The answer you’re looking for is affirmations, which work like mini meditations: your attention can be focused on the affirmation for a short period of time and give your brain a chance to let go of extraneous thoughts.
You can repeat affirmations throughout the day for little moments of calm.
The 100 affirmations in Today I Will…by Australian meditation artist and author Carmen Warrington can help you develop mindfulness in a busy world, in just a few short minutes a day.
They also provide moments of inspiration to uplift your everyday life.
Here are five of our favourites from Today I Will…to help get you started…
Affirm positive messages about myself
Notice how many times you put yourself down during the day. Include what you think and say, and words spoken in jest. Pay particular attention to how you react to your mistakes and poor choices. Think of yourself as a child who is learning to walk; you need encouragement — not criticism. You will become the person you believe you are. Affirm positive messages about yourself. Treat yourself gently and with respect. You deserve it.
Accept what I see in the mirror
Are you dissatisfied with how you look? Is your self-esteem too bound up in your physical appearance? Love your body; it is the extraordinary instrument through which your spirit expresses itself. Accept the inevitability of ageing. Broaden your concept of beauty. Be at peace with yourself as you let go of impossible self-imposed standards. Live in the present, not in the past (how you used to look) or the future (how you will look when you find time for more exercise).
Recognise the small achievements I have made recently
An achievement can be as simple as doing a task well, bouncing back after a disagreement, or following a routine all week. Self encouragement is the key to self-esteem. Praise yourself for small achievements to create a feeling of success. As you feel more successful you’ll become more daring. Focus on the things you do well and you will thrive.
Put a full stop on the past
Whatever happened cannot be changed; it is now part of your history. Your past has shaped you and brought you to this moment. Cast from your mind phrases such as ‘I should have’, ‘why didn’t I’ and ‘if only’. Accept the lessons you have learnt from past choices. Make peace with yourself.
Disentangle yourself from regret, shame and guilt. Shake off the past and move forward with peace of mind.
Simply let go
It’s great to be in control, and it’s great to let go. Let go of your expectations and fixed ideas about how things should be done. Don’t try to force things to happen. Just do as much as you can, then step back and see what takes shape. If you feel responsible for someone else’s moods or emotions, let these feelings go. Relax and allow new influences and options to emerge. Let your destiny steer you.
Today I Will… by Carmen Warrington ($16.99), published by Hachette Australia
This story was originally published on The Carousel.
