The Science of Intention Setting
Using Intentions and affirmations helps you to consciously choose your thoughts and feelings.
Affirming them regularly programs your subconscious mind for success.
The mind gives you the incredible ability to create your reality. The key to success lies in effectively setting clear intentions and using affirmations.
Affirmations are powerful statements infused with positive emotions, faith, positive energy, gratitude, and forward movement.
Every goal that we have first depends on imagining it, then believing it can happen, and finally taking the necessary steps to actualize it.
More explicitly, if you can see it and believe it, you can make it happen.
By reprogramming the outdated limiting thoughts and beliefs, you can recalibrate your brain for successful positive change.
In fact, this is neuroplasticity in action.
The subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real or imagined.
By visualizing the life that we want, we are one step closer to actualizing it.
Ultimately, when we place our intentions at the forefront of our consciousness, we begin to manifest them rapidly.
How Do I Start Manifesting?
The best way to initiate the manifestation process is to set a clear intention; Be clear about what you want and why you want it. Create positive statements
Popularly, many people set intentions at the beginning of the year, day, month, or moon cycle. Other opportune times for setting an intention are before projects- big or small.
Simply speaking, tell yourself (read: your subconscious mind) what you are doing and why you are doing it.
In doing so, your subconscious will be fully prepared to help guide you and drive you to where you are going.
Remember to breathe
Be sure to take a few deep breaths to ground and clear your mind. Being in a relaxed state improves the flow of creating your affirmations and intentions to match the energy that you need in the given moment.
The more you use affirmations and manifestation techniques, the easier it will get. Soon, it will become like second nature and the benefits will be undeniable! Enjoy the process.
You are only a few deep breaths and positive affirmations away from creating the life of your dreams.
Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
Instead, when we are consciously clear about our intentions, with ourselves, the universe, and others, life flows more smoothly.
The Basic Anatomy of an Intention
Be specific. Clearly state what you want and why you want it.
-I intend to create nutritious, nourishing, and delicious food for my family.
-My intention is for everyone to feel fantastic, healthy, and energetic.
-My intention for this smoothie is to release inflammation and heal my body.
-I intend to maintain healthy blood sugar levels for optimum health and well-being.
The Link Between Intentions and the Subconscious Mind
Indeed, setting intentions is a powerful way to signal to your body what you want it to do before eating a nutritious meal. Your subconscious controls your body, too.
Imagine yourself cutting into a lemon and squeezing the juice into your mouth.
Imagine you are tasting the tangy, sour juices on your tongue and feeling its coldness on your lips. Do you feel your mouth watering?
I know that if I just think about a sour food such as lemon juice my mouth begins to water.
If merely thinking about eating a lemon can trigger your salivary glands, imagine the impact your thoughts have on other automatic bodily processes. Your mind is truly powerful!
Important notes
Make sure you are speaking and thinking kindly about your body! What we speak and think we tend to believe. Without a doubt, your subconscious and the universe will conspire to actualize this as your reality.
To be healthy, we must fuel our bodies with good food AND good thoughts. (and feelings too!)
Doing this, while being fully present, is the key to success!
Check out this powerful story of a woman who turned pain into healing.
Creating Powerful Affirmations
Affirmations are positive thoughts formed into statements and repeated like a mantra.
Some examples of daily positive affirmations:
-I am healthy. I am living my best life. My positive mindset creates a happy life.
-I feel energized and motivated. I feel fantastic in my own skin. I am worthy of love. I enjoy a healthy relationship with myself and others. I give and receive unconditional love. I am loveable.
-I have more than enough money. I manifest abundance effortlessly. I am a money magnet.
-I am confident and inspiring. I am living my dream life and working in my dream job. I am the best version of myself. I enjoy positive thinking. I am filled with gratitude and self love. I share my positive outlook with the world.
-I am safe. Only good things are coming to me now. I am always in the right place at the right time.
-My blood pressure stays within healthy levels. I feel fantastic! I make healthy life changes with ease.
Important Tips
The most important thing to remember when creating affirmations is structuring them in the PRESENT TENSE rather than in past or future tense.
Expressly, speak matter of factly, as if you have what you desire right now. When stating these positive sentences, do so with as much emotional emphasis as possible.
FEEL your desired feeling. FEEL grateful, as if you have what you are affirming RIGHT NOW. If you don't happen to feel fantastic, imagine how it feels.
More specifically, you can recall a time when you felt your absolute best.
Invitation
I invite you to sit with that memory for as long as you can. Undoubtedly, the feeling portion of an affirmation is just as important as the declaration.
Remember, the subconscious does not know the difference between what is real or imagined. You have so much power here! In my opinion, affirmations are prayers and are the most powerful tool to shift things to a healthy and desired space.
