One-Word Affirmations

The Genie Within Newsletter, No. 4

ONE-WORD AFFIRMATIONS

INTRODUCTION

You already know words have power over us. For example, you recall the rousing words of Patrick Henry that inspired patriotism in the colonial states against the British Empire, ”Give me liberty or give me death!”

Words have power when used in affirmations. Affirmations are suggestions given to your subconscious mind that spur it to produce a predictable result. This affirmation was made famous a hundred years ago by Emile Couê, “Every day, better and better in every way.”

But few people realize that a single word has power. By power, I mean emotional power, the driver of the subconscious mind. When you want your subconscious mind to respond, emotion gets your subconscious mind’s attention and prods it to accomplish the goal you give it.

ONE-WORD AFFIRMATIONS

Words have two meanings. One is the logical, precise definition. The definition of the word “father” is male parent. That describes “father” exactly. This is logical and meaningful to your conscious mind.

But there are bundles of emotions attached to the word “father.” When you think of your father, all sorts of memories, images, and emotions bubble up from your subconscious.

You can use these emotionally packed words to your advantage. Here are a few examples of one-word affirmations.

Imagine this: You get to work in the morning, walk into your office, your desk in covered with paper work. There are 20 phone messages that need immediate attention and several piles of papers. One pile is the beginning of an important report that has to be finished today; another is an outline of a project that needs to get started pronto, and; another is an evaluation of the progress made by your department. You get the idea—another very busy day at the office.

So, what does a person usually think when he or she sees this mess? Probably, “Oh boy, I’ll never get this done.” Or, “Great, I’ll be here until midnight.”

Neither of these affirmations are desirable. They are not what you want but they are suggestions you just gave to your genie, your subconscious mind. Your subconscious mind, which is a goal-seeking computer, will respond. It will say, “Yes, Master. I can arrange to have you here until midnight. No problem.” So you sit at your desk and fiddle around deciding what to do, wasting time so that you can fulfill your wish, “I’ll be here until midnight.”

This is what you do: think “DONE.” Connotations of DONE are a proud feeling of having finished your work, and another is a sense of fulfillment in completing a task or a series of tasks. There is a strong emotional satisfaction in finishing these daunting tasks, finishing them in your normal work hours, and doing a job in a way that makes you proud.

You know this work will be DONE. Picture in your mind a clean desk and leaving work on time. Get cracking and get it DONE.

You are watching TV and the announcer says, with an authoritative voice, “It’s flu season. Are you ready? Do you feel tired and achy?” He is selling his flu medicine by suggesting you have flu symptoms . You do not have the flu and you do not want that suggestion planted in your subconscious mind Imagine a gigantic neon sign flashing on and off that reads, CANCEL. CANCEL that thought. CANCEL it.

You need to be creative. You need inspiration. Picture a light bulb like you see in cartoons. Turn it on. REACH for that light bulb which represents inspirations and new ideas. REACH outside your comfortable box. The new ideas are already in that light bulb. All you have to do is REACH for them.

You slam your thumb in your car door. OUCH! “Ouch” connotes pain. Do you want pain? No! So instead of ouch, say and think NUMB.

Many words can be used as one-word affirmations. Words that come to your mind work best for you. The words that come to your mind have more connotations than words suggested by someone else. Start using one-word affirmations today. This way of using your subconscious mind is easy and there are opportunities to use it every day.

CONCLUSION

Words are powerful. Be diligent in what you say and think. What you say or think is a command, an affirmation, to your subconscious mind. Use one-word affirmations for success starting now.

Some one-word affirmations are self-defeating. I’ll talk about them in a future Newsletter.

Harry Carpenter, author of The Genie Within: Your Subconscious Mind—How It Works and How to Use It. www.thegeniewithin.net.

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