Carey, Ali Used Affirmations To Reach Goal

     When he was a struggling young comedian, late at night Jim Carey would drive into the hills overlooking Hollywood and yell at the top of his lungs "I will earn $10 million a year by 1995." When 1995 finally arrived, Carey was the star of the movie Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, for which he was paid $20 million.

     Carey used the power of positive affirmations (a positive statement representing your desired outcome) to help him reach his goals. World-class athletes understand the value and recognize the impact of their mental preparation on their physical performance. Like Carey, they use the power of positive affirmation to reduce anxiety and increase their expectation of achievement.

     Interesting enough, your subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a real experience and a vividly imagined mental experience. Yesterday and today Promotional Consultant Today is examining the effective power of self-talk. Yesterday we looked at The Placebo Effect and today we'll review four steps you can take to use affirmations effectively.

To be of maximum benefit an affirmation must be simple, encouraging and stated in the present tense. By repeating an affirmation over and over again it becomes embedded in the subconscious mind.

sponsored by:
PPAI AWARDS

TOP SHELF TIP NO. 149

"Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Choose your words, for they become actions. Understand your actions, for they become habits. Study your habits, for they will become your character. Develop your character, for it becomes your destiny."

Anonymous

To be effective your affirmation must be stated aloud:

1.     In a positive manner with the focus on what you want. When you catch yourself saying or thinking something negative about yourself, counteract the negative self-talk with a positive affirmation. Start your affirmation with words like "I am..." or "I already have..." Example: "I close sales with little or no resistance." "I take good care of my customers and they show their appreciation by referring their friends to me."

2.     In the present tense. Your subconscious mind works in the present tense, so avoid words such as can, will, should or could. Example: "I love doing my work and I am richly rewarded creatively and financially."

3.     With strong emotion and conviction.

4.     Repeatedly. I suggest you read your affirmations each morning upon awakening and again each night just before falling asleep. Close your eyes and picture the end result. Feel the emotions associated with the affirmation.

     Do affirmations really work and can they be used to propel a person to achieve greatness? As a young boy growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, 12-year-old Cassius Marcellus Clay dreamed of someday becoming the heavyweight boxing champion of the world. When working out in the gym, Clay would continuously affirm to all within earshot that he was indeed the greatest boxer of all time. While many felt he was brash and boastful, few people actually took this 89-pound youngster seriously. Mohammad Ali used his affirmation to become the undisputed heavyweight boxing champion of the world and arguably one of the most popular and recognized sports figures of all times.

     Following are some of my favorite affirmations:

·         "Every day in every way I'm getting better and better!"

·         "Everything comes to me easily and effortlessly!"

·         "I love and appreciate myself just as I am!"

·         "I love doing my work and I am richly rewarded creatively and financially!"

·         "I now have enough time, energy, wisdom and money to accomplish all my desires!"

·         "Infinite riches are now freely flowing into my life!"

·         "I am relaxed and centered!"

·         "I feel happy and blissful!"

      You show me a salesperson with high self-esteem, a positive attitude and a healthy work ethic and I'll be able to predict his or her success in advance -- I guarantee it.

     Source: John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs for sales meetings and conventions. He is a nationally recognized sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. A free newsletter is available on his website.