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MAY 4TH, 2011, AUTHOR: STEVEN HANDEL, CATEGORIES: PSYCHOLOGY

Neurons that fire together wire together. So the more we practice having thoughts or beliefs that benefit our well-being, the more naturally those thoughts and beliefs will play themselves out in our everyday life.

Affirmations are one way to develop new beliefs that can eventually become second-nature. Every morning or evening we can repeat these affirmations with a clear and focused mind, and with practice these beliefs can take hold inside our brains.

One caveat, however, is to make sure that the affirmations you repeat to yourself are congruent with reality, and aligned with your core values. I’ve seen many people come up with delusional affirmations and then attempt to ingrain them into their minds. Even when they do succeed, those beliefs can be detrimental.

Please be aware of the meaning and intention behind the affirmation before you decide to “program it” into your mind.

The following is just a list of suggestions on some of the affirmations you may want to practice. Feel free to use the ones you think will benefit you, and disregard the ones you disagree with. Hopefully this list can also motivate you to think of some unique affirmations of your own.

I recommend only practicing 1 or 2 affirmations at a time. And the affirmations you choose to practice should largely depend on your current goals in self-improvement.

75 Affirmations for Self Improvement

1. Everyday, in every way, I am getting better and better.

2. Every failure can be a learning experience.

3. Live in the present moment.

4. I create value in other peoples’ lives.

5. I am always changing.

6. I am worthy of positive relationships in my life.

7. I wish the best for everyone.

8. I learn something new everyday.

9. I am genuinely interested in other people.

10. I have many strengths.

11. I don’t worry about the things I can’t control.

12. Listening to my emotions can help guide me to make better decisions.

13. My anxiety is motivation to change or improve.

14. I can overcome obstacles in my life.

15. I am a positive role model to others.

16. I will try something different today.

17. Stepping outside of my comfort zone is necessary for growth.

18. People are generally good.

19. I forgive anyone who has hurt me in the past.

20. I have a rich and supportive social circle.

21. What doesn’t kill me only makes me stronger.

22. My past is one big learning experience.

23. I must be the change I wish to see in the world.

24. I will try to be more understanding of others.

25. Depression is just a stepping stone.

26. This too shall pass.

27. I can find happiness in every moment.

28. I’m a proactive problem-solver.

29. When I open my mind and senses, I’m much more creative.

30. I can create my own positive energy.

31. When people get to know me, they really like me.

32. Just do it.

33. I can see the bigger picture.

34. I see money as a useful tool for helping myself and others.

35. I take small steps everyday to be more healthy.

36. I’m dedicated to my passions in life.

37. I have the resources to take care of my family.

38. My negative emotions can serve a positive function.

39. I determine the meaning of my life.

40. Every decision I make helps shape my destiny.

41. No risk, no reward.

42. I remain focused on what matters.

43. I participate in life, I don’t wait for it to happen.

44. I will be more conscious when acting and making decisions.

45. I can think rationally and intelligently.

46. I’m dedicated to self improvement.

47. I treat others with kindness and respect.

48. If I want something I’ve never had, I must do something I’ve never done.

49. I know when to relax and not take life so seriously.

50. Nature doesn’t hurry, yet all is accomplished.

51. I can accept criticism without taking it personally.

52. I love and accept my body.

53. When I love myself, I allow others to love me too.

54. Most of the limitations in my life are fictional.

55. I narrate the story of my life.

56. I exude purpose and joy.

57. All is well, right here, right now.

58. Today, I open my mind to the endless opportunities surrounding me.

59. I am grateful for the people in my life.

60. I am my own best friend.

61. I can find balance in my life.

62. I am mindful of my health and well-being.

63. I exercise freedom in all aspects of my life.

64. I know when to trust my intuition.

65. I can gain knowledge in anything if I’m willing to learn.

66. I strive to achieve my goals and values in life.

67. I can only give happiness to others once I have found happiness in myself.

68. I’m optimistic about the future.

69. I have all the material luxury I need.

70. I’m thankful for everything in my life.

71. I’m interconnected with everything in the universe.

72. I’m productive in achieving what I want in life.

73. Small changes on a daily basis lead to big changes over time.

74. Most of the time there is nothing to fear.

75. When life gets tough, I can persist.

1958, Munich, Germany:  Samuel Smart, an American military dependent, was not the fastest, best fielder, or batter on his Little League team, the ‘NCO Cadets’.  He was one of the most intense and was nicknamed “Sammy Hustle” by his coaches.  Regardless of inning or score Sammy would hustle on and off the field between innings – often arriving at the bench from his Center Field position before his 1^st or 2^nd basemen teammates.

