You may have heard the term "affirmations." That's the method of influencing your subconscious to lead you on the path to your goals. You make a list of the things you want phrasing them as though you already had them - "I am now the vice-president's private secretary," "I am living in my new house, the one with the driveway lined with oak trees, out on Colonial boulevard," or "I married Ryan today." The best known affirmation was penned by Emile Coué, French psychotherapist, way back in the 1800's:
"Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better."
The church uses prayer instead of affirmations. New age groups work affirmations into meditations. It all depends on your personal beliefs. But what prayers, affirmations and meditations do is change your thought patterns.
It should come as no surprise that thoughts can also influence sleep. This can occur in several ways. I receive dozens of letters from people suffering from various sleep disorders. Affirmations can be of assistance here in a bid for improved health. If lifestyle is a factor, perhaps obesity or keeping irregular hours, alcohol abuse, smoking or drugs, affirm that you have improved your lifestyle, have eliminated bad habits and now sleep better.
But I also hear from people who have had every test, have tried dozens of medications, and still can't sleep. Some complain that their minds are too active, that their thoughts keep them awake. My advice to them would be to go with the flow, drift with the thoughts, and try to gradually change them to affirmations about better sleep, about how much more quickly sleep will come the following night, and how well they feel now they are experiencing better sleep.
Other people complain that, no matter how much sleep they get, they still feel tired during the day. Perhaps so tired, they actually feel ill.
This may demonstrate how dangerous use of the subconscious and your own words can be. Have you ever used expressions like "I'm tired of my job," or "All your complaining tires me out," or maybe, if you're really angry or upset " You make me sick." How about "You're a pain in the neck (or maybe some other part of the anatomy," or "I get a headache thinking about it."
Just idle expressions, right? That's what they seem to your conscious mind, but way down deep, your subconscious hears those same words and decides these are goals you are seeking. Before you know it, you feel tired, dragged out, headachy and just plain miserable. That's what you asked for, wasn't it?
So, watch your words, watch your thoughts. Keep them positive. And, if anyone should ask you how you are, tell him or her, "Fine. Got a good night's sleep and I've never felt better." Program your subconscious with what you want. Keep negativity behind a brick wall.
