Remaining positive and inspired every day can be a Herculean task for many, as the events around us influence our well-being.
The situation worsens when we receive negative news or a major crisis, such as the current coronavirus pandemic, which is never-ending and full of uncertainties.
As the pandemic continues worldwide, it is causing increased stress and disconnection among people, with some finding it unmanageable.
For instance, the situation has put to the test those in long-distance relationships, prompting them to wonder and feel less fond of their bond owing to prolonged physical distancing.
Whatever problems you may have been facing over the past two months, remember it is not impossible to achieve a balanced state of mind daily.
If we analyse the situations carefully, in most cases, they are unavoidable because we are exposed to various conditions from the time we wake up and until we go to sleep daily.
What we need to do is to programme and train our mind to be focused on the good, things that inspire us, and by doing that can change circumstances and uplift our mood.
A frequently asked question is how we can remain motivated constantly and not be affected by unpleasant events and news.
Well, there are several ways and all are within our control, and we can choose which one of the deeds works for us.
As for me, the first person I visited after the movement control order was relaxed was my inspirer, my adorable niece, seven-year-old Rishika.
It was an important activity for me after the over 50 odd days of restricted travel because she is a sign of joy, serenity, and fulfillment.
Being in her cheerful presence elevates my energy levels, lifts my spirits, and her pure gestures allow me to rediscover myself.
Many people resort to various actions and techniques to seek relief and there is no one specific method that fits all. In short, do what makes you happy.
A friend of mine shared an enlightening story on how she managed to cope with her life through affirmations after she ran into some serious personal problems.
“My life was shattered when things did not work out, but I picked up the pieces and got myself together with one strong affirmation that read ‘I WILL SURVIVE’,” she said.
She pasted the declaration printed in bold letters on the wall at her workplace and her bedroom and reads the words whenever she gets flashbacks of her unpleasant past or when she sinks into disillusionment.
Powerful words or phrases are strong affirmations that generate positive thoughts when read repeatedly because they programme our conscious and subconscious minds.
Saying things to ourselves and about ourselves over and over helps us achieve all we want because they become beliefs that soon turn into reality.
Such an exercise wards off negative emotions and instead fosters a fresh, constructive thought pattern.
All of us have a power centre within us and to activate it is to use such commanding words.
Reading affirmations daily transforms an individual’s self-image, motivates and gives confidence to the person to dismiss the past and move forward bravely.
There are various types of affirmations, including single-word and phrase affirmations, and spoken and recorded affirmations.
For example, powerful single-word affirmations are words like: LOVE, POWER, PEACE, CONFIDENCE, SUPER, COOL, CALM, and STRONG.
Recorded affirmations have also been found effective because they can be played before we begin the day or even while we are driving, as the constant repetition of the words keeps us on track.
Just viewing or mentally repeating the words daily helps programme the mind, body, and spirit to handle all situations.
The types of commands that we want to use depend on the situation and its purpose. Also, try not to use more than three affirmations or it will dilute your focus.
Another method is to write these affirmations daily, a dozen times or more, on a piece of paper in red ink before you start your day, making it your personal mission statement.
Use the present tense when writing them so that the words follow your command immediately, and do it with faith and respect.
This is one of the best ways to start your day because, by saying the chosen phrases, you are strengthening yourself internally and creating an aura of confidence.
The best time to practise affirmations is before you go to sleep and shortly after you wake up.
Creating such an invisible self-protection shield makes you feel good and prevents you from being influenced or confronted with any kind of situation, because you are often faced with people who are quick to utter more negative words than positive.
If you think you need more than an affirmation, try using images to tap into your visualisation powers and achieve the desired results.
For relaxation, hang a big picture of a scenic waterfall, pleasant scenes, or an image of the person who makes you happy, and mentally visualise that you are part of the image.
Affirmations are also highly recommended for children as part of their learning skills.
This is because they give hope and act as a guide to stay focused on the path to success and happiness.
Children have been found to be alert in their studies when they were taught the slogans and phrases which neturalised their negative influences.
All they require at their study table is constant exposure to the slogans and phrases that should be hung on the wall.
Dr. T. Selva is the author of the best-selling book Vasthu Sastra Guide. To get a copy, contact +6019-2728464. He can be contacted at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com
