12 Essential Steps to Creating Effective Positive Affirmations

I explore the transformative power of words and affirmations; emphasizing the importance of positive affirmations in personal development. I also share my own experiences with the I AM AND I WILL affirmation process.

This episode includes 12 essential (and practical) steps for creating effective positive affirmations, visualization techniques, and the significance of aligning thoughts and actions with our desires.

Join the weekly challenge to help identify your desires and set SMART goals for personal growth.

SUMMARY:

• “The power of words can build or break individuals.”

• “Positive affirmations can eliminate self-doubt and encourage growth.”

• “Specific call to actions enhance the effectiveness of affirmations.”

• “Visualization and breathwork are essential for manifesting desires.”

• “Aligning thoughts, beliefs, and actions is crucial for achieving goals.”

• “Recording affirmations allows for reinforcement and accountability.”

• “Creating a running list of desires helps clarify goals.”

• “SMART goals provide a structured approach to personal development.”

• “Practicing gratitude and reflection enhances the affirmation process.”

Full Transcript:

[The following is the full transcript of this episode of The Sincerely, Sherrise™ podcast. Please Subscribe to the free motivational podcast on iTunes and all major podcast streaming platforms)

It's safe to say that the use of positive statements, also known as positive affirmations or simply stated affirmations, can help to generate positive vibes, eliminate self doubt or self sabotage and encourage the activation of our best lives.

When we make affirmations, we are assuring ourselves that we can aim higher and achieve greater things in our life. We are willing things into our existence and through the I AM AND I WILL affirmation process, which will be dived into this episode, we'll see how important having specific call to actions are when we make affirmations.

Let's set the foundation for the continuous creation of effective positive affirmations with specific call to actions.

It is time to start holding ourselves accountable for the actualization of our desired life on a consistent and even daily basis. 

Affirm like a pro starting today with these 12 essential steps to creating effective positive affirmations.

Hello, beautiful people!

Welcome to Sincerely, Sherrise™ a podcast or shall I say a platform centered around wellness, self-care, personal development, creating a positive mindset and growth. 

I'm your host Sherrise Marshalleck, author of I AM AND I WILL: The A-Z of Positive Affirmations and Call to Actions. 

Consider me your friend and confidant.

Join me each and every Monday for your weekly dose of positivity! 

How you doing? How are you feeling? 

Please say that you're feeling OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE, and READY TO AFFIRM. 

On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not so likely, 10 being absolutely... 

How strong do you think the power of your words are? 

Comment down below. 

it's been said that words have the power to build people up or break them down. 

Here at Sincerely, Sherrise™ we are all about helping you to love and understand yourself from the INSIDEOUT. 

We are also on team build people up.

The power of words are most notable when used in the form of manifestations and affirmations.

Feel free to check out last week's episode for a more detailed explanation on manifestations. We'll add the card above somewhere there and all of the relevant information will be in the show's description.

In the meantime, in between time, it's safe to say that the use of positive statements, also known as positive affirmations or simply stated affirmations, can help to generate positive vibes, eliminate self doubt or self sabotage and encourage the activation of our best lives.

When we make affirmations, we are assuring ourselves that we can aim higher and achieve greater things in our life. We are willing things into our existence and through the I AM AND I WILL affirmation process, which will be dived into this episode, we'll see how important having Specific call to actions are when we make affirmations.

Are you ready for the Sincerely, Sherrise™ I AM AND I WILL Affirmation Experience? 

Please say yes. 

To emphasize the power of words, I'm going to read an excerpt from the introduction of I AM AND I WILL: The A-Z of Positive Affirmations and Call to Actions and share a testimony with you:

"When I was growing up, my grandma said the following with me. Sherrise when you were born, you weren't breathing. The umbilical cord strangled you. You were dead.

I prayed that God would give you life because I don't know what your mother would have done if you didn't come back to us that day. Her prayer was, "God, please give this little girl life and if it's in Your will, use her for good. Allow her to be a positive influence on those she meets." If it were not for those powerful words, I would doubt the strength that any could possibly have. And this book wouldn't exist.

I feel that it's my moral obligation to show you the intrinsic power of words. Here's a simple and very Relevant example. At the end of 2020, I wrote the following on a piece of paper. I AM... A writer AND I WILL... Publish multiple works of literature. I placed it in a frame, hung it at eye level next to my bedroom door and read it aloud until it was all I could think about. 

If you're reading this, which I am, you're holding the power of words in your hands" 

And there you have it. I AM AND I WILL was birthed.

So let's tap into how we can create effective positive affirmations. 

In all things cohesion here at Sincerely, Sherrise™, we like to keep things SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. This has been an essential part of the I AM AND I WILL affirmation process.

Simply stated, an affirmation without a specific call to action is just a what? A statement.

By adding AND I WILL... to the "I" or I AM... statement being made, we activate the affirmation. Let's review the previous affirmation that I made back in 2020. I AM... A writer AND I WILL... publish multiple works of literature. This affirmation allows me the scope to enhance the positive statement. It's open ended.

And it gives me the opportunity to be even more Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound about my desire. 

