Affirmations have been used for decades by many people to help with confidence and success. Sports people have long since used affirmations to help them win races or competitions. How many sports people have you heard repeating self belief phrases before a match? A belief that you can win and achieve your goals is half the battle to success, as every sports person knows. Feel defeated before you’ve run the race and you stand no chance of achieving your goal. Perhaps one of the most famous examples of this is Muhammad Ali, the greatest boxer of all time. He believed he was the best even before he was, and was a huge believer and practitioner of positive affirmation to affect the mind and body.
“It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
Muhammad Ali
Birth is no different. Birth affirmations are a key part of any hypnobirthing practice. The repetition of positive affirmation statements about birth, your confidence in your ability to birth your baby, trust in your body, and the process, will reframe birth in your subconscious as something to look forward to rather than fear. If you think about portrayals of birth you’ve probably been conditioned with throughout your entire adult life, they probably all quite negative... woman screaming, red face, sweaty, something may go wrong with mother and/or baby, cue over dramatised experience of birth. Just last night I was watching a film and was struck by how negative and unrealistic the portrayal of birth was, yet again.
You may have heard friends or colleagues horror stories (why does everyone love to tell a bad experience?!). Now think about all of these experiences stored away in your subconscious, ready to come to the forefront of your mind when it’s your turn to give birth. This is what we need to overwrite and replace throughout pregnancy. And this is why positive affirmations are so important.
I often recommend women replace their phone screen saver with their favourite affirmation. Just think how many times you pick up your phone in one day, and how many times you’d then read that affirmation or see it subconsciously? If you’re anything like me, A LOT! Plaster affirmations that resonate with you on your walls, the door of the toilet, the fridge, around your bed... anywhere where you’re going to see and read them regularly. Repetition is key! The more you see them, the more you begin to believe them. And if you go in to birth feeling positive and empowered, you’re much more likely to have a positive and empowering experience, than if you went in feeling fearful and defeated!
If you’d like a set of affirmations cards, take a look at my Etsy listing here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/255450206/hand-painted-birth-affirmation-cards-uk?ref=blog