mental kick in the pants.
“I enjoy writing each day because my readers need to know what I have to say.”
Not only does this motivate me to write, it also keeps me focused on why I write. That is often all the motivation I need.
What is it you need to do? State it as specifically and in as few words as possible. Do you need to clean the kitchen? Do you need to write that expense report? Whatever it is, write it down.
Why are you doing this project? If you are cleaning the kitchen, maybe it is so you and your significant other can have a romantic meal in there later. Or it could simply be that you want to keep the bugs out. That expense report might be the difference between a full paycheck and half a paycheck.
In both of the cases above, a simple motivational affirmation can help:
- “I keep the kitchen clean to keep bugs out of my house.”
- “The kitchen is more romantic when it’s clean.”
- “This expense report is impressing my boss.”
- “I am being reimbursed for all of my expenses because of this report.”
You can even be somewhat silly, and it will work. The use of humor with affirmations boosts their effectiveness.
For example: “Cleaning kitchens is sexy.” “Expense reports rule.”
Granted, these statements are ridiculous. But if they work, that’s all that matters.
Affirm your project today!
