Alright, let’s take a casual stroll through the roots of the positive affirmation craze. It’s like digging into the backstory of your favorite superhero – we’re talking historical origins, how it all works, and what makes it tick.

So, figuring out where affirmations came from is a bit like decoding a treasure map – some experts say one thing, others say another. Picture this: Ancient Egyptians rocking affirmations on amulets and random objects. It’s like they were the OG positive thinkers. Or, hop over to ancient Hindu and Buddhist traditions, where mantra meditation was all the rage. It’s like the cool, ancient version of positive vibes only.

Fast forward to the 17th century, and cue René Descartes, the French philosopher dropping the mic with the first documented affirmation: “I think, therefore I am.” It’s like the OG affirmation – Descartes was the Beyoncé of positive self-talk.

Now, let’s talk Coué – not your neighbor, but French psychologist Émile Coué. In the early 1900s, he introduced conscious autosuggestion, aka the Coué method. You know, repeating a specific line 20 times a day, like a daily affirmation party. “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” Coué even had categories for suggestion – intentional reflective and involuntary spontaneous. It’s like he was the DJ mixing up positive vibes for the early 20th-century crew.

Oh, and Coué’s vibes spread like wildfire, influencing big-shot authors like Napoleon Hill and Norman Vincent Peale. They penned classics like “Think and Grow Rich” and “The Power of Positive Thinking.” It’s like the ripple effect of good vibes hitting the literary scene.

As time danced on, the term “affirmation” gradually stole the spotlight from the older, clunkier “autosuggestion.” Imagine it’s the evolution of a catchy pop song that everyone starts humming.

Fast forward again to 1978, and Jean Illsley Clarke enters the scene with her book “Self-Esteem: A Family Affair.” She drops the bomb of developmental affirmations, tying them to Eric Erikson’s growth stages. It’s like she handed us the keys to affirmations customized for every stage of life. Clarke breaks it down – positive messages, permissions to grow, reminders of your awesome capabilities, and sprinkles of love and support. It’s like she handed us the ultimate guide to navigating life’s playlist.

So, there you have it – the affirmation journey from ancient vibes to Descartes dropping wisdom, Coué hosting the positivity party, and Clarke serving up life-changing affirmations for all ages. It’s like a feel-good rollercoaster that’s been running since way back when.

Now, let’s dive even further into the world of affirmations and answer a common question: Do they really work? Well, it’s a bit like choosing between different ice cream flavors – they’re all good, but your taste buds have their favorites.

Here’s the deal: Affirmations work best when they sync up with what you deep down believe. It’s like a mental dance floor where conflicting ideas can’t really boogie together. So, if your subconscious isn’t convinced that you deserve all the good stuff in life, it might throw some subtle moves to mess up your affirmation groove.

Imagine this: You’re chanting affirmations for more money, but your childhood memories are tuned to “money is the root of all evil.” Can your subconscious get on board with that? Nope, it’s like trying to make a cat enjoy a bath – not happening. Similarly, if your affirmations for eternal happiness clash with old sayings like “joyful moments foretell impending sorrow,” your subconscious might hit the brakes on the happiness train.

So, how do we fix this mixtape? How do we upgrade our mind’s programming to vibe with our dreams? It’s like giving your mental space a fresh coat of paint. We go into our subconscious, find the outdated stuff (like discovering an old cassette player in the attic), and replace it with newer, snazzier tunes.

Don’t be mad at your subconscious – it’s just doing its job, like that friend who means well but sometimes needs a reality check. Through things like deep meditation, hypnosis, or self-hypnosis, we can hit the remix button on our subconscious minds. Some folks can do it solo, while others might need a pro to spin the tracks.

The magical moment? When your subconscious mind and your beliefs groove together like a perfectly coordinated dance routine. Imagine it as your subconscious finally catching the rhythm, and suddenly, your true, beautiful self takes center stage. Get ready for a mental dance-off of a lifetime!

With Love and Light,

Michelle