Many of us hear that statement and have an automatic reaction of «yeah, sure». In other words, our brain’s first response is to reject it because it sounds so implausible.
This is partly because it is a statement. Statements give our brain no wiggle room: either we’re good enough or we’re not.
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Because we have been believing for years that we are not good enough, our brain automatically selects that option and rejects the alternative.
What is a ‘hypothetical statement’?
This is where affirmative statements come in. Affirmative statements are «what if» questions.
Their question format allows them to slip through a side door. They are not statements, so they are not telling the brain to believe something improbable.
They simply invite curiosity. They simply wonder if there is a possibility that this is true. This makes our brain much more receptive to these types of statements.
Ask yourself, «What if I’m good enough?»
Instead of rejecting this claim, we find ourselves wondering what it would be like to know that we are good enough. And now, because we’re focusing on this topic, our brains are creating more neural connections around it. The brain changes depending on what we focus on: this is neuroplasticity. The more you ponder the idea of being good enough, the more space your brain devotes to this topic. This means that you are more likely to keep thinking about this topic.
Clearly, we want our brains to keep entertaining the idea that we’re good enough. Putting it in the form of an affirmation helps us get there more easily.
If you are interested in changing the way you think about yourself or the way you approach your life, try some of these affirmations. I have organized them by topic. Choose the ones that resonate with you or make up your own. They will have to be repeated; the brain normally requires repetition to make lasting changes.
46 Hypothetical Statements That Open Your Mind To Possibility
For the general well-being
- What if I could relax my expectations of how life “should” be?
- What if life isn’t supposed to be smooth and easy all the time?
- What if I could focus more on what I want and less on what gets in the way?
- What if I focus on what feels meaningful and what enlightens me?
- What happens if I don’t focus on useless thoughts, feelings, or people?
- What if I think I deserve compassion and love?
- What if I can find the time to take care of myself in a meaningful way?
- What if I could make today a better experience just by how I approach it?
for self-acceptance
- What if I am good enough, right now, without having to change anything?
- What if I’m not embarrassed?
- What if I am inferior to no one?
- What if I deserve as much respect as everyone else?
- What if I decided to respect myself?
- What if I am worthy to live my life the way I want, even if other people disapprove?
- What if I could stop wondering what other people think of me?
- What if I could stop focusing on my insecurities?
- What if I could relax my expectations of how I «should» be?
- What would happen if I stopped saying “I should”?
- What if I could see that I deserve to take up as much space as everyone else?
- What if I start expressing my opinions, wants and needs?
- What if I realize that my inner critic is supposed to make me feel bad, not telling me the truth about myself?
- What if he only spoke to me and about me with kindness, like I speak to my friends?
for perfectionism
- What if I am completely acceptable just the way I am, without being perfect in any way?
- What if you could stop trying to have it all together?
- What if I realize that no one has it all together?
- What if life could feel richer if you stopped trying to be perfect?
- What if my attempts at perfectionism are robbing me of the ability to be authentic?
- What if others prefer imperfect people?
for anxiety
- What if I could look for the interesting parts of life instead of focusing on potential problem areas?
- What if you could be curious about upcoming changes and about life in general?
- What if I could do what feels meaningful even though I also feel anxious?
- What if I treated my anxiety like an annoying roommate, just because he’s talking doesn’t mean he’s saying something true, helpful, or relevant?
- What if my anxious thoughts are not accurate?
- What if worrying is a waste of time?
for depression
- What if I deserve pity for feeling this way?
- What if I can offer myself compassion for having to feel this way?
- What if I can do meaningful things even though it doesn’t feel right or meaningful right now?
- What if I can do something small today and recognize it as something useful?
- What if my depressive thoughts are not accurate?
- What if I’m not the burden I think I am?
for body image
- What if I could see that my body is not embarrassing, ever?
- What if my weight isn’t a big part of who I am or how I live my life?
- What if weight and health aren’t as related as I’ve been led to believe?
- What if I stopped accepting the fake news that my body is supposed to look a certain way?
- What if I could choose to focus on things more meaningful than the way my body looks?
- What if I could respect my body for the fact that it alone allows me to live?
Yes, this is a great list, and not all of the «affirmations» will apply to your situation, at this time. But if you make a habit of repeating the «affirmations» that resonate with you today, the rest may come in handy in the future.