Using Mantras/Affirmations to Stay positive

It’s no secret that the mind is a powerful tool. However, the average person only uses about 10% of their mind. When you think of that, it is incredible. And you may be wondering what happens to the other 90%? The answer is that, for the most part, it just sits there idle. But that doesn’t mean it’s useless.

The other 90% of your mind is actually very powerful and can be used to your advantage if you know how to tap into it. For example, one way you can use your mind to help yourself is to become a more positive person who thinks more highly of yourself.

Stop Right There. You have just read the first two paragraphs without questioning… the idea that we only use 10% of our brain is entirely baloney…The widely held belief that humans use only 10% of their brains is a myth. Scientific research has consistently demonstrated that we utilize virtually all parts of our brain.

Brain Imaging Studies: Techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) have shown that various regions of the brain are active during different tasks and even at rest another. The brain constitutes roughly 2% of body weight but consumes approximately 20% of the body’s energy, suggesting that it is highly active and metabolically demanding.

The 10% myth likely originated from misinterpretations or misrepresentations of early neurological research. Psychologist William James once suggested that we use only a small part of our mental resources, but he did not specify a percentage. The myth gained popularity through self-help literature, notably in the preface to Dale Carnegie’s 1936 book How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Modern neuroscience confirms that we use all parts of our brain, and there is no evidence to support the claim that 90% remains dormant. While not all regions are active simultaneously, over time, the entire brain is engaged in various functions essential to our daily lives

After all, what you think about yourself and your abilities can significantly impact your life. Because of this, it helps to develop and stay in a positive mindset. The more positive you feel, the more you’ll like yourself (and others), and the more you like yourself, the more you’ll accomplish in life.

The reason for including the myth of the 10% brain function was to demonstrate that Mantras/Affirmations are not some esoteric magic pill that you are forced to swallow rather there is scientific evidence and a real base of scientific literature that supports the use and function of Mantras/Affirmation.

Here is just a sample of evidence for Mantra Meditation Reduces Stress and Anxiety

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2022) examined 51 studies involving over 4,000 participants. It found that mantra-based meditation significantly reduced symptoms of:

A 2022 review in Frontiers in Psychology concluded that mantra chanting is associated with:

The rhythmic nature of mantras is thought to induce a meditative state that helps shift attention away from negative thoughts.

One fMRI-based study showed that mantra meditation deactivates the brain’s Default Mode Network (DMN), which is associated with self-referential thinking and rumination—two common features of anxiety and depression.

Improves heart rate variability (HRV—an indicator of autonomic nervous system health

One way you can accomplish becoming more positive is by using affirmations. Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself aloud. They can be about anything you want, but they’re typically about something you want to achieve or believe.

For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, you might say, “I am healthy and deserve happiness and to feel good in my own skin.” Or, if you’re trying to achieve a goal, you might say, “I am capable, and I will succeed.” To become more positive, you might say, “I am worthy of love and respect.” “I am enough.” “I am responsible for my own happiness.”

What you pick depends totally on what negative thoughts you have that need to be turned around. Sometimes it can help to choose neutral sayings instead of overly positive ones if they make you feel too judgmental of yourself. For example, “I’m okay right this minute” can be better than, “I’m perfect right this minute.” depending on how your internal thought process goes.

The point of affirmations is to help you change your thinking from negative to positive. By repeating these statements to yourself, you can start to believe them and then act accordingly.

If you’re new to affirmations, start by finding some that resonate with you. There are plenty of lists of affirmations you can borrow from folks online, or you can even create your own based on your goals. Then, once you have a few, start saying them to yourself every day – either when you wake up or at night before bed.

One thing to notice is that you may feel silly when you first get started using affirmations. You may not even believe your affirmations at first, but that’s okay. Just keep repeating them, and eventually they will sink in.

Mantras are a simple but powerful tool that can help you stay in a positive mindset when used regularly and consistently over time to improve your thought process.

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T.Khan

Content Writer at Giggle Gazette