What are affirmations?
Affirmations, or positive self-talk, is the practice of repeating inspiring and uplifting statements to oneself. Although they may seem silly initially, if utilised correctly, they can have a tangible, positive impact on your behaviour and routines.
Everyone uses affirmations daily, whether they are aware of it or not. Unfortunately, most of the time, these affirmations are negative. Common thoughts are, “I’m so busy,” or “I can’t do this.” When we affirm these things in our brain, we tell ourselves to accept them as a fact. Affirmations change the way you behave. When we affirm negative thoughts in our brains, it stops us from achieving our full potential.
The good news is we have power over the thoughts and mottos we affirm in our heads. If we flip our thoughts from positive to negative, we can break the negative patterns holding us back. This task may seem hefty, especially when cycle-related hormones mess with our minds. When you are on your period, the menstrual phase of your cycle is sometimes referred to as the inner winter. The inner winter is a time when your body may signal that it needs additional rest and self-care, similar to the actual winter season.
Affirmations for winter to get you started:
I give myself permission to rest
Rest is essential to my health and happiness
I am joyful
I can do this
I have balance in my life
My body is healthy
I do not deserve to feel pain
How to use affirmations
Affirmations are proven to be effective, but they are not magic. To see actual results, you must pair your affirmations with actions. Let the affirmations and mottos motivate you. After you repeat these affirmations, the next step should be to affirm the following action you need to take. For example, if you use the affirmation “Rest is essential to my health and happiness,” a practical next step would be to affirm that “I will take a warm bath to relax my muscles before I go to bed.” Focus on the behaviour that you want to change, not the outcome. Visualise your success; this will help your mind accept your affirmation as reality. Happy affirming!
Explore Circe’s Instagram for more winter mottos and tips on self-care.