So here's how I can enhance this affirmation. I AM... A writer AND I WILL... Publish multiple works of literature within the non -fiction category, especially across business, personal development, self -help, and wellness. 

Within those genres, my writing will also include poetry, ebooks and scripted episodic work in film and television. 

Let's set the foundation for the continuous creation of effective positive affirmations with specific call to actions.

Are you ready? Please say yes, because it is time to start

holding ourselves accountable for the actualization of our desired life on a consistent and even daily basis. 

Affirm like a pro starting today with these 12 essential steps to creating effective positive affirmations.

Step One: Identify and visualize your desires. 

Let's do that right now.

Please join me in some breath work as we visualize the desires of our heart. 

If you're seated, sit with your hands in your lap and if you're laying down, lay flat on your back with your arms to the sides of your body, if you're able. 

Gently lighten your gaze and close your eyes. Take a deep breath, inhaling deeply for four to five seconds and exhale gently for four to five seconds also.

Inhale for one, two, three, four, five, and exhale for one, two, three, four, five. 

As you inhale deeply and exhale gently, visualize a desire that you'd like to become a reality.

Picture being in that reality right now. As you continue to inhale deeply and exhale gently.

Channel the feeling of the moment that you're visualizing.

Inhale for one, two, three, four, five, and exhale for one, two, three, four, five. 

As you inhale deeply, welcome the desired experience into your life and as you exhale gently.

Release anything that takes you away from actualizing that desire or goal.

Continue inhaling deeply and exhaling gently.

Focus your efforts on achieving the desires of your heart, being joyous, happy, and living the life of your desires, starting today. 

Be present in this moment and every moment that follows.

Be grateful for this moment of stillness, presence and visualization.

Before opening your eyes if and when you're ready. 

Thank your mind, body and spirit for their loyalty. 

Step Two: Think about what the acquisition of your desires will be and feel like. 

Step Three: Journal and or document what the experience will look and feel like when you actualize your desires.

Step Four: Align your thoughts, beliefs and actions in line with your desires. 

Step Five: Imagine acting out your desires. 

Step Six: And when affirming, begin each statement with "I" or in this case, I AM... This allows you to become what you intend and consciously desire to be. 

I AM... specifically proclaims the presence of the divine creator within you. It's an extremely powerful way of affirming. 

Step Seven: Affirm in present tense, 

Step Eight: Ensuring that your positive statements align with your desires, enough for you to affirm that you already have what you desire to achieve.

Adding a positive or motivational action word helps to enhance your affirmations and being SMART, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound with your affirmations is even more helpful.

For example, I AM... So happy and grateful that I get to write daily and add generously to the lives of others through the various works of literature that I've had the opportunity and pleasure of creating and bringing to life across a variety of medians 

And the bonus here is: AND I WILL... be still allowing creativity to flow through me enough to focus on newer works of literature to add to the Sincerely, Sherrise™ or Sherrise Marshalleck catalog. 

Step Nine: Make your affirmation short and sweet to start with. This makes it easier for you to remember your affirmations and use them as daily mantras if you choose.

Repeating your positive statements will allow you to concentrate and or focus on the achievement of your desires. 

This process works even better when you're being still, indulging in meditation or visualization. 

Here's a pro tip and my favorite part of affirming.

Step Ten: Record your affirmations. 

Write or type your affirmations. Once you've written them down, hit record on your preferred recording device. 

I generally use the voice memo function on my phone or this beautiful podcast platform. 

Now you'll read or recite each affirmation that you create saying each word with conviction and feeling. 

The beauty of this process is that you get to hear the conviction of your words in your own voice when you play the affirmations back. Y

ou also have the option of playing your affirmation on a loop and making them a part of your daily practice. 

Maybe you hit a slump in your day or you're having limited self -belief or

A few of these thoughts arise in your mind.

All you have to do is hit play again and recite the words of your affirmation or affirmations aloud as you're recording plays and allow the power of your own words to manifest and become a reality.

Step Eleven: Once you've recorded your affirmations, it's time to name each affirmation and date them.

Step Twelve: Every time that you live out one of your desires, especially the ones you've actively affirmed, add it to your calendar and look back at your written or audio archives to see when you first affirm that desire and cross -reference it with when you acquired it.

Feel free to head over to SherriseMarshalleck.com/Blog to review the transcript for this episode. If you'd like to bookmark these steps. 

Until then, let's activate some of the steps starting today. 

"We have a weekly challenge, we have a weekly challenge."

Are you ready? Please say yes. 

[Monday] Identify your desires

Create a running list of desires. Maybe you desire to live a stress free life. 

Enjoy the process of getting detailed with your desires and jotting down everything that comes to mind. 

Anything that will make your life stress free and a reality that you enjoy experiencing. 

Consistently add to your running list, whenever a desire comes to mind, no matter how trivial, grand, tangible or intangible it may seem. 

Remember once again that the desires of your heart are yours to actualize and bring to life. The pathways for their achievement will present themselves to you when you channel your energy appropriately. 

And lastly, set SMART GOALS and commit to being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound daily. 

As mentioned last week, the pro tip here is to split your running lists into categories. This will allow you to get Specific about each desire of your heart in a more concentrated way.