6^th inning, 2 out, runner on 1^st, Sammy at bat:  Opposing pitcher with blazing throwing speed for a 12-year-old already had 10 strikeouts.  Sammy liked to hit pitches that were a little ‘high & inside’.  The Pitcher knew this and immediately got two called strikes on ‘low & away’ pitches.  Although Sammy disagreed with the calls at 0 – 2 he knew that showing upset with the Umpire was futile.

Sammy fouled-off the next ‘low & away’ pitch – driving it outside the Right Field Foul Line.  He did the same with the next two pitches.  Still at 0 – 2, the Pitcher threw a low inside pitch pushing Sammy outside the Batter’s Box.  Count 1 – 2.  Next pitch was a low screamer about to catch the outside edge of the Plate.  Defending the Plate Sammy swung at the last minute and again drove the ball to the far right.

The Pitcher persisted with low-outside pitches.  Each time Sammy fouled the pitches beyond First Base.  With seven foul balls to the right both teams and the parents in the stands were becoming edgy.  The fielders began fudging over toward the Right Field Foul Line.  A ball thrown ‘way outside’ moved the Count to 2 – 2.

Sammy was not trying to hit foul balls.  He was only trying to ‘stay alive’ at the Plate by taking the decision out of the Umpires hands and waiting for a Walk or ‘his pitch’.

Three more line-drive fouls outside the First Base Line.  The Right Fielder moved to stand on the Foul Line.  The Center and Left Fielders moved whole positions to their left.

Two more ‘low & away’ pitches – two more fouls.  Sammy’s teammates on the bench began clapping and stomping their feet.  They were joined by most people in the stands.

The Pitcher let a ‘wild-one’ go way inside – Full Count, 3 Balls – 2 Strikes.     Two more outside pitches.  Two more foul balls outside Right Field.

After throwing 19 straight pitches the weary-armed Pitcher delivered his 20^th pitch.  It sailed-in like a beach ball ‘high & inside’.  With all of the focus like a warrior in battle Sammy swatted the pitch down the 3^rd Base Line.  As the 3^rd Baseman had, many fouls before, moved far inside the Base Line neither he nor the Left Fielder were anywhere near the driving ball.

Sammy tore around 1^st, heading for 2^nd.   By the time the Left Fielder retrieved the ball it had rolled all the way to the Fence.  Erectly occupying 3^rd Base Sammy stood as if this were completely normal.

**

40 years later, back in the USA, I happened to get a phone call from one of my fellow players on that Little League team.  We had not talked or communicated in any way since that 1958 season.  After a brief ‘catch-up’ and without any prompting we fell into reminiscing about Sammy Smart’s 6^th inning ‘at bat’.  Neither one of us could remember who won the game or even who the other team was.   However, with crystal clarity we each remembered the exact pitch-count and how Sammy prevailed after fouling-away 14 pitches.  We confided that it was one of our favorite childhood memories.

After that season had I moved back to the US and never saw Sammy or any of those teammates again.  Yet, countless times I shared this story with future teammates, friends, and colleagues.

For me it has always been an inspiring story about ‘never giving-up’.  It still is.  Through all of Life’s ‘ups and downs’ one of my practices encourages me that, “When I’m focused, at some point, a floating beach ball will come my way that I can smack all the way to the Fence.”  Since I never know when that will be I must ‘Keep Swinging!’.

What are your thoughts about how we can protect ourselves and in the process improve our communities and countries?  How can Small Bites assist you?

Vampires? Real or imagined?

What ‘blood suckers’ are actually among us?

–       Power-crazed, violence-prone despots

–       Politicians who claim to act toward community well-being but are all-out for self-advantage

–       Corporate leaders who use financial, political, and media leverage to push through self-benefitting policies that act against the larger public interest

–       Corporate raiders and short-selling hedge-fund provocateurs who manipulate stock prices for self-gain and in the process damage companies, products, and employees

–       Government bureaucrats who hold public hostage with delays and denials while pocketing unreported/unreceipted fees

–       Teachers with prejudices and/or incompetence that suck the energy and innovative spirit from students

–       People who claim that God told them they had the right and duty to judge and harm others

–       Any body who steals from or physically harms another for only personal gain; i.e., drug-dealers, human-traffickers, child-abusers

How do we protect ourselves from these blood-suckers?

Gandhi said that if we want to make the world a better place it has to start with us.

Virtues of honesty, civility, compassion, integrity, discipline, perseverance, and courage are not weaknesses to be exploited.  They are shields.  They can be learned and developed into effective habits to guide our actions.  The collaborative and collective actions of persons of virtue are the only effective bulwark against greed and corruption.

RSA – Positive Thinking

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