I first learned about saying affirmations many years ago after reading Louise Hay's books. She is an expert on them, and they were a huge part of her recovery from cancer.

They can be both powerful and life changing.

If you haven't said affirmations before, it might feel a bit strange at first. Especially when what you are saying doesn't feel real yet.

For example, say your affirmation is, "I live a calm, balanced life."

You created this affirmation because this is what you want for yourself - this is how your ideal life looks.
However, at the present moment, your life may be far from this. That's okay. We all have to start at the beginning. Say this affirmation to yourself and out loud often throughout your day. Look at yourself in the mirror and say it. Write it onto post-it notes, and hang them all around your house. Even if it feels strange at first, keep saying it - keep believing it - and before you know it, it will sink in, and you will be living a calm, balanced life.

They really do work, but you have to keep at it and keep believing in it. When you say it to yourself, really feel what that calm balanced life feels like. Really remember why you created this affirmation to begin with. Really imagine yourself living this life each time you say the words.

Affirmations are amazing tools for visualizing and creating our authentic lives. They are wonderful for our self esteem and our well being.

Spend some time today writing down your affirmations. This is the fun part of the process - you get to dream and really think about what kind of life you want to create! When you write your own, make sure to write in the first person whenever possible.

Have fun creating your affirmations, putting them up around your house, and saying them! You'll be amazed at how much your life will change once they start to sink in!

Author's Bio: 

Jodi Chapman is the author of the inspirational blog, Soul Speak; the upcoming book, Coming Back to Life: How an Unlikely Friend Helped Me Reclaim My True Spirit; and the bestselling Soulful Journals series, co-authored with her amazing husband, Dan Teck. www.jodichapman.com