How to Become a Star: Light vs. Dark
Affirmations are used as positive words, phrases, and/or mantras to change how we think and process information, thoughts, and feelings. We use these affirmations as a way to resist and combat not only our negative thoughts to reframe our mind, but also to combat the negative words of others. Be it our family, friends, or strangers. This comes from a mindset of knowing that whatever vision you have seen for yourself is the one that is meant to come to pass.Words and the sounds that proceed with them carry intention and frequencies. A study by Ikea used prerecorded negative and positive phrases on plants to see if there was a difference in their health and growth. Each plant was given the same conditions to grow in and the same amount of water. The needs of each plant were met in that way. Tom, the first plant, had positive phrases and affirmations spoken to it for 30 days, and Jerry, the second plant, had negative phrases and cursing for 30 days. The outcome was astonishing to the research team and the students involved in the study. After 30 days, Jerry's leaves were limp and discolored, and the plant was beginning to wilt away. Whereas Tom was thriving even after the 30 days. So what does this experiment tell us? It shows us that as celestial plants, we need to feed not just our body with its needs, but understand that the projection of words and the frequencies and intent behind it can physically influence our bodies.Now imagine surrounding yourself with people, media, and external exposure to negative words/phrases. Would this have a negative influence on your mind and thought process or even how you view yourself? Of course, it would!Let's Go Deeper:Now imagine speaking those words over yourself. Whether it be verbally or your thoughts, it is beginning to corrupt and darken the light that is within you. The negative thoughts manifest physically, just as it manifests physically with Jerry. As his leaves withered away, so does your light, and then opportunities begin to slow and doors that were once opened are no longer. The mind is a powerful and intricate tool that is subject to its user and the reality in which you live. Therefore you can change your reality with your mind. The light that proceeds from you comes from the celestial being that dwells in your spirit and to tap into the universe that is within you, you must be able to control your mind, will, and emotions. Psalms 147:4-5"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit."He knows and has predestined us to be reflections of light and love in this world. However, we cannot be the fullness of who we were meant to become if we cannot change the language in which we speak to ourselves and the language that we receive from others. If we are the stars of this planet, then to be like the Son, we need to change. Romans 8:29"For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers"Conforming to the image and being of love in speech creates not only an atmosphere that reflects it but also brings you closer to the light that is within you. You were made and placed in a certain time, location, and dispensation to shine and the only way to fulfill that purpose is to begin speaking, thinking, and believing the greatness that is within you. Practice: For the next seven days create a schedule, a time that you rise and a time that you sleep every day. By doing so, you will create a physical structure that aids in controlling your mind. Because if you can control your physical environment, then your thoughts will begin to align. Say the following in the morning before interacting with social media or people to control the outcome of your day:
I am grateful for another day to walk in my purpose and calling. Before I interact with anyone I take this time to appreciate the body that I was given, the mind that I control, and the light that dwells in me. I will walk in love and light, and be a reflection of the greatness that I am destined to become. I forgive, love, and am at peace with myself, while forever being in a state of evolution.
You can repeat this or your own version, everyday at the same time in the morning and right before. And you will begin to see the change. Keep us updated on how the seven days are going and how it went via chat or email!
Overflow and Abundance: Speak It Before You See It
Before you read the following affirmation I think that it is only fair that you read the sentiment that prefaced it: Scarcity
A mindset that you are always in lack or a state of lacking. My mind was in scarcity. I was unable to receive from others but also from Him. He would try time and time again to give me what I needed but I refused to take part in His gifts. Till it hit. Till it set in. till I lost IT. Not it, being my mind but my way of living, my sustainability. I lost it. Everything, some things. People and no one at the same time. I felt like I was losing but I just was not receiving what was already there. He said that there were added benefits and gifts to being with Him but where? I just saw myself sinking into a deep ocean of unfair. All those around me were so “blessed” when compared. But that was the greatest sin of all when I declared…in church and at home in a small space dedicated to Him that I would receive no matter the cost I would Do His Will. My tears ended up cleansing me as I sat within Them. His spirit was the only thing that could help me then. To be honest, I am still lost, but now its within Them. I am still trying but through Him. I am still crying but it is with Him. At least I know that now that with nothing I will always have Them.
"I am in a state of abundance overflow and wealth. I receive everything that the Lord has for me and has blessed me with. Then, now and what is to come. I will remain in a state of peace and wealth to receive everything that I deserve and need from my Father. My Lord Jesus Christ did not suffer for me Not to have all the benefits that come with being a co-inheritor in Christ."
Self Reflection
Healing the Soul
Have you ever taken the time to reevaluate your past? As we work through our souls and clean out the residue of our past taking the time to look at what used to trigger you is very important. One morning I was taking a drive through Malibu on my way to church and decided to partake in this exercise of questioning my own thought processes and behaviors. To better understand why I respond the way that I do and the way that I communicate in relationships (platonic, intimate, etc.) depending on the situation. After some self-reflection, I noticed that there were wounds in my soul that were yet to be completely healed because I never traced their origin.
To do this it all boils down to asking yourself questions, "Why do I do 'x' when 'y' happens?" and then going deeper to realize "If I do 'x', where can I see a pattern of that in my past?". The process pretty much works like that. I'll give an example. You notice that when you get into arguments with your significant other you realize that you shut down. Ask yourself why? What are the emotions that you are going through when it happens? Oh, I have mirrored this reaction when I was a kid in response to how I grew up. Then ask why. I felt emotionally abandoned as a child. Why? I did not feel emotionally secure in my home because I had no parent figure to express my emotions to...etc. Try this in your journal and see how far or how deep you can go to better understand your emotions and restore your spiritual wellbeing.
