K- Kickstart Your Day with Affirmations

I used to hate Mondays. I guess I was like most people I worked with, except that I complained about it a lot. It probably had a lot to do with the fact that I hated my job, my husband was ill, our oldest daughter was going crazy, I had been diagnosed with lupus AND my mother-in-love was living with us because she could no longer live on her own. I know that it’s a lot to have going on at the same time. After lunch with me, people would feel better, not because I was uplifting, but rather that their life wasn’t so bad after all. I was caught in a negative downward spiral of complaints and negativity that was making matters worse.

Have you noticed that, instead of feeling better after a bitter complaint, you actually feel worse? This scripture confirms the reason for that. You get to choose your words. You get to choose your attitude. Unfortunately, at the time I was choosing poison over fruit. My wake-up call came one Friday afternoon as I sat in the parking lot outside the doctor’s office. I had almost all the symptoms for lupus!

Now that got my attention. Something had to change. I looked at all the different scenarios being played out in my life and realized that I really didn’t control anything but my response to the decisions of others. The one exception was how I was going to approach this new challenge. Here was an opportunity to become the most positive person that I knew.

“Lord, I need help right now! I want to become the most positive person in any room that I walk into.”

The weekend is a blur in my memory, but I do remember that first Monday after I made the decision to do an about-face away from negativity. The sound that usually escaped my mouth first thing in the morning was a deep sigh and then groans as my joints ached when I first moved. I shuffled into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I attempted to smile. It was pretty weak. I then said words that, at the time, felt like a big fat lie: “I LOVE Mondays!” As I drove to work, I slipped a few times as I thought about how much I hated my current position but managed to pray instead.

It was a difficult change because I had become so entrenched in negativity and complaints. I had good reasons to bemoan my lot in life, didn’t I? I seemed addicted to the poison. Others at work noticed the change. I gradually felt more energy. I started eating better and lost some weight as a result. I began taking the stairs instead of the elevator and that helped elevate my mood as well. I took breaks more consistently and walked outside. I got acquainted with the smokers who stood outside complaining about work. I no longer joined them. (BTW, I never smoked even when I was negative – LOL!)

About six months went by before I thought about going back to the doctor. I told her that I felt great. She looked puzzled as she read over my chart and asked me about each symptom. “Wow! There must have been a misdiagnosis.” I believe that as I became “The Hope Lady” the symptoms of lupus disappeared. I was healed.

Eliminate the word “hate” from your vocabulary. Other expressions to avoid are those that include the word “death” as in, “I died laughing” or “I thought I would die.” This is harder than you think because you have adopted these sayings and may not realize you are saying them. Make a list of the negative expressions you are using and replace them with affirmations.

There are many verses in the Bible that express how powerful your words are. Your words can transform the atmosphere. How exciting that you get to choose life-giving words! Which ones are you using?

As I started the journey of examining my words, I became more aware of what I mumbled under my breath. Things like, “That was dumb” or “How stupid can you be” were frequent. Be your own best friend and say kind things to yourself. You don’t need anger for motivation.

Our minds are transformed through the Word. When you feel like you can’t do something, remember to say, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me the strength that I need” (Philippians 4:13).  Don’t say it like a robot with no feeling. Instead, put everything you have into it and emphasize different words. This verse is the reality of your life.

You don’t even have to be strong to do this. God is working in your life and has a good plan. He is able to strengthen and heal you. He is working in every detail so cooperate with His good plan and trust that you will come through the difficulties stronger than ever.

What’s your favorite scriptural affirmation? Mine is Romans 15:13 – I am The Hope Lady because the God of HOPE fills me with ALL joy and peace as I trust in Him. I overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit.” #thishopestuffworks

Lord, I ask You to take the weakness and make me strong in You. I choose today to recognize who You say I am. I am Your daughter/son and I will treat myself that way. I choose to speak life over every difficult situation and person in my life today. I am grateful that I can love what You are doing in and through me.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

For the rest of the alphabet in the ABCs of Self Nurture for Caregivers please click here.