Positive Psychology & Positive Affirmations

Today's episode is about positive psychology, and more specifically, the application of positive affirmations. Positive Psychology is a field of psychology introduced by Martin Selgiman in the late 20th century, and it focuses on the enhancement of wellbeing strengths and positive aspects of human experiences, rather than merely addressing mental illness, as was previously the case, one significant technique within positive psychology is the use of positive affirmations. You're probably familiar with these statements or phrases aimed at fostering a positive mindset, self-belief and improved emotional health. This podcast episode explores the relationship between positive psychology and positive affirmations, highlighting how the application of affirmations can contribute to mental and emotional wellbeing, personal growth and overall life satisfaction. When addressing this topic, I cannot emphasize enough how big this shift was in improving overall mental and emotional health. 

So call positive affirmations into your Life. Use positive psychology with all its transformational abilities, call in positive affirmation. Call IT in With Dar!”.

Transcript

Today's episode is about positive psychology, and more specifically, the application of positive affirmations. Positive Psychology is a field of psychology introduced by Martin Selgiman in the late 20th century, and it focuses on the enhancement of wellbeing strengths and positive aspects of human experiences, rather than merely addressing mental illness, as was previously the case, one significant technique within positive psychology is the use of positive affirmations. You're probably familiar with these statements or phrases aimed at fostering a positive mindset, self-belief and improved emotional health. This podcast episode explores the relationship between positive psychology and positive affirmations, highlighting how the application of affirmations can contribute to mental and emotional wellbeing, personal growth and overall life satisfaction. When addressing this topic, I cannot emphasize enough how big this shift was in improving overall mental and emotional health. So positive psychology emerged in the late 20th century as a paradigm shift within the field of psychology, emphasizing the importance of focusing on human strengths, virtues and happiness, rather than slow solely on pathology and negative emotions. So it was pioneered by Martin Selgiman, positive psychology advocates for an approach that encourages individuals to cultivate positive emotions, positive strengths and constructive thoughts to promote thriving, resilience and fulfillment. Among the numerous into the interventions grounded in positive psychology, positive affirmations have gained significant attention, and that is due to their simplicity and their potential impact on individuals Mental Health. Positive affirmations are statements that challenge negative thoughts, promote self-compassion and foster a growth-oriented mindset. They encourage individuals to reframe limiting beliefs, confront their insecurities and enhance their self-confidence, along with Seligman’s work, author Louise Hayes, who was founder of Hayes publishing, has authored multiple books and courses on the body's positive response to using positive affirmations when it comes to health and healing. This session will examine how positive affirmations are rooted in positive psychology and how their application can lead to improved psychological outcomes, including better self-esteem, resilience and overall wellbeing. Positive psychology focuses on the pursuit of optimal functioning and human wellbeing. So Selgiman in 2002 identified five key elements that contribute to nourishing life or contribute to a. Flourishing life, and that's referred to as the P.E.R.M.A. model. The P stands for positive emotion, the E for engagement, the R for relationships, the M for meaning, and the A for accomplishment, , P, E, R, M, A, so positive emotion, experiencing positive emotions such as joy, gratitude and contentment. The E for engagement, being deeply absorbed in activities that challenge and excite, often leading to a state of flow and passion and joy in our relationships that's about building strong, positive and supportive social connections. The M for meaning, finding purpose and a sense of fulfillment in life. And the five. The fifth is accomplishment, the pursuit and attainment of goals, mastery and success. So PERMA is needed for a beautiful, self-fulfilled life by applying the principles of positive psychology, individuals are encouraged to cultivate these five elements in PERMA to enhance their overall life satisfaction and wellbeing so, one of the interventions that's closely tied to positive psychology and achieving PERMA are positive affirmations. So positive affirmations again are short positive statements that are easy for individuals to repeat to themselves, and they're typically aimed at challenging self-limiting beliefs. I sometimes call it flipping the script from something that's very challenging to to or fearful to something that is accepted and embraced and reinforcing constructive thoughts, they serve as a tool to shift focus away from negative thinking patterns and promote self-love and emotional balance those of us who love using positive affirmations can often be accused of wearing rose colored glasses, as an old adage states, but I Don't mind the core premise behind affirmations lies in the concept of self-talk, which refers to the internal dialog people have with themselves. Negative self-talk can contribute to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety and depression. While positive self-talk is associated with greater resilience, improved mood and a healthier self-image, affirmations are a means of replacing negative self-talk with statements that reflect a more positive, empowering mindset. A few examples would be, I am capable of overcoming challenges. I deserve happiness and success. I am confident in my abilities. Every day I grow stronger and more resilient. I am happy, healthy and peaceful within by repeating these statements, individuals can internalize them over time, thereby shifting their mental state and beliefs. The effectiveness of positive affirmations can be understood through four main psychological mechanisms. 

