Whether you are preparing for a final interview, first performance, first gallery hanging or starting a regular day, affirmations can really be helpful. Usually people practice saying affirmations out loud. It's very helpful to express your affirmations by verbalizing them, listening to them and watching yourself as you speak them in front of a mirror. Each time that you express them, you give yourself more time to absorb what they say about you.

However before you can verbalize your affirmations, you have to create them. You can find them in books, ask for some ideas from your friends, create them yourself or use a combination of techniques to write them.

FIRST: Start your affirmations with the phrase "I am________." The idea is to keep your focus in the present and to keep them positive. When you use the phrase" I am__" you are starting the process of acting as if the affirmation is already part of your life.

SECOND: Choose one action that you want to complete. Do you want to meet five referral sources during a meeting? Do you want to complete six telenetworking calls next week? I'm sure that you can think of some other actions that fit with your business. Choose an action that is a currently a challenge for you to complete.

THIRD: Write out your complete affirmation. Read your affirmation out loud. Listen to it and see if it reads like an action that you want to complete.

FOURTH: Stand in front of a mirror. Repeat the affirmation ten times, while looking at yourself in the mirror. Remember to repeat this affirmation once a day for thirty days.

FIFTH: Be expectant. Don't scan every moment of your life looking for signs of change. Stay focused on learning your affirmations. You will keep yourself very busy building new thinking habits while you are changing internally. Any external changes will follow your internal changes naturally.

I've included a list of affirmations, ready for use, until you have created some of your own. Feel free to use them as catalysts for writing your own affirmations or use them just as they are.

Remember to practice, practice and practice your affirmations every day.

Here is the list:

1) I am writing my dreams daily.

2) I am filling my journal with valuable information.

3) I am expressing my feelings in a safe place.

4) I am creating a roadmap for my dreams.

5) I am making myself heard during important conversations.

6) I am recording my past memories easily.

7) I am solving important problems daily.

8) I am sorting out my thoughts freely.

9) I am creating something new daily.

10) I am writing my prayers daily.

Lael Johnson

Contact Information: Ms. Lael Johnson P.O. Box 2405 Culver City, CA 90231 Journallady2001@yahoo.com 310-649-5543

Lael Johnson is the owner of Writer's Eye Advisory Service. She has a varied background in history, marketing management, psychology, community service and facilities management. She is also a trained creativity coach, writer and beader. She owns Creations Beadwork, selling handcrafted jewelry at craft shows and other community events. She is a published author whose writing interests include: haiku and related forms, devotional and inspirational material, short stories, essays, children's stories, volunteering, journaling and lyrics. She's published in inspirational material in the Vineyard Voice, Single Spirit and Children's Bible Search. She is also a published poet in Makar, Frogpond and Woodnotes. She edited copy for the Vineyard Voice, edited the weekly church prayer bulletin for four years, and edited and published the National Journal Network newsletter for six years. She's completed one basic course in children's writing from the Institute of Children's Literature.

She is currently completing several email and teleclasses in creativity coaching and small business topics. She is a member of Cassell Network of Writers, International Women Writer's Guild, and California Lawyers for the Arts (artist member only), respectively. She also participates in several other niche writing organizations. Currently she welcomes creativity coaching clients, using journaling and other resources, to help artists, small business owners and people eager to expand their creativity skills. She's authored several articles on creativity coaching and other relevant topics. She can be reached by email.

She is a member of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Westside. She currently resides in Culver City, CA. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, writing and listening to classical, Celtic and international folk music and taking care of her two companion parakeets.