For years, we’ve all been told that affirmations are a good way to change subconscious behaviour. On the surface, this seems to make sense. Essentially, focus on the positive as if these things were already true and good things will happen. Nothing could be simpler. Repeat a phrase and change habitual behaviour with little effort.
The problem is that when affirmations are uttered the individual rarely believes what he or she is saying. For instance, someone may affirm that they are confident and outgoing but in their heart they know these things to be untrue. Why would someone ask for what already exists? Unfortunately, the mind also knows that the person doesn’t believe what he or she is saying. Thus, instead of integrating the idea, the mind simply ignores the thought entirely.
Affirmations Need to Be Believed to Work
In this way, unless a person truly believes the affirmation he or she is repeating, the process is a waste of time. Many resources on manifesting try to work around this flaw by suggesting that the individual examine the essence of what is desired. Then, affirmations could be based upon an underlying quality that already exists in that individual’s life. Nonetheless, desiring more of a particular quality still requires wanting something that doesn’t exist at that particular time so once again the concept is ignored by the mind.
Noah St. John in his book The Secret Code of Success looks at the problem from an entirely different perspective. St. John states that the brain is a natural problem solver. Without conscious thought, the mind goes about answering the questions of how and why tasks need to be accomplished. For instance, if skin on the forearm is being burnt on a hot stove the brain determines that attention needs to be directed to the possible crisis. Then, immediately sounds a pain alarm.
Afformations are the Natural Alternative to Affirmations
In The Secret Code of Success, St John introduces the concept of “afformations”. Afformation comes from the word form suggesting that new ideas are formed or created. Essentially, afformations are empowering questions for the mind. Generally, these statements start with the word “why”. They challenge the system to explain why a particular situation is true.
Since the mind automatically reacts to questions and seeks solutions, the validity of these statements is never explored. In this way, someone might ask why they are confident and outgoing. Instead of checking to see if this statement is based in truth, the mind simply goes about trying to find an explanation for why this individual is confident and outgoing. Once accepted as fact, behaviour automatically begins to shift as if this phrase describes reality. In this way, afformations work in much the same way as affirmations, as a means to change behaviour.
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