Affirmations Part 2: Start where you are

Terry describes his journey to healing in his book, The Hell I Can't.

This is Part II of my interview about affirmations with Terry McBride, speaker and author of The Hell I Can’t. See yesterday’s post for Part 1.

Affirmations are very individual, depending on the person. When I do my affirmations, I usually start right where I am. If I do an affirmation that is so far from where I am, my mind doesn’t pay attention to it.

For example, it was difficult for me to lay in a hospital bed facing another surgery and say,“I am perfectly healthy.” My mind would say, “No you’re not; get a grip.” So I usually started with, “I really believe this surgery is going to go well. The doctors are going to be careful.” I would build a mental model that I could hang on to.

I made my affirmations to be believably hopeful. I did it in steps. In the beginning, I’d start with, “I’m not sure how to get well. I’m reading these wonderful books that are pointing me in the right direction, and I’m beginning to believe it might be possible.” As soon as I realized I might get well, I moved toward, “I am beginning to feel like I am going to get well.”

Some people are looking for a “magic pill” and want someone to give them an affirmation. It doesn’t work that way. It’s a process, and people have to be able to explore how it works for them instead of using someone else’s affirmations.

The concept of affirmation is to choose your actions, thoughts and mental environment, so when you’re done with that process, you feel a little better than you did before. It’s a step-by-step process. After a while, you find things that works for you.

It doesn’t always have to be about writing something positive and saying it to yourself.  Writing this blog is an affirmation – you are sharing what has worked for you and others.  It could be listening to certain kinds of music.

I was in band in high school. When I was sick, I listened to John Phillip Sousa marches. After a while, I was moving  my body like a march. Listening to uplifting songs, watching a movie where the good guys wins – these are all affirmations. After a while, you feel good and feel positive.

 Come back tomorrow for Part 3, the final installment of our interview with Terry on affirmations.