How positive affirmations truly work.

Hello my friend!

How is your week so far? Rate out of 4.

Let me know what the best part of your week has been so far, and the worse.

Here is today’s rundown please feel free to read what interests you the most 🙏

The history of negative thought patterns.

Don’t you just love your brain?

How it always switches off when you want it to.

No more sleepless nights, just sound sleep.

No thinking of witty comebacks you should’ve said or the fact you have been more tired than a dinosaur trying to outrun their extinction event.

Oooo quick joke. “What do you call a dinosaurs trump?”

(the answer is at the end)

Oh wait… that rarely happens, because our minds go into overdrive when we least want it to.

It used to be handy, but not so much in todays hustle 24/7 world.

You see our brains are hardwired to prioritize survival, a trait honed over millennia of evolution.

In the distant past

When our ancestors roamed the savannas and forests

This survival instinct was vital for detecting and avoiding immediate threats like predators or hostile tribes.

In such environments, a heightened sensitivity to potential dangers was essential for survival.

But the only potential danger we have in our day-to-day lives isn’t exactly life threatening.

In the present day, our surroundings have drastically changed!

Instead of a predator, it is a Maccies.

However, our brains are still on dial-up internet rather than EE

We no longer face the same life-threatening situations as our ancestors did, yet our brains continue to default to a mode of vigilance and threat detection.

So no wonder we have so many negative thought patterns.

Our society today can’t undo the millennia of evolution that we have come to see as a species.

Here are some examples for you to ponder at…

Comparative and daily examples

Lets get into some real life scenarios that we all experience

And trigger the same extreme responses they used to

Although our brains don’t realise

That the consequence… isnt death,

Comparative Examples:

Past: Imagine a prehistoric hunter-gatherer roaming the wilderness

constantly on guard for the lurking presence of predators.

Every rustle in the bushes, every shadow in the distance, was a potential threat to be wary of.

In this context, a hyper-vigilant mindset was crucial for survival.

Now: Contrast this with our modern-day urban environment,

Where the most common "predators" are:

• Deadlines,

• Social judgments,

• And financial pressures.

While these stressors may not pose an immediate physical threat.

Our brains still perceive them as potential dangers, triggering the same primal response.

Daily Examples:

Social Interactions:

Past: In ancient times, exclusion from the tribe could mean certain death, so our ancestors were hyper-aware of social cues and potential rejection.

Now: Today, a perceived slight or rejection in social situations can trigger feelings of anxiety or inadequacy,

Even though the consequences are far less dire.

Workplace Challenges:

Past: Prehistoric humans faced physical challenges like hunting for food or building shelter, where failure could mean starvation or exposure.

Now: In the workplace, a missed deadline or critical feedback may evoke similar stress responses, even though they pose no immediate threat to our survival.

Financial Concerns:

Past: The scarcity of resources was a constant concern for our ancestors, who relied on hunting and gathering for sustenance.

Today, financial instability or uncertainty about the future can trigger fear and anxiety

Even though our modern economies provide a safety net that was unimaginable in ancient times.

So how do Positive affirmations help our brain catch up with evolution?

Lets find out shall we.

The science behind positive affirmations.

Positive affirmations are more than just hoo-hah

All over social media, you will have heard of manifestation/ affirmations/journaling.

You are probably sick to death of hearing about it.

But what if, instead of telling you…

…all you need to do is think about it, ask and it will come true.

And I am realistic because as nice as it would be if the world worked like that

It would be great, but it doesn’t.

That is one part of a two-piece puzzle.

The second piece is action.

So let’s get into the science behind positive affirmations…because who doesn’t love a good study?

A study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

(sounds fancy right?)

This was used to examine the neural mechanisms underlying self-affirmation.

Participants were asked to perform a self-affirmation task while their brain activity was monitored.

The results were shocking…

They revealed increased activity in brain regions associated with self-processing and reward processing,

Suggesting that positive affirmations activate neural circuits involved in promoting self-worth and positive emotions.

Now I know that probably isn’t enough to convince you.

But another study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology investigated the impact of self-affirmation on stress and coping mechanisms.

Participants were assigned to either a self-affirmation or control group and exposed to stress-inducing tasks.

The findings showed that individuals who practiced self-affirmation exhibited lower levels of stress and greater resilience in coping with adversity!

Compared to the control group.

These results suggest that positive affirmations can buffer against the negative effects of stress and enhance psychological well-being.

MENTAL!

If my personal experience with affirmations is anything to go off.

Then I can confirm it aligns with the research.

I feel more at peace, in flow, and more aligned with the person I want to become.

The person I need to become to achieve the things I want.

It used to be a lot of external things like:

• Money.

• The fancy car

• The amazing house.

But I have come to realise, these are just by-products of following your dreams and becoming the person worthy of them

It all starts with self-love, knowing your self-worth, and enjoying the process. (something I actively work on daily)

Your Weekly Actionable Tip: Embrace Daily Affirmations

Each day, set aside a few minutes to practice positive affirmations.

Choose affirmations that resonate with you and your journey and reflect in areas of your life where you want to cultivate positivity and self-belief.

Repeat these affirmations aloud or in your mind, focusing on the words and allowing yourself to internalize their empowering message.

Consistency is key – make affirmations a daily habit to reap the full benefits over time.

As always,

Choose confident. Choose Positive. Choose You 🫵

Your friend

Robbo “The PVC Chief” Blades.

P.S Watch out for this Sunday’s email it is going to be a banger!!!

P.P.S What do you call a dinosaurs trump…

…A blast from the past!!!!