Amy Kennedy The Creative Crone

It’s Like a Treasure Map to the Next Best You!

Affirmations can be an easy first step to the life you desire. A map to your next best self!
Are you thinking you tried them and they never worked for you.

It might be true, but I think it’s because they weren’t customized to your special specifications. If you don’t believe the words coming out of your mouth, they’re not going to work.

One of the first affirmations my mom taught us was: I like myself unconditionally. Do you know how hard that one is to say after you just yelled at your (fill in the blank) or did that idiotic thing you ALWAYS do and then you say that affirmation? Yeah. When I got older my brain was like, um, no you don’t.

But, guess what I figured out? All I had to do was add four simple words and then I could believe it again:
It feels good to like myself unconditionally.
That changes everything. Because I KNOW for a gut-checked fact that it does, indeed, feel good to like myself.
Steal that little trick for any of your affirmations that you’re juuuuuuust not feeling quite yet.

How to custom create your affirmations:
What do you desire?
Think in terms of outcomes.
Write a list, your best life list!
Don’t worry about how you will get there.
But certainly, think about how you will feel when you do. Try to feel it now…yes, now—just sink into it…hold on to that feeling for the next phase.
And remember, it’s not how you DON’T want to feel, it’s how you want to feel.

Now:
*Start with “I am” (or a variation of this) add your next best self: a successfully published author, happily married, an excellent knitter. I am Wonder Woman…it could happen. “I am” is a powerful start to your declaration
*What do you desire: friends, love, money, that coaching course. Add in how easily it comes to you. I am a friend magnate; I make friends effortlessly.
*How do you want to feel: vibrant, abundant, hilarious, intuitive. I am 100% alive by speaking and acting with great enthusiasm.

They do not need to be perfect! They just need to sound and feel like you, so you believe them as they come out of your mouth.

Starting from zero can be daunting. I hate a blank page, so if you’re stuck—or still thinking you can’t just make up life changing statements, I got you.
Here are a few generic affirmations that you can noodle around with—but not forever—or use as is. I’ve even added some of my twists, loot or re-twist these:

*Every day in every way, I am getting better and better.
*I have an excellent memory.
*I am well-organized in all areas of my life.
*I make myself a blessing to everyone I know and meet. (I stole this one and tweaked it from Brandi Carlile”s song: That Wasn’t Me: “…do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet…”)
*I am an excellent speaker, well-prepared, logical, and completely at ease before any group. Aaaand here’s how I changed this one: I am an excellent writer and speaker, well prepared, of service, logical, hilarious, magical, and completely at ease in front of any person, group, microphone, or page.

This can be fun and a little (or a crap ton) exciting. Because you are writing these as if you have already achieved them and you believe them, feel them, the Universe can’t contain itself and it works to create what you believe to be true.

Write them down and keep them on a 3 x 5 card with you. Eventually, you will memorize them.
Start with three to five affirmations—you can build this list when it feels right.
Again, don’t worry about perfection; you can always tweak these.
Pick a time or activity that will signal your brain that it’s time to say your affirmations. When I had a daily commute (before Covid), the minute I got in the car in the morning, I’d start saying them—out loud, repeating each one 5 times.
This happens every day. Every darn day. Look, don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day, ‘cause then you’re kind of defeating the entire purpose. Just stick with it until it’s muscle memory.

Is it true?
Check in with yourself in one-three month(s).
How do you feel?
Is there a difference in your life? Even a little one? One of the first things I noticed was I was in a better mood all day.
Are you ready for more?

Check back in with me—let me know how it’s going. And remember, be brave and love each other, Amy.
amykennedyfosseen@gmail.com