Why affirmations don’t work

Self-help strategies such as positive affirmations have been recommended to individuals with low self-esteem in hopes of improving their quality of life. These positive statements, ranging from “I am successful” to “I will find love again,” have been suggested by various self-help books and programs, as well as therapists and coaches.

What are Positive Affirmations?

Self-affirmation theory, originally proposed by Claude Steele, is a psychological theory that explains how individuals respond to information or experiences that challenge their self-concept. It is an extensively researched theory in social psychology. The theory suggests that when individuals contemplate values that are significant to them, they are less likely to experience distress and anxiety.

The Case for Positive Affirmations

The concept of self-affirmation has been proposed by scientists and behavioral care providers as a means to remind individuals of important aspects of themselves. By doing so, it enables them to view events from a logical and rational perspective. This enhances their psychological resources, reduces defensive responses to threats, and leads to positive outcomes.

Self-affirmation can have a significant effect on ill health, as evidenced by various studies. In one such study by Taber et al. (2016), 326 cancer survivors were surveyed, and those who were more optimistic reported better health, greater happiness, and hopefulness. These participants were also less likely to have a recurrence of cancer.

 

The Case Against Positive Affirmations

Despite the popular belief espoused by self-help gurus like Louise Hay, Napoleon Hill, and Anthony Robbins, controlling your thoughts and having a positive mindset don’t actually lead to positive end results.

Many have tried using positive affirmations to achieve their desired outcome, such as a dream job or ideal relationship, but often find their dreams not coming true.

Positive affirmations fail to be effective because they solely target the conscious level of the mind and disregard the subconscious. When attempting to affirm something that contradicts a firmly ingrained negative belief, it leads to internal conflict.

 

So What Should You Do?

The paragraph discusses the harmful effects of positive affirmations on individuals with low self-esteem. It also highlights how traditional cognitive psychotherapy may not be productive in changing negative thinking and offers an alternative approach to accepting thoughts and engaging in positive behavior.

According to the paragraph, positive affirmations can be harmful to individuals with low self-esteem

In an article, Dr. Sophie Henshaw references a study by Drs. Senay, Albarracín, and Noguchi, published in the journal Psychological Science, “Motivating Goal-Directed Behavior Through Introspective Self-Talk: The Role of the Interrogative Form of Simple Future Tense,” outlines the research study in which four groups of participants were asked to solve anagrams. Before completing the task, the researchers told them that they were interested in handwriting practices and asked them to write 20 times on a sheet of paper either: “I will,” “Will I,” “I” or “Will.” The group that wrote “Will I” solved nearly twice as many anagrams as any of the other groups.

From this and similar studies the researchers conducted, they found that asking ourselves is far more powerful than telling ourselves something when we wish to create successful end results.

Sophie goes on to say that that questions can lead to action in ways statements may not. If you’re finding that making statements isn’t working because you don’t believe them, or they’re too easy to ignore, try turning your statements into questions and see if that does a better job for you.

So if affirmations don’t work, what does? The good news is that there is a simple method you can use, apply immediately and have instant and excellent results.

The power of self-talk can be divided into two categories: declarative and interrogative. Declarative self-talk involves making positive or negative statements about oneself, while interrogative self-talk involves asking questions. Research shows that interrogative self-talk is more effective in achieving successful results because it helps to activate curiosity, reminds individuals

Both are declarative statements that apply a kind of external pressure to the self and shut down the possibility of accessing the inner resources and creativity needed for success.

However, tweak the above statements so they become questions: “Am I terrible at presentations? Have they ever gone well for me?” Or: “Will I deliver a great presentation that inspires my audience?” Potential answers may be: “I get shy and nervous and people switch off when I talk. However, in my last presentation, I made a point that people found interesting and I really had their attention. How could I expand on that?”

“The last presentation that I did went well. What did I do that worked and how could I do more of that?”

• The interrogative self-talk strategy is a powerful method that surpasses affirmations. Instead of suppressing negative thoughts and feelings, it accepts them and reduces the urge to combat them. This way, you can create a partnership with your subconscious mind and benefit from its innovative capabilities. To use this strategy effectively, focus on your self

By utilizing this technique, you can spark your inquisitiveness and imagination, leading to a resolution of the frustrating internal conflict. This, in turn, will alleviate any stress in your body and enable you to unwind. This method is free and has the potential to yield exceptional outcomes. Please note that the author holds the