speaking | Tuesdays with Laurie

Life by Laurie Buchanan

In their e-Book, Affirmations – Words of Power, authors Remez and Dorina Sasson tell us that, “Affirmations provide a bridge between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, which is the control room of the mind and body. The subconscious mind is responsible for all of the involuntary functions of the body such as the heartbeat, bloodstream, respiration, the immune system, metabolism, and self-healing. Affirmations pass from the conscious mind to the subconscious mind, which takes the affirmations as commands to heal the body.”

Based on my experience as a Clinical Hypnotherapist working with the “mechanics” of the subconscious mind, here are some suggestions for the optimum use of affirmations. If you additionally integrate visualizations (strong mental picture) of yourself as healthy, vital, and energetic … all the better!

Use Positive Statements
Use expressions such as “I am healthy.” or “My [ ] is healthy and functions perfectly.” Avoid stating what you wish to overcome in your affirmation. Rather, express your desired outcome—the ideal state: “I enjoy full health.”

Use Present Tense
For example: “I am healthy,” “I am healed,” “I feel great,” and “I am full of energy.”

My Personal Daily Affirmations Include
The energy of Divine Love fills my heart, directs my thoughts, and organizes my affairs.
The healing energy of Divine Love flows throughout my body, mind, and spirit.
My body is vital, healthy, and strong.
I lovingly forgive and release everything in the past.
I choose to fill my world with joy.

A Favorite Client Example
I’m open to the possibility that a miracle will occur for me by morning . . . it’s not that I’m searching for the miracle; rather it is searching for me.

I typically end my affirmations with: “Thank you, and so it is.”

Do you use affirmations? If yes, please share a few of your favorites.

Decorative Hole by Laurie Buchanan

You’ve heard the famous quote by Epictetus, Roman (Greek-born) slave and philosopher: “We have two ears and one mouth so we may listen more and talk less.” To me that means that when we speak, it should add value.

What we voice has the capability of transforming negative emotions and evoking particular emotional responses. For that reason, I suggest to my clients to only voice what they want, and to refrain from stating what they don’t want. In other words, instead of making statements like “Don’t slam the door,” “Don’t forget your lunch,” and “Don’t talk to me like that,” state your desired outcome instead—say what you want. “Shut the door quietly, please.” “Remember your lunch.” “Speak to me with respect.”

Positive statements help develop neural pathways in the brain for optimistic thinking. When we voice what we want—the constructive end result of what we’re asking for—we provide those in our sphere of influence with tools for success. A subtle shift in our communication can result in improved behavior. It also makes us feel better about our interaction with the people around us.

I took the photograph in today’s post during a recent stay at the UW-Madison campus. It caught my attention because it appears to serve no purpose—a decorative hole in the foundation of a pedestrian bridge. I keep it in my line of vision to serve as a subtle reminder: make sure your ears and mouth aren’t just decorative.

Listen with your heart,

Laurie Buchanan

“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
– Laurie Buchanan

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

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Affirmations for Health

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