Be Willing to Let Go of Limiting Beliefs
Initially, manifesting our goals and setting intentions often trigger automatic negative thoughts (ANTs). ANTs often show up as doubts, fears, criticisms, negative energy, skepticism, negative self-talk, and the like.
ANTs stem from past experiences, resistance to change, perceived failures, and perceived limitations/ shortcomings. We must reprogram these negative words and thoughts without shame or judgment.
ANTs do not support the reality we are creating. The good news is when we recognize the unhelpful thoughts, we take small steps on a daily basis to reprogram the narrative in a positive way. The power of manifestation begins with non-judgemental self-awareness.
Examples of Reframing ANTs
For instance; “I don’t have enough time” would simply reframe to
-I have more than enough time in my daily life.
-I can effortlessly create healthy practices in my own life.
-I am getting better and better at managing my time and preparing healthy food.
-I make health a priority and my body rewards me for it.
Every time an ANT pops up, search for an equally opposite self-affirming statement to reprogram.
A good rule of thumb is three positive affirmations per one negative thought. Sometimes when ANTs come rapidly, you can immediately say “cancel-cancel” or “delete-delete.”
Healing is an ongoing process. Remember, You are reclaiming your power and programming your subconscious. This is powerful work!
Release the Desire to Know Exactly HOW it is Going to Happen
The critical and analytical mind tends to believe that we have to know how something will happen in order to believe it is possible.
This misconception often prevents us from moving forward.
Trust the process and you will begin to see how the universe clears the path. In doing so, our ability to see it gets clearer.
Magic happens when we release these self-imposed obstacles and dare to believe that a way will show up at the exact right time.
Once we begin to have faith, our eyes open to ALL THE POSSIBILITIES.
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (NIV). Matthew 17:20
Leave the HOW Up to God’s Perfect Universe
Leave the HOW up to God's Perfect Universe
The 'next right steps' will reveal themselves in perfect timing. If you feel resistance at first, repeat this affirmation:
Everything is working out in divine timing. I trust the process. I am on the right track.
Seriously, trust the process!
Pay attention to signs and opportunities to move forward in the direction of your goals and intentions.
Commit to taking each next right step forward in the direction of your dreams.
When you do this, you are actively participating in its manifestation.
“Clear intentions + committed action = desired results.”
It really is that simple!
Experience Gratitude NOW
Gratitude seals the deal every time. Gratitude moves mountains in our hearts and minds, which progresses into our experience.
After all, its’ mere consideration is enough to shift the present moment from despair to peace, joy, and love.
Gratitude brings you back into the present moment.
Gratitude solidifies the intentions and affirmations within your subconscious and promotes a desire to maintain that experience.
Certainly, gratitude attracts more to be grateful for.
Tips for Using Intentions and Affirmations
Write down a list of affirmations
Write your intentions and affirmations repeatedly!
The process of programming the subconscious benefits from repetition.
This helps in creating new neural pathways and programs.
Particularly, an affirmation journal is a great way to start!
Listen to self-hypnosis recordings
or affirmation recordings. You can do this in the car, shower, or before dozing off to sleep.
A powerful place to speak your positive daily affirmations is in front of a mirror.
When to Set Intentions
The best times to set an intention are before bed, first thing in the morning, and in preparation for an event or activity. You can set intentions for the day, week, month, and year.
It's also beneficial to set intentions for a project. We highly recommend setting an intention before preparing and sitting down to enjoy a meal.
Taking the time to choose nutrient-dense foods to prepare and consume combined with high-vibrational intentions and affirmations activates your cells to receive the most significant benefits in mind and body.
No act is too big or too small to have a clear and positive intention in mind.
This practice of setting intentions helps to reprogram and align the subconscious and conscious mind to be fully present in manifesting our lives.
Program your food and water
Before drinking or eating it for vibrant health and optimal nutrient assimilation.
Setting intentions for what you consume is a potent practice that speaks directly to your cells to use the food and water you are about to consume for your highest good.
Remember to include your health and healing goals and intentions!
-Write words of affirmation on your water bottle! Yes, words have energy and power!
You will not only be drinking to hydrate and replenish your body but also with whatever intention you write on the bottle.
Try it for yourself!
Get pictures, quotes, and affirmations that inspire you
Strategically place them around your home where you will see them daily.
These pictures generate an emotion that brings your intentions into the present moment and keeps them vibrationally active.
Do mirror work
To illustrate, repeat your affirmations and intentions aloud while looking at yourself in the mirror.
This is a powerful self-healing and cathartic practice that will help you develop a better relationship with yourself while truly connecting with your affirmations.
Remember, learning and relearning is a process. Be easy on yourself. Give yourself grace.
Delve deeply into the art of manifestation with my intensive workshop coming soon!
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What are your experiences with setting intentions and using affirmations? Share with me in the comments below!
Be well and happy manifesting!
Natalie
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