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From:  Judith <caillier@i...>
Date:  Sun Apr 16, 2000  8:10 am
Subject:  Re: [vocalist-temporary] Question about affirmations


Caio Rossi wrote:

> Diane wrote:
>
> >You're not lying; you're simply stating your wishes in the present
> >tense.
>
> 'Stating your wishes in the present tense': isn't that euphemism for lying?!
>

I am convinced that affirmations ought to work, but when I try to use them, I
find that they usually backfire on me; that is, it's like there is another voice
inside that says, "Oh, come off it! Who are you trying to kid?" This is the
whole paradox of trying to make yourself believe something that you don't
believe yet. So I try to get around it by taking smaller steps. Instead of
saying: "I have a marvelous voice", I start with: "I have a basically good voice
and I am capable of improving it". From there to "My voice is improving" is
already a biggish step for me. I would be interested in hearing what some of
you experienced affirmationists think of that.

>
> >>>Could affirmations affect something as physical as this? I
> >mean, if I stated over and over "my larynx will remain low and stable when
> I
> >sing" could my brain start believing this and make it work?
>
> Aren't you trying to turn everything into psychology? This is no Matrix. Not
> even Budha denied the existence of pain, so instead of mentalizing Nirvana
> he prescribed ways to get there through self-transformation, that is, hard
> work.

Caio, this is not a substitute for hard work, it's a way to get your mind in the
proper attitude so that hard work will lead to positive results. A lot of
people are so lacking in self-confidence that they mess themselves up and block
their own progress. This then becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They fail
because they believed that they would fail. I am giving private lessons in
English (as a foreign language) to several kids who are failing in school. We
work on a grammar point, they understand it well, and then they go and fail
their test. Explaining the grammar to them is the easiest part. The real
difficulty is making them realize that they are capable. And since I really
believe that they are intelligent, I give them that affirmation which they are
not capable of giving themselves in their present condition. Progress is slow,
but I think it's beginning to sink in. Doing the same thing for yourself is
trickier, as I said above. I guess for it to work, a part of you has to believe
the affirmation even while another part of you doesn't believe it. This is why
it's not lying - on the contrary, it's dispelling lies.

A heartfelt thanks to all of you affirmative listers.

Judy




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