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Before we go into the details about how you can best create positive affirmation cards, let’s just quickly go over what they are in case you don’t already know. Simply put, they mainly consist of statements used to promote self-change written out on index cards or just on paper. This is primarily done by using optimistic words of inspiration to help you focus on an attribute you want to remember throughout the day. This is helpful to increase the potential for improvement in any area of your life you would like to work on.

So the very first thing you’re going to do is take a moment to ponder over what you want to work on improving in your life. You see, the great thing about creating your very own positive affirmation cards is the fact that you’re able to make them personal by writing them about anything you want to change, improve, or experience in your life.

Maybe you want to work on your feelings or experiences of self-worth, self-esteem, or inner strength with dealing with certain circumstances or situations in your life. A thought process or way of thinking you want to change for the better or improve by working on increasing your confidence in any particular skill or feeling, perhaps even confidence itself. They can even be written as reminders to improve your spending, and saving habits, routines, choices towards career development, time spent with friends and family, or to slow down and enjoy life and the present moment. Also, you can write them to help encourage yourself to develop better physical health habits whether it be exercise or eating healthier. I think you get the big picture, there is no limit to what positive affirmation cards can be created for.

General Guidelines

When it comes to how to write out affirmations there are a few general guidelines. The general guidelines are the most common characteristics that nearly all statements follow. Later on, I’m going to include some additional tips and suggestions that you can pick and choose from that will make your statements even more powerful. However, first, let’s go over the more common and easy instructions you should follow.

First-Person ‘I’ Statements

Creating positive affirmation cards is very easy. The most basic and simplest way to start writing your affirmations is to write a series of statements that state what you have or what you want to experience more of. They could be: I am, I have, I love, I enjoy, and so on.

Here are a few examples:
“I am happy”, “I have confidence in myself” “I love working out”, “I enjoy healthy snacks”,

While at the same time you want to try and avoid statements that don’t confirm anything. Words like hope, need and want. Instead, it’s best to stick with phrases that confirm what you have, or affirm what you want more of. This allows your brain to accept it as a fact and to concentrate more on the area your focus is on so it can become better, or greater than its current state.

This brings us to the next general rule.

Present Tense

When you create your positive affirmation make sure to stay in the now, here, and this moment in time. Whatever area you are working on improving, state what you have in a clear understanding way that tells your brain this characteristic is going to, from this moment on, show itself at a stronger more abundant level. In other words, similar to what I was saying in the first guideline, except this time also try not to speak of a future you can not guarantee. So don’t start by saying “Next week, month, year…” or “when I get, gain, lose…” “Within, someday, later,…” Basically, stick with the here and now. You can say today, this morning, all day type statements, just make sure it’s in the present tense to be most effective.

And that brings us to the next point.

Optimistic Statements Only

When it comes to creating a positive affirmation be sure to avoid negative statements at all costs. You do this by making sure you put your focus on the things you want, and not things you’re trying to get rid of in your life.

This means you don’t want statements like: “I no longer smoke cigarettes”
Try restating it more optimistically: ” I am making better and healthier choices”

Instead of “I no longer eat greasy unhealthy food”
Try saying “I feel better when I eat healthier”

Instead of “I no longer waste money”
Phrase it “I love saving money”

The bottom line is, you can not make positive affirmations by using negative statements. So just make sure to take the time to come up with a more upbeat way of phrasing your statement.

Don’t Sweat the Details

It’s good to know what you want, and it’s also good to have a basic idea of how to get there. However, you don’t want to be rigid and demanding with your statements. Whatever you’re working on, life will present you with opportunities for you to use it. This also goes for deadlines. You do not want your phrases to dictate when you accomplish your goal. Whatever it is you want to work on may not manifest itself when and how you want, so just keep that in mind.

For You and Only You

When you create your affirmations, be sure you are writing them for yourself. What I mean by this is you create them for the things you want to change or improve not what others want to see in you. So forget what others want, and go have fun and create them for the things you feel are best for you.

