It is easy to dismiss affirmations as "new-age tripe". Too easy, I think. They can be a powerful tool for self-improvement if they're used properly, regularly and with awareness.
What follows is my list of affirmations. I have set up the program "Cocoa Fortune" to present me with a randomly-chosen affirmation on my computer screen as I work. This happens four times a day, and when I see the affirmation I read it through several times, reading it with awareness, with being in the moment, with a firm belief that it is true (as much as I can), and with all of the attention that I can muster.
If you read carefully, you will notice that some of my affirmations are goals for December, 2004. That's because this is the goal-list that I used for December, 2004 and each month I update my goals. Then I take out the old goals and work the new goals into my affirmation list.
Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
I am a child of Nature ... a child of the Universe made up of Starstuff.
I am a child of Nature ... a child of the Universe made up of Starstuff. I live my life with voluntary simplicity and with purpose, seeking only possessions which are useful to me, and not seeking to own things for the sake of owning them.
I live by my philosophy of being gentle to earth, friends, family and self, and of attending to each precious moment I am granted on this earth.
I choose as my purpose working towards easing the suffering of those who are isolated from society by long illnesses - be it physical or psychiatric - or by frailty in old age. Founding 'Adults Need Smiles Too!' begins the embodiment of this purpose, spreading small doses of cheer by mail each month.
I am a child of Nature ... a child of the Universe made up of Starstuff. I live my life with voluntary simplicity and with purpose, seeking only possessions which are useful to me, and not seeking to own things for the sake of owning them. I live by my philosophy of being gentle to earth, friends, family and self, and of attending to each precious moment I am granted on this earth. I choose as my purpose working towards easing the suffering of those who are isolated from society by long illnesses - be it physical or psychiatric - or by frailty in old age. Founding 'Adults Need Smiles Too!' begins the embodiment of this purpose, spreading small doses of cheer by mail each month.
I set down my goals on paper and I work towards achieving them.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Passed year 12, scoring 154/164.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Currently Gestating the as-yet-unnamed Junk Shop project.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Got into my cog. sci. degree.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Graduated from my Cognitive Science degree, despite having to complete work and exams from bed.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Drawings & paintings to a professional standard.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Lived by myself for multiple years with minimal support
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Coped when my parents withdrew support
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Learned to be my own advocate
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Designed, Aranged, and Directed the nearly-finished redecoration of my entire room and the garden outside
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Kept a journal nearly always since 1997.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Attended Pathways 3 conference in Brisbane with Martin Fathers.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Sung with Senior Madrigals in lots of places, including on the 'Best of George Dreyfus' CD.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Being involved in the Buddy swimming program during year 11 at MLC.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Elderly visiting program
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Mentoring Kate Robson
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - My websites, several thounsands of individual pages developed over 10+ years and including comprehensive information about CFS/FMS and other things.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Started and/or run up to 30 mailing lists, enabling people to communicate & share experiences. These include: OzME, CFS-P, CFS-Severe.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Conceptualised, started, and run the Adults Need Smiles Too! charity.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Written lots of articles which have been published in upwards of 100 publications in several countries and 3 languages.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Contributed to 7 books with my articles.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Designed CFSMESSQ questionnaire and received over 6000 responses. I am currently analysing this data.
Whilst battling multiple chronic illnesses and disabilities, I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED AMAZING STUFF! This includes: - Lobbied until broken footpaths and unusable kerb cuts around Balaclava were fixed.
I am willing to work hard to achieve things I consider to be important.
I am creative and intelligent.
I choose to make the best of every single moment I have, no matter what my situation.
I make the best of every moment granted to me.
Today I am really thankful for being alive.
I am grateful for the amount of health I still have.
I am grateful for my flat, my plants, and my garden.
I am thankful for my friends and family, for all those who love me.
I have faith in myself and in my abilities.
I am loved my many people, including Carla, David, Kathy, Beverley, and Desleigh.
I quietly rest when I need to do so.
I am greatly loved by my friends, and richly deserve this love.
I have self-worth.
I am a worthwhile human bean.
I love myself.
I have lovely feet!
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To complete the redecoration/rearangement of my living room - including the new set of shelves, the ceiling hooks, and the 4 mirrors on the wall - by 31 December, 2004.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To continue to nurture and enjoy my garden during 2005.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To have 5 additional new indoor pot-plants on my new set of shelves by the end of February, 2005.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - For Smiles! to become self-sufficient enough that it can function regardless of my level of illness by June 1, 2005 and preferably before. I will do this by recruiting more volunteers and giving volunteers more hands-on tasks such as desktopping stories and doing print-runs.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - For Adults Need Smiles Too! to grow to between 50 and 100 members by the end of 2005.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To increase my income by selling old things, both my own and other people's through EBay. To advertise this service in at least 5 places by March 31 2005, and to negotiate a fair percentage of returns depending on the age and condition of the goods.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To have started to make money from my art and WordArt skills, in some form, by the end of September, 2005. This may be by scanning existing art and putting it on gift-cards on a place such as CafePress or Zazzle, or it may not.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To continue to improve the relationship between myself and my parents by encouraging them to visit me, and by not being reactive to things they say, just quietly confident of my truths.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To get into the practice of regular meditation, so that by February 1 2005 I meditate every second day at least.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To keep on sticking to my no-wheat, no-egg, no-dairy-except-yoghurt diet, with changes as suggested by the medical people who I trust.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To continue to update my Affirmations sheet with my goals during each month of 2005.
I have many current goals. My goals are reasonable, obtainable, and possible, although they may stretch my comfort zone! One of these is: - To continue to read my Affirmations which come up on my computer screen 2-4 times during every day of 2005.
