Self-love is one of the most important relationships we will ever cultivate. Loving ourselves helps us to attract others who treat us with respect. Self-love is one of the building blocks of self-esteem, which is also important. It’s not that we should falsely prop up our ego personality – it is, instead, a journey to honoring our essential nature, which is Divine. Though learning to love the human that we are, we show ultimate respect and love to God as well.

So, let me ask you – how is your relationship with yourself and your mind?

Do you find repetitive negative thoughts about yourself drifting through your consciousness? Is the little voice inside your head treating you with kindness? And, if not, how can you reprogram your mind towards appreciation of yourself and all that you are and have been through and your vast incredible potential?

One way to support positive thinking and true self-love is through positive affirmations. Affirmations are based on the ancient practice of chanting mantra. The word mantra translates to “mind protection” and uses the mind and its preference for repeating thoughts to work consciously with repetitive thought and/or sound that will influence the pattern of your energy and, therefore, your consciousness.

The trick is to make the choice consciously. Most humans have at least a few consistent negative thought patterns. “I can’t, I can’t … I should, I should ….” This repetition of negative thought attracts other negative thoughts and, indeed, people and situations that enforce those difficult patterns. In order to break that habitual negativity that most minds find resonance with, we have to instead choose thoughts that are affirmative, positive and that reinforce what we DO want, instead of what we DON’T want.

How to begin to change our negative thought patterns? I find it useful to identify which voices you are hearing in your mind. What thoughts pop into your head on a regular basis that are not helpful, useful, or encouraging? Is it something your parents used to say (or still say to you)? Is it an untruth from your culture? By developing an awareness of the source of these patterns, you can liberate yourself more consciously.

Begin with something very simple so that you can recall it precisely and build the vibration through repetition. It can be helpful to notice what negatives tend to be repetitive and choose the opposite. For example, let’s say you find yourself thinking “I’m overweight.” To affirm yourself and reverse this pattern you might think instead “I love my strong, beautiful body and I make good choices for her.” Some additional suggestions for general affirmations include:

Everyday and in every way I am becoming happier and healthier.

Everyday and in every way I am choosing abundance and happiness.

I am worthy to give and receive great and powerful love.

My true nature is abundance and joy.

Another way to approach this is through using ancient languages that work at a deeper vibration level. Languages like Sanskrit, Hebrew and Gurmukhi are Divine languages that can cut through the layers of imagery that your native language might create and go straight to work. 

Some of my favorite Sanskrit mantras include:

Om shanti, shanti, shanti-h -- Om peace, peace, peace; this ancient mantra includes the sacred sound of Om which is used in all religions (Amen, Shalom, Amin, Aho) and cultivates deep peace. It can be very helpful to keep you elevated above any conflict.

Hari Om – this mantra send out the vibration that removes suffering. It is an excellent mantra to use for depression and overwhelm.

Om Namah Shivaya – this mantra calls on the energy of Shiva, patron saint of yogis and the energy that transforms. This is a powerful mantra when you want to strip away negative patterns. 

The ancient Sikh language called Gurmukhi is another powerful language to invoke change at a deep energetic level. The mantra “Sat Nam” loosely translates as “Truth is my essence.” This is a beautiful mantra to remind yourself of your Divine nature and that you are here for a purpose.

Hebrew is another powerful language, and my favorite mantra is “Lev Tahor b’ra il Elohim” which translates as “Create in me a clear heart, O God.” This mantra can be helpful when you are in conflict or disagreement with others. It can help when you are attempting to make changes in your life, and others might disagree with your choices.

The key with any affirmation or mantra practice is repetition. The more rounds you can chant, think or pray your affirmation, the more power it will begin to exert in your world. Change is possible and inevitable. Be an active participant in the creation of a life that you love through affirming thoughts, words, and actions.

Shanti,

Jill