In my previous article we talked about visualisation as a powerful tool for bringing about change, either in you personally or to improve your situation or circumstances. If you are not really a visual sort of person, you may find that affirmations are a more useful tool.

Affirmations are short statements of your potential and power to change and can be used for improving many life areas, including self-esteem and confidence, relationships, mental (and sometimes physical) health, and for achieving success in whatever it is you desire. They resemble visualisation with mental images, but words are used instead. Words you say out loud, repeat in your mind, read or write each day that will help you internalize the person you want to be and the things you want to achieve.

Words can be incredibly empowering or disempowering. Unless you have very strong self-esteem and self-belief, negative words can cut deeply, creating wounds that can last a lifetime. Positive words on the other hand have the power to heal those wounds, and rebuild you better than ever before.

So, how do you use affirmations? I find that one of the easiest ways to create affirmations is to first write down my current negative thoughts, then write the opposite of that thought. For example I think "I'm hopeless at selling" - replace with "I'm a great salesperson" or (see below) "I'm in the process of becoming a great saleperson".

It has been said that affirmations should be said in the present tense, starting with the words: "I am" or "I can", such as "I am intelligent" or "I am confident and outgoing" or "I can be strong". This can work, however I tend to agree with Michael Losier who has stated in his "Law of Attraction" (2006) book, that positive affirmations can have a negative vibration if the statement activates doubt in your mind or sub-conscious. The key is that the affirmation needs to be true for you, in order to work and to make you feel good. For this reason, he suggests that affirmations be prefaced with "I'm in the process of ..." , for example,

" I'm in the process of creating the ideal relationship
" I'm in the process of becoming more prosperous and abundance
" I'm in the process of having ideal health
" I'm in the process of growing my business

Just by saying the affirmation in this way, you ARE in the process! However, just repeating the words is not enough. For affirmations to produce results, they should be repeated often with feeling and conviction, until your subconscious believes it, and starts reinforcing your new way of life. It's really a matter of taking control of your conscious mind and replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, which will in time lead to your subconscious mind also producing positive and empowering thoughts.

Some more ideas on how to work with affirmations:

" Repeat your affirmations to yourself at night as you go to sleep, so they are seeping into your sub-conscious while you sleep (or if you wake during the night, the repetition can be useful to help send you back to sleep).
" Try placing a copy on the wall beside your bathroom mirror, so you see it each morning and evening.
" Place a copy on an index card which you carry in your pocket, and refer to several times a day..
" Consider recording yourself saying the affirmation over and over onto a tape or MP3 player, and then listen to this whenever you have a chance. This can add value to the time you spend driving to and from work.

Commit to this for the next 90 days, and see the changes it makes in your life. Like any tool, if you use it correctly you'll get great results. If you use it incorrectly, you'll get poor results. Remember to really feel how great it would feel to have that affirmation manifest in your life right now.

I know affirmations have had a very positive effect in my life, they have helped to strengthen ambition, create new solutions and activate my subconscious mind to help make dreams come true. I am sure they can help you too.

About The Author:
Ruth Bridgewood is a qualified Life Coach, Counsellor and Hypnotherapist specialising in on-line personal growth courses, tools and resources. For more articles and to claim your free self-improvement e-books, visit www.inspirit-persgrowth.com

The Great Apo Island.

Thirty kilometers south of Dumaguete lies Dauin municipality where a boat is waiting to take us to Apo Island. Amidst the wild water waves and trembling passengers due to constant seawater splashes and swayings of the boat, we finally arrived to the place called Apo Island.

Splendid indeed. Nothing can encompass its scenic view and peaceful environment.  All we can say is WOW!

Here we are, though awfully scared about the trip but was now exceptionally happy feasting our lunchies care of our sponsor Jollibee!! hahah!

Oh! we really got hungry after all those battle against the sea monster, see our smiles here! lol!

But this is not just it! urrghh! the most tiring part of all...the breathtaking climb of two mountains with only 300 steps (breath taking as in we almost lost our breaths in this trek!), their famous Eco Trail. And our kind tourguide also suggested a quick trip to the lighthouse which we willingfully said NO! ...haha! 

The Breathtaking Looks of the Offline Support team. hahaha!

The view from the top...splendid!

And we've finally reached the snorkling and diving place called The Sanctuary. Its amazing to see those colorful fishes and corals, its like a giant aquarium, just watch out for the sharks..harharhar!

And here we are again posing against the wild waves...

This is me.. a solo pose with the rocks!

Uhm, whats up there? snakes?!waaah! crazy! just the marvelous rock formations! poses guys!

And this wraps up our Apo Is. tour with our poses underneath a little cave..

The Offline Support Team of IBM-Sprint: From L to R : Yami, Cliede, TL Kate, Krystel, Jenny, Rica and Anne...

Quotes to share:

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”-  Paulo Coelho

The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey

  A Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market.
As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them
and said: "You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?"

  So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their
way.  But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said: "See
that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides."

  So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself.
But they hadn't gone far when they passed two women, one of whom
said to the other: "Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little
son trudge along."

  Well, the Man didn't know what to do, but at last he took his
Boy up before him on the Donkey.  By this time they had come to
the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them.  The
Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at.  The men said:
"Aren't you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey
with you and your hulking son?"

The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do.  They
thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole, tied
the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to
their shoulders.  They went along amid the laughter of all who met
them till they came to Market Bridge, when the Donkey, getting one
of his feet loose, kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end
of the pole.  In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and
his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.

  "That will teach you," said an old man who had followed them:

 "Please all, and you will please none."