If you need a little help going from Ideation to Creation, We have an exclusive course that was created for the students at the Metropolitan College of New York during a classroom takeover earlier this year. 

This useful workshop will help you to get closer to actualizing your desires and living through your purpose, also known as your Ikigai.

The course or workshop highlights four steps that will help you to create the life of your desires. 

STEP ONE: is unleashing your inner creative. 
STEP TWO: is turning your purpose into profitability. 
STEP THREE: is leveraging from your network and or resources and 
STEP FOUR: is learning the five essential steps to accessing your success. 

I remain humbled by such a beautiful opportunity and thank the MCNY team once again for allowing me the opportunity to leave a part of my legacy on those who participated in the experience. 

My team and I have had the pleasure of expanding this experience and offering private sessions exclusively for those interested in turning their desires into a reality. Feel free to reach out via email info@SherriseMarshalleck.com or you can fill out the contact form via SherriseMarshalleck.com/Connect 

I look forward to hearing from you and to having you as a part of the Sincerely, Sherrise™ Ideation to Creation Process and Experience. 

[Tuesday] Practice, meditation, visualization and prayer

As Robin Sharma says, MVP. Be still, breathe, indulge in some breath work and visualization as you align your thoughts, beliefs and actions to begin living the life of your desires. 

Retreat to your safe place or place of comfort, peace and serenity, calming your mind and leaning into meditation while you visualize your desires. 

And if you're a praying person, add prayer to this beautiful experience because it's precious. Repeat the breath work practices that we indulged in earlier, anytime you need to channel your desires, before and during the process of actualizing them. 

It's so important to always have your vision. So keep your desires alive, make them a constant thought in your mind. 

Think about living in the reality of your desires right now as much as you possibly can. 

Channel that energy. Meditation, visualization and prayer are experiences that are always available to you. They are free. You can utilize them if and when you need to. 

So fully indulge in these processes and make these practices a part of your constant routine. 

You'll thank me later. 

Trust me. 

[Wednesday] Journal

Explore your feelings and document what thoughts and ideas have surfaced during your time of stillness. 

What are your desires? 

What does living your best life mean to you? 

How will you become the best version of yourself? 

And how will you contribute dutifully and generously to the world?

Please take some time to journal and answer these questions honestly and concisely. 

[Thursday] Identify the positive motivational action words that inspire or move you

On a piece of paper or a note -taking device, write at least 10 positive or motivational words that activate you. Think about why these words motivate you.

How do they make you feel? Answer these questions for each of the words that you have identified. 

[Friday} Affirm it!

Make an affirmation for each of the positive and or motivational words that you've selected.

Create each affirmation starting with "I" or I AM... in present tense. 

[Saturday] Make the affirmation clear and concise

For example, I AM... Creating the life of my desires. Ooh. Make your affirmation SMART. It's time to elevate the experience.

Let's get Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. You know our favorite thing at Sincerely, Sherrise™ . 

Say it with me: 

I AM... Creating the life of my desires AND I WILL... Commit to being SMART, aligning my thoughts, beliefs and actions daily to achieve the desires of my heart.

Repeat this process for each of the positive or motivational words that you have selected earlier this week. 

[Sunday] Record your affirmations

Ooh.

Recite your affirmations with conviction and record them on your preferred recording device. Make sure that they are believable, Achievable and SMART. Save them, name them, date them and reference them. 

Ooh, if and whenever you need to, they are at your disposal. 

Yes. 

Say it with me:

I AM... Living my best life AND (daily) I WILL... Be grateful for this amazing, beautiful life that I live.

Share this episode with at least three people. By doing that, you'll be inspiring them to be the best version of themselves and helping them to love and understand themselves from the INSIDEOUT.

If you need a little help affirming or maybe you love the affirmation in this episode, don't hesitate to grab a copy of I AM AND I WILL: The A-Z of Positive Affirmations and Call to Actions. Join me on Instagram @SincerelySherrise or via my personal Instagram account @SherriseMarshalleck I'd love to say hi and engage a little.

Don't be shy to grab a screenshot of this episode or tag me in a picture of your journal sessions using the workbooks which are available to download via SherriseMarshalleck.com/SincerelySherrise 

Please rate and review the Sincerely, Sherrise™ podcast. This is so helpful and would mean so much to my team and I. It only takes a few seconds. Ooh. 

If you'd like to share your affirmations with the Sincerely, Sherrise™ team and I.

Feel free to head over to SherriseMarshalleck.com/AffirmIt to submit your affirmations. 

Head over to the blog for some provocative topics, personal journal entries, and so much more via SherriseMarshalleck.com/Blog Feel free to tune in to the latest. Sincerely, Sherrise™ Mixxx to catch a vibe, vibe, vibe, vibe, vibe via SherriseMarshalleck.com/InTheMixxxWithSincerelySherrise Sincerely, Sherrise™ 

Learn more about INSIDEOUT: The World Tour of Wellness Experiences via SherriseMarshalleck.com/INSIDEOUT.

As always, thank you so very much for kickstarting your week with me. 

Until next Monday, 

Have yourself an amazing and blessed week. 

Sincerely, Sherrise™ 

Ciao.