Special Bonus – Affirmation Meditation Included
Affirmations are crucial for developing self-love in children, youth, and adults. They are positive statements, usually stated in the first person. Affirmations encourage us to believe certain things about ourselves. It’s normal not to resonate with these statements when you first begin to think or say them. Repetition plants the seeds of belief!
There are many different ways we can practice affirmations. They can be repeated silently in our heads, or they can be recited out loud when we’re alone. We can also say them while we’re looking in the mirror, in the shower, or really anytime throughout the day when we need a boost! Writing them down can also be beneficial. What we think about ourselves becomes the truth for us.
Affirmations are good for kids because it helps them to develop positive foundations to grow and helps them to start thinking more positively. Affirmations help them believe in themselves and work towards fulfilling their potential. Positive thinking is a powerful tool that can improve health, manage stress, and overcome challenges.
It’s difficult as parents and caregivers to know how to teach our children to have a healthy relationship with their bodies. The most important thing to remember is they’re watching us! So, if we criticize our bodies and appearance, they believe us. The first step is to stop criticizing yourself. Our kids have a higher chance of building body confidence if we are happy with ours.
The second tool is affirmations that focus specifically on developing a healthy mind-body relationship. Positive affirmations are a powerful tool for kids to boost their confidence and self-esteem. Here are some affirmations that you can teach your children. They can also be used to help them turn a negative thought into a positive one when you hear them speaking negatively about their body.
I take care of my body
My body deserves kindness
I am thankful for my body
My body changes and that’s ok
My body is strong
My body deserves my love always
My worth is not based on my body
You get the idea! A positive affirmation can be just about anything. Listen to your child and try to determine where their negativity is focused. Together you can develop affirmations that address that issue. Encourage them to choose affirmations that feel the most believable to say in the beginning. The most powerful steps are the small, simple ones that start with our thinking and we need to keep practicing them over time.
I’ve included the “Affirmation Meditation” from my book, “Empowering our Future.” Reading it to them at bedtime slowly and gently in a soft, melodic voice is a wonderful way to release negative thoughts and transition into a peaceful night’s sleep. You may even choose to put on soft, relaxing music in the background. Enjoy!
Affirmation Meditation
Begin by sitting or lying comfortably. Become aware of your breath. Focus on your breathing, let it be natural and easy. This is the way within, the way to your heart. With each breath let yourself go deeper and deeper, feeling more and more relaxed, breathing in and out, totally letting go. This is your special time, nowhere to go nowhere to be, just here and now.
Breathing in deeply now. Relax your jaw, neck, and shoulders as you breathe out. Take in another deep breath and relax your back, chest, and stomach as you breathe out. Deep breath in and relax your legs, feet, and toes as you breathe out. Now scan your body for any remaining tension and let it go down through your body and out through the souls of your feet.
Now bring your attention to your stomach area. Imagine there’s a light inside of you that shimmers and glows. You might even hear this light crackle and sizzle. Perhaps you feel its warmth inside your stomach. We all have this light inside us. Some days it shines brighter than others, and that’s okay. One of the ways we can make this light grow is with affirmations. I want you to notice your light today. How bright is it? Feel it, see it, listen to it. (Pause) What does your light need today to grow and shine brightly? (Pause) Does it need love? Let’s start with that. Repeat inside your head, “I love myself, I love myself, I am loved!” Repeat this until you start feeling how loved you are. Good! You’re doing a great job! Now you may notice your light shining a little brighter. Now repeat, “I am safe, I am safe, I am safe.” Repeat this as many times as you need. (Pause) As you repeat your affirmations, remember to breathe in and out, noticing how calm and relaxed your body is. The next affirmation to repeat is “I am brave, I am brave, I am brave!” It takes a lot of courage to go out in this world every day and be exactly who you are. You are brave! Sit with this feeling for a minute, feel your bravery and believe it to be so. Breath in and out, nowhere to go, nowhere to be, just feel the uniqueness of you. On the next breath choose any affirmation you want. (Pause) Repeat your very own special affirmation…(Pause) Feel the love inside of you, feel your light growing so much that it now surrounds your entire body. You’re shining so bright the whole world can see you! Sit in that glow for a few minutes, feel your specialness- there’s no one in the whole world like you. That’s your superpower. Feel your bravery, because you’re brave enough to be you. Feel the love inside for yourself, your family, your friends and all the animals on the planet.
You are very, very loved!
Breathe in and out slowly. Begin to wiggle your fingers and toes. Give yourself a big hug. Whenever you’re ready you can open your eyes.
Until next time...love your body!