Every morning at 6:05am I wake up to the sound of my cell phone alarm reminding me to read the first of my daily affirmations. I have eight affirmations on my calendar that pop up throughout the day. Each one reminds me to banish negative thoughts and reclaim my power.

Last year I was in a really negative space feeling stuck, lost and sorry for myself. I read several spirituality/self-help books (Spirit Junkie by Gabrielle Bernstein, You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay & Growing from Grace by Mastin Kipp) in hopes of snapping myself out of it. From these books I learned how to silence my ego, listen to my inner guide and reprogram my thoughts using affirmations.  

Affirmations are positive phrases that can help to change your outlook by influencing your subconscious. My daily affirmations are extremely helpful. Here are three ways affirmations can help you.

1. Create a positive mindset by silencing the ego. In Spirit Junkie, Gabrielle Bernstein teaches us that "the ego is the illusionary nightmare that we've bought into." The internal dialogue of meanness and negative self-talk is an illusion designed by the ego to keep you distracted from love and from stepping into your greatness. How can affirmations help? When the ego tries to diminish your power, look in the mirror and recite an affirmation. Repeating an affirmation a minimum of five times per day can reprogram your thoughts and subconscious; reminding you that the real power is in loving yourself. 
2. Feel empowered. Affirmations are about manifesting power. Speaking positively to yourself can empower you and improve your self-esteem as you deal with life's daily challenges. How many times have you told yourself "I’m not good enough, smart enough or pretty enough." You are enough! Break this negative pattern! Visualize how empowering telling yourself the opposite can be..."I'm good enough; smart enough, pretty enough." Words are powerful and repeating negativity to oneself can have disastrous consequences. The positive shift you get from the simplest affirmation demonstrates that with repetition positive thoughts can be empowering.
3. Take control of your life. What you think and believe is in your control. Affirmations can help you control your emotions in challenging situations. Fighting or causing a scene can't help you resolve issues; find an affirmation that resonates with you, use it to set an intention and take control of the situation, your life and emotions. Breathe deep and allow your inner guide to help you reclaim your power. By believing in the power of these affirmations, you let go of the doubt, beliefs and behaviors that have held you back. 

Find or create 2-3 affirmations that inspire you and recite them daily. Start today with the affirmation in this picture.  The books I mentioned are an excellent reference tool filled with quotes and passages to empower and inspire you. I recognize that while affirmations may have been useful to me, it may not be useful for everyone. What I hope you take away from this post is that affirmations are another tool in your toolbox you can use daily to get you one step closer to believing in yourself and owning your power.