So we have gone over the basic guidelines for creating simple straightforward I statements. Now what I would like to introduce you to is how you can make additional types of positive affirmations. I’ve created an outline of how you can also use or write your statements depending on your confidence level in the area you wish to improve upon.

First, before we begin let’s look at the traditional way that most people use their I am … phrases. The common theory that is used is generally based on an ‘act as if,’ or ‘fake it till you make it,’ type of thinking. Personally, I don’t agree with this method because I believe our subconscious mind is smarter than being fooled into believing in something that we feel/know is fundamentally not true. This is purely just my opinion, so if you wish to use the traditional method, by all means, go ahead because the main objective is simply to provide you with various ideas and tips so you can make your own positive affirmation cards that you feel will work best for you.

Traditional, Fake it til you Make it

With this method, you simply phrase your statements in a way that describes a behavior, experience, trait, or characteristic as though it already exists. You simply imagine in your conscious mind whatever it is you truly wish to achieve as though it is real and has already happened. Then state your goal in an optimistic tone to yourself with the belief that you can reprogram your subconscious into believing it is true. If you can mentally experience your objective then your desires are more likely to materialize.

Creating some affirmations using the traditional method is pretty simple and straightforward. I am fit. I am healthy, I am happy, I am wealthy, I am confident, I am strong, and so on.

Non-traditional, Various Levels of True Statements

With this method, you create your phrases by building on a true fact about yourself that your subconscious can not argue with. Affirming the truth acknowledges a fact and reminds you of the greatness within you so you’re encouraged to act upon it. When you use something within yourself, you tend to become better at it. For example, let’s say you were thinking of ‘I am wealthy.’

However, you know you’re not, but wait, you have been thinking about saving some money. Maybe you opened a new bank account, or put a little money away in a tin can. Well, you can say ‘I am saving money.’ It could lead to ‘I like saving money,’ ‘I enjoy saving money,’ ‘I love saving money,’ or ‘I am making good financial choices.’

Another example could be confidence. You want to say ‘I am confident,’ however, you feel it’s not true. The truth is you know you can improve it, therefore you do have some confidence. So you begin with that fact. ‘I have confidence.’ Over time as you come to realize there are times in life when you are confident you can switch to ‘I am confident with my knowledge about _‘. Over time your confidence level will naturally increase because you’re conscious of the fact. Basically, when starting out you build on your strengths.

I will now lay out the basic outline of levels for you because in areas of your life you’re working on, you will be at a different experience or confidence level.

Experience/Confidence level types

Level 1: Simple baby step for starting out

In the beginning, working on improving something about yourself can be difficult. Your brain has already been preprogrammed to tell the conscious part that you are weak in this area. Starting off with a small simple truth is a great way to start, however, you can also use other I statements that could boost it. Try using I know, I choose, I expect, or I believe. At this level just be sure to keep it simple, true, and doable.

examples: ‘I know I can do this,’ ‘I choose to be optimistic today,’ ‘I expect to feel better when I ….’.

Level 2: Statement affirming what you know is true

This type of positive affirmation is created to acknowledge a skill or characteristic you have. You want to use these from time to time so you can give yourself a pat on the back, you’re doing great, keep up the good work type of mentality. In other words, it’s a great way to be your own cheerleader. Create some affirmations that state the things you like about yourself or the good things in your life. Doing these statements helps your mind to realize and accept the truth in the areas that you are working on.

examples: ‘I enjoy going for walks,’ ‘I love saving money,’ ‘My family loves me.’

Level 3: Challenge yourself to improve more

At this point, you are feeling a bit stronger and you want to continue to strengthen the area you’re working on by creating an action or a way to experience it by introducing a small doable challenge. This also helps you to think about what you’re working on while going about your day. The more you practice a particular skill, attribute, or challenge, the stronger and more capable you become.

examples: ‘I am smart, today I am going to research this subject so I will know more.’
‘I am good at painting and today I will paint a fantastic picture.’
‘I am more confident and I am going to ask questions today.’