So the first mechanism is cognitive reframing. Affirmations help individuals reframe their thoughts by challenging negative self-perceptions. Through constant practice, people began to view themselves and their situation more positively. Repeated affirmations encourage the mind to focus on possibilities and solutions instead of problems. The second mechanism is neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize and form new neural connections, known as neuroplasticity, plays a significant role in how affirmations work. Positive affirmations can rewire neural pathways, helping individuals create new positive thought patterns and emotional responses. The third main psychological mechanism is self-affirmation, according to the self-affirmation theory developed by Steele in 1988 affirmations can help individuals maintain their sense of self-worth by reflecting on their core values and strengths when individuals experience stress or failure, affirming their intrinsic value can buffer against negative emotional responses, promoting greater resilience in life. And the fourth mechanism is the social cognitive theory. And this was developed by Bandura in 1986 and it suggests that one's belief in their ability to achieve a goal is crucial for personal growth. Positive affirmations directly influence people's belief and being able to accomplish something by reinforcing a belief in one's capacity to succeed and overcome challenges. So let's look at some of the benefits in psychological and emotional health that positive affirmations have been found to have. One is to Improve Self Esteem. Repeating affirmations focused on self-worth can help individuals combat feelings of inaccuracy. It can help boost their confidence, and it can foster a more positive self-image. This is particularly useful for individuals who struggle with low self-esteem, problems with believing in themselves, or who experience negative self-judgment on a regular basis. Another benefit is stress reduction and resilience. Affirmations can reduce stress by reframing challenges in a more positive light when faced with adversity, individuals who practice positive affirmations are more likely to approach situations with a sense of control, optimism and perseverance. Another benefit is in the area of mental health and anxiety, research suggests that using positive affirmations can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression by disrupting the negative thought pattern. This is particularly true when affirmations are tied to core values or to core goals, reinforcing a sense of purpose and direction. Another benefit is in the area of goal achievement. Affirmations can be used to support goal setting and achievement by affirming specific outcomes and reinforcing a belief in one's abilities, individuals are more likely to take the actions necessary to reach their goals. More recently, we've heard in the area of sports that coaches have their team members visualize winning the game, making the basket or scoring the goal.  

And another advantage is in relationship enhancement, affirmations have a role in improving interpersonal relationships by affirming one's role in maintaining positive and supportive relationships individuals can become more empathetic, more patient, better listeners and more open in their communication, while positive affirmations can be a powerful tool for promoting mental wellbeing. They are not the be all, end all. The effectiveness of affirmations depends on several factors, and I'm going to go over three main ones. So the first one is authenticity, affirmations need to resonate with the individual using them. For affirmations to be effective, they should feel authentic and align with one's values and goals, repeating statements that feel unrealistic or insecure in sincere, or, as I mentioned, un authentic, may have little impact at all. They have to resonate with you personally. Another factor is consistency. Like any psychological tool, the benefits of affirmations come with consistent practice. A onetime affirmation is unlikely to result in any type of lasting change. Takes regular repetition over time. That's what's necessary to create a shift in mindset, repetition and just a reminder. Those of you have studied your subconscious, you know that your subconscious will believe anything if you repeat it over time. So we want to repeat positive things to our subconscious and then new neural pathways are then created so repetition and another factor is that affirmation should complement, not replace other positive psychological practices, while they can enhance wellbeing relying solely on affirmations, without addressing any underlying issues or without engaging in proactive behaviors, can just limit their effectiveness. So this authenticity consistency and not over relying 

on them as the one and only technique. Positive Psychology offers a transformative approach to enhancing wellbeing by focusing on strengths, emotions, relationships, meanings and accomplishments. Positive affirmations as an intervention derived from this approach and it provides individuals with a simple but powerful tool to help shift their mindset, overcome negative thoughts and cultivate resilience. Through consistent practice, affirmations can lead to improved self-esteem, better mental. Health, enhanced resilience and a more optimistic outlook on life. However, for affirmations to be effective, they must be authentic, consistent and complemented by other positive psychological practices. In summary, the integration of positive affirmations into daily life offers a promising pathway for individuals to thrive and achieve greater life, greater satisfaction by aligning their mental habits with the principles of positive psychology, to put positive affirmations into practice in Your Life, I would strongly recommend diving into the works of renowned author Louise Hayes, so call positive affirmations into your Life. Use positive psychology with all its transformational abilities, call in positive affirmation.” 

Call IT in With Dar!”.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai