In my previous article we talked about visualisation as a powerful tool for bringing about change, either in you personally or to improve your situation or circumstances. If you are not really a visual sort of person, you may find that affirmations are a more useful tool.

Affirmations are short statements of your potential and power to change and can be used for improving many life areas, including self-esteem and confidence, relationships, mental (and sometimes physical) health, and for achieving success in whatever it is you desire. They resemble visualisation with mental images, but words are used instead. Words you say out loud, repeat in your mind, read or write each day that will help you internalize the person you want to be and the things you want to achieve.

Words can be incredibly empowering or disempowering. Unless you have very strong self-esteem and self-belief, negative words can cut deeply, creating wounds that can last a lifetime. Positive words on the other hand have the power to heal those wounds, and rebuild you better than ever before.

So, how do you use affirmations? I find that one of the easiest ways to create affirmations is to first write down my current negative thoughts, then write the opposite of that thought. For example I think "I'm hopeless at selling" - replace with "I'm a great salesperson" or (see below) "I'm in the process of becoming a great saleperson".

It has been said that affirmations should be said in the present tense, starting with the words: "I am" or "I can", such as "I am intelligent" or "I am confident and outgoing" or "I can be strong". This can work, however I tend to agree with Michael Losier who has stated in his "Law of Attraction" (2006) book, that positive affirmations can have a negative vibration if the statement activates doubt in your mind or sub-conscious. The key is that the affirmation needs to be true for you, in order to work and to make you feel good. For this reason, he suggests that affirmations be prefaced with "I'm in the process of ..." , for example,

" I'm in the process of creating the ideal relationship

" I'm in the process of becoming more prosperous and abundance

" I'm in the process of having ideal health

" I'm in the process of growing my business

Just by saying the affirmation in this way, you ARE in the process! However, just repeating the words is not enough. For affirmations to produce results, they should be repeated often with feeling and conviction, until your subconscious believes it, and starts reinforcing your new way of life. It's really a matter of taking control of your conscious mind and replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, which will in time lead to your subconscious mind also producing positive and empowering thoughts.

Some more ideas on how to work with affirmations:

" Repeat your affirmations to yourself at night as you go to sleep, so they are seeping into your sub-conscious while you sleep (or if you wake during the night, the repetition can be useful to help send you back to sleep).

" Try placing a copy on the wall beside your bathroom mirror, so you see it each morning and evening.

" Place a copy on an index card which you carry in your pocket, and refer to several times a day.

" Consider recording yourself saying the affirmation over and over onto a tape or MP3 player, and then listen to this whenever you have a chance. This can add value to the time you spend driving to and from work.

Commit to this for the next 90 days, and see the changes it makes in your life. Like any tool, if you use it correctly you'll get great results. If you use it incorrectly, you'll get poor results. Remember to really feel how great it would feel to have that affirmation manifest in your life right now.

I know affirmations have had a very positive effect in my life, they have helped to strengthen ambition, create new solutions and activate my subconscious mind to help make dreams come true. I am sure they can help you too.