Level 4: Affirm with gratitude

Creating some phrases that begin with I am thankful, or grateful allows you to show appreciation for the things you enjoy in yourself and/or life. So it is kinda like level two however it also gives you the chance to acknowledge the areas of your life that have improved. When you realize your improvements by stating them with gratitude, you are more likely to continue along the same path without having to consciously think about it.

examples: ‘I am grateful for my free time because it allows me to enjoy the moment.’
‘I love my new workout, I’m so glad I tried something new.’
‘I’m so thankful for the confidence I now have.’

Level 5: Share it with the world

With this level, you mainly want to challenge yourself to share your abilities and strengths with others. You want to lend a helping hand, or pass on some knowledge to help others who are still struggling with areas in their life that you have managed to overcome and/or improve.

examples: ‘Today I will share my knowledge with my family.’
‘At lunch, I will ask someone who is usually alone to join me.’

Basically, with the level 5 method you take something true about yourself and create a phrase that will help you to improve upon the truth you have chosen so you become stronger and better in the area you are working on. This system also allows you to mix it up a bit when creating affirmations. Creating a few with areas that you may need alot of work on, while also reminding yourself that you are good at other things, along with encouragement to go out and challenge yourself or help others.

Now whether you use the traditional method, the method I have made for myself, or any other method you choose let’s take a look at some additional tips and suggestions that can help make your affirmations work the best they can for you.

Additional Tips and Suggestions

• Write them out

Take the time to create a bunch. Make a list and write it out on a piece of paper. Then, if you like, you can make a stack of index cards. The more you physically write them down the more they get implanted into your brain. This will make them easier to remember later when you go about your day. You can also put some of them in your smartphone if you have one. Your favorite ones can be written on a single sheet of paper and hung on the wall in a picture frame if you want. The more you write them the more likely they will stick in your head.

• Link some together

For example, you can link a feeling one with a thankful one. Like ‘I am thankful for my optimism and I feel confident that today is going to be a great day.’ You can link two separate ones together. For example. ‘I love going for walks and today when I do my walk I’m going to stop and enjoy the moment.’

• Update often

By updating or renewing your statements, you’ll be able to keep them fresh and exciting. You can also achieve this by creating groups of cards so you can rotate or switch them up whenever you feel like it. Updating your phrases will allow you to move to the next level to be challenged to keep improving.

• Use your true voice

If you want your statements to really work, close your eyes and picture yourself experiencing your goal. Now when you read your positive statements, read them with real meaning. How you express yourself will depend on your character type. For example, if you are a passionate person, then say it with real emotion. If you are a more serious type then say it with conviction. If you are a happy-go-lucky type then say it with enthusiasm. Use your true voice and your mind will understand and know you are serious about what you are saying.

How Many?

Alright, you have some optimistic statements made and some phrases you created are super awesome because you used some of the additional tips. Now you’re wondering how many should be made. Well, there is no rule on how many to make, however, I do recommend starting out to try and create 100 cards. I suggest this merely so you have a great starting point. Over time as you use them you will figure out if you only need a few because you only want to work on one or two specific areas in your life. This way you can stay more focused. Where others might find having 100 is not enough whether it be they want a new one for every day of the year or maybe there are multiple areas in their life they want to work on. So the real number of how many you will need will vary from person to person. So create 100 and then you can either whittle them down, change some, or add more as needed for your personal taste.

When and Where to use your Positive Affirmation Cards

Positive affirmation cards should be used daily. For them to truly be effective you’ll want to use them throughout the day. To increase the opportunity to be able to use them throughout your day, you will want to place them in strategic areas of visibility. At home place them in plain sight and in areas that you frequent most often. Put one on the fridge door, stick one in the corner of your mirror in the washroom, or lean one against your computer monitor. If you’re a reader, use one for a bookmark. Place them in the visor of your car so you can read them when you’re stopped at a traffic light or traffic jam. Put them anywhere you think you might notice them and don’t forget to switch them out for fresh new one’s so you won’t get bored seeing the same ones all the time.

What kind of affirmations do you like best? Tell us in the comments then go put some on some cards and tuck them into places where you’ll see them. There’s no time like the present!

Razz