Self-imposed questions / "Afformations"

[anton23]

Now, instead of using affirmations such as "I LOVE MYSELF" which are said not to be very effective and require lots of repetition I want to use self-imposed questions. But I am not sure, what the best way is to convert my affirmations to questions.

Sticking to the example above I was considering using a question such as "HOW COME I LOVE MYSELF SO MUCH?". To answer this question my subconscious must come up with reasons to support the idea that I love myself and hence the idea should become a belief. But what if the subconscious goes "This isn't true, you don't love yourself"?

For this reason I figured it might be better to ask the question in the form "WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF I REALLY LOVED MYSELF?". In order to answer this question I must get into the state of loving myself (which is what I want: to love myself). There is nothing for my subconscious to refuse here because it's hypothetical. On the other hand, I would not get any reasons as to WHY I love myself. So I wonder if I really can install a permanent belief with this type of question?

It seems to me the first type of question is of a more logical nature: trying to get reasons to support an idea (You love yourself because a) b) c)) while the second does invoke imagination (Just imagine..what would it be like..). As the brain seems to prefer images I would tend to use the 2nd type of question.

Any opinions / insights on this are much appreciated. I am planing to convert all my affirmations to question-form, record them and listen to them during the day.

Thanks

[Max Power]

Originally Posted by anton23

Now, instead of using affirmations such as "I LOVE MYSELF" which are said not to be very effective and require lots of repetition I want to use self-imposed questions. But I am not sure, what the best way is to convert my affirmations to questions.

Sticking to the example above I was considering using a question such as "HOW COME I LOVE MYSELF SO MUCH?". To answer this question my subconscious must come up with reasons to support the idea that I love myself and hence the idea should become a belief. But what if the subconscious goes "This isn't true, you don't love yourself"?

For this reason I figured it might be better to ask the question in the form "WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF I REALLY LOVED MYSELF?". In order to answer this question I must get into the state of loving myself (which is what I want: to love myself). There is nothing for my subconscious to refuse here because it's hypothetical. On the other hand, I would not get any reasons as to WHY I love myself. So I wonder if I really can install a permanent belief with this type of question?

It seems to me the first type of question is of a more logical nature: trying to get reasons to support an idea (You love yourself because a) b) c)) while the second does invoke imagination (Just imagine..what would it be like..). As the brain seems to prefer images I would tend to use the 2nd type of question.

Any opinions / insights on this are much appreciated. I am planing to convert all my affirmations to question-form, record them and listen to them during the day.

Thanks

An,

I consider that making your affirmations in question form implies lack and doubt.

The creative source doesn't understand the difference between reality and illusion, it outputs into reality whatever is held in obervation. So to ask a question is to imply the answer doesn't exist, the result doesn't exist.

You wouldn't say "how can I get rich"

You would say "I'm rich right now"

Creative source only ever creates in the present moment, never in the past of future. So my advice is to not ask how, but observe result.

Then it must manifest, there is no doubt.

Max

[Ilya]

For me it is important to know what's going on in my life.
Even when I do intention-manifestation, I make sure I formulate my goal in a way that won't make me regret it. I've had more than one manifestation gone bad, to ignore the goal-setting stage. So, MaxPower, I don't see contradiction here.
I think Anton is onto something here. It definitely a non-typical way to use affirmations, but it is curious. It stretches the mind and let's you look at the situation at a different angle. May be useful for both for those who do intention-manifestation and those who take the rational approach.
Anton, please post the results and observations when you have them.

[nightdiamond]

Hi anton23, I think the real issue here is very simple- three things: 1. Repetition and 2. the intention behind the affirmation and 3. simply patience!

If you were to read any good book or books written by experts on this subject and backed by patient examples and clinical studies ect, you'll find the key ingredients to their success was persistence or repetition, the attitude of the patient, and patience while you are persisting.

Since this question appears to be related to self esteem and confidence, this falls right into that category. I'll make a crazy even bold statement then- Affirmations do work! lol you just have to be persistent and keep saying them to yourself with feeling and eventually it becomes part of your thinking.

In many of these cases and studies there have example after example of patients who completely changed their self image simply because they kept practicing- once their doctor or therapist reminded them that disbelief and setbacks are NORMAL and not to be taken as failure and to give up.

Just try anything the first time or try to change a long standing problem and see if disbelief or temporary setbacks don't appear- but they're are to be considered part of the process of improving as you continue practicing...that's how we all learned to ride a bike after all, lol.

Don't get too worried about whether you're saying it right because you'll end up getting bogged down in changing techniques and rewritting and redoing everything which makes it difficult to even BEGIN trying to change. And meanwhile someone who simply keeps repeating a positve affirmation to themselves while understanding they might not always believe them but know they are improving- are making progress and feeling better.

One last thing taken from these very techniques taught to patients, it's not so much how you say the positve affirmation to yourself, but also how you handle the negative statements you say to yourself too. When they pop up in your head and discourage you, what do you say in response? What do you do? What reaction do you take? That will determine how much success you have in improving a problem like self esteem, depression ect...

good luck!

[John Hill]

I have never heard of converting your affirmations to questions but if you can use this technique to impregnate the subconscious it doesn't matter how you do it, it just matters that you can.

This is typically why affirmations fail and often why many people give up on using them.

John

Attracting People.com

[stephencp]

Affirmations are not questions. Contemplation(s) is not affirmation.
There is great merit in contemplation, however don't confuse it with affirming anything and creating a belief.
If you're questioning something, you're questioning something, not affirming a belief.
"What would it be like if.....?" is an intellectual exercise and may result in something that you want to affirm - with emotion - but how can you keep your mind open to developing an "answer" while at the same time trying to deeply instill a given belief?

Stephen

The Internet Largest Free Give Away Ever - ****************************

[Shamou]

Originally Posted by anton23

I want to use self-imposed questions.

“Some men see things as they are, and say, “Why?”
I dream of things that never were, and say, “Why not?” --George Bernard Shaw

“Always the beautiful answer who asks a more beautiful question." --E. E. Cummings

You are onto something here anton23...

If you put out a question to the Universal Intelligence... which is a two way transmitting utility... you will always get an answer...

The problem is that you have to ask the right question... if someone ask, "Why am I not rich...???" the answer probably will be... "Because you are stupid... )

However, if that same person ask, "How can I get rich...???" The Universal Intelligence will always supply an answer...

You are onto something... keep on pursuing it... and you'll find what it is that you are after...

Best of luck to you...
.

[chris614]

hey anton23,

I've used recorded affirmations with voice and music for a long time and they have helped me quite a bit.

I actually just finished recording an affirmations audio track that you can download for free. Check it out and let me know if it is helpful at all.

Here it is:
Bart Simpson Hates Writing Affirmations


Best of luck,

Chris614
The Philosophy of Change.com