Steps to Neutralizing Negative Thoughts with Positive Affirmations
“What you think you become. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you create.” ~Buddha
All day long our thoughts guide us and manifest into our reality. Sometimes we manifest good into our lives and sometimes we let our negative thoughts create our reality. Negative thoughts, especially when we are preparing for childbirth, tend to creep in no matter how “positive” we try to be. Sometimes we aren’t aware that the negative thought train has left the building. It’s important to first become aware of our thoughts. Next step you might like to try, in order to neutralize your negative thoughts, is using positive affirmations. Here’s how to create the positive affirmations that are custom tailored just for you.
Step 1: Draw a simple table with two columns. On the left side write down your negative thoughts: your doubts, anxieties, fears and worries about anything to do with your baby coming into the world and becoming a new mom.
Write them down as soon as they come to mind - without judgement or analysis.
You may wish to do this privately, or sometimes it's interesting for expectant parents to write their lists separately, then come together to discuss.
Getting negative thoughts out and writing them down goes a long way to neutralize them, which otherwise, left unprocessed, might interfere with your ability to stay out of fight of flight during birth and parenting.
Step 2: Now on the right, think up some 'antidotes' - your positive affirmations. The way you word them is personal to you, but use positively worded phrases in the present tense (i.e. don't make negative statements in the future tense such as "The pain won't be too bad". Rather say something like "I take all of the natural sensations in my stride"
Step 3: Design your personal birth affirmations so you can display them in prominent places that you will see on a daily basis. Put them up around your home or work, on your phone / computer, in your car - anywhere you will see them regularly and be reminded of maintaining your positive mindset...
Step 5: Repeat this exercise every few weeks, because your feelings may change and evolve.
Happy Manifesting! Jen & Amanda