A PRAYER FOR SUCCESS
Currently, we all are going through either a financial hardship, an emotional, feeling of helplessness, or all of the above. Taking time out for yourself and your own personal achievement may seem selfish right now, however, the only way that one can fully aid and serve others, is by first first serving yourself. Make time for those unmet desires and aspirations. Relish in the idea of your own personal success and then manifest it. I have provided a prayer/affirmation that has worked for me and my mentors. I use it to center myself, so that I may focus on my path and remember the reason for my career choice. The reason I started this blog. I keep my vision as clear as possible. And now I hope you can use it too.
I pray that everything I pursue and desire comes to fruition. That all that I do is done with mindful intent and authenticity. May everything that is good and holy watch over me and bless me in my pursuits. That my goals are manifested into reality and that any position or blessing that is bestowed upon me I use for the betterment of others and myself. Amen.
How do you change your mind so that you may become a healthier person? Why is it that our physical mind affects our physical bodies to such an extreme? the connection can be seen in a lot of mental health illnesses and even daily stressors. Cortisol is a common example of this mind-body experience. The hormone that is released in times of great stress or fear. when this hormone is released your arteries constrict, you move into fight or flight depending on the situation, your blood pressure increases and you become hyper-aware. Through this mental change, there is a physical change. Now imagine if you were constantly under that stress and your body was constantly undergoing the rise and fall of not only your emotions but its physical state.
A Method of relaxing your mind and thus your body is to focus on your breathing. A breathing technique that is widely practiced in Tibetan culture. Focus on your breath for the 4-7-8 count. This is where you breathe in through your nose for a count of 4 and then hold for a count of 7 and then release through your mouth for a count of 8. Focusing on breathing and mind-body relaxation has proven to reduce cortisol in the body and increase positive affect on the individual. Try this breathing exercise in the morning when you wake and at night before bed for a total of 4 breath cycles each time.
For more information follow the button below to the breathing video and the article that explains the benefits of breathing and the mind.
As always remember that a healthy mind is a healthy body...❤
AFFIRMATION FOR YOUR DAY
I curated this prayer while speaking to my mentor. We were speaking about a prayer that would help calm a person who is about to make a huge shift in their destiny or getting ready to make a life decision. This is the prayer that came to me, pulled somewhere within the ether. I just started writing. The words flowed out of me onto the page. With the hopes of helping anyone who reads it. Take this affirmative prayer and use it in the morning or before bed. Start your day right or end it with a prayer. All up to you, but believe it so that you can create it.
"I pray that everything I pursue and desire comes to fruition. That all that I do is done with mindful intent and authenticity. May everything that is good and holy watch over me and bless me in my pursuits. That my goals are manifested into reality and that any position or blessing that is bestowed upon me I use for the betterment of others and myself. Amen"
30 DAY SELF-LOVE CHALLENGE
Let's talk self-love! Loving yourself is essential to have a healthy mind and body. Like how I slipped in the title there. Haha. For the next 30 days, I challenge you to love yourself every day. From day one to thirty, it is your mission to write in your journal (which everyone should have) one positive characteristic that you love about yourself, but the catch is you cannot repeat yourself. It will be a challenge the first few two weeks. I know that when my therapist challenged me to do the same at the beginning it made me cry because I did not know what to write, but trust me with persistence and continued self-care it will get easier. I love ya'll foreal. (thanks for that one Monique)
TALK TO YOURSELF
You, yourself, and you. Have you taken the time to talk to yourself lately? Let's start today. Talking to yourself is a great way to help change your mindset and personal outlook on many situations in your life. Little to your acknowledgement you speak to yourself on a daily basis, whether those be positive or negative thoughts. When I was battling depression any mistake or comment that I made mentally about myself was either negative or counterproductive to my mental health. To help combat these thoughts I began writing to myself. At first, this will feel uncomfortable and a little awkward, but trust me it gets easier. Every day try to write to yourself in the third person about all the positive things you admire about yourself (as if you are speaking to a friend). Over the weeks it became possible for me to learn positive habits and thoughts about myself, so much so that those positive thoughts began to manifest in my mind without much of my conscious effort. Here's an example:
"Tyler has a great personality. Tyler is smart and perceptive to others' emotions. Tyler has really cute feet...etc."
These are just a few things that you can learn to say about yourself that are positive and slightly silly, but overall loving. Try it and tell me how it works out and if you don't mind I would love your feedback.
-Love, Mind over Body
AFFIRMATION FOR YOUR DAY
This is a prayer, that if you are comfortable with it, that with intent will aid you in your success. The only way to achieve the greatest of all time (for your individual self) is to consistently manifest your emotional and verbal desires. As they say "A closed mouth, doesn't get fed."
Prayer: "I pray that everything I pursue and desire comes to fruition. That all that I do is done with mindful intent and authenticity. May everything that is good and holy watch over me and bless me in my pursuits. That my goals are manifested into reality and that any position or blessing that is bestowed upon me I use for the betterment of others and myself. Amen."
I write this with the intention that whom ever uses it and/or says it will be blessed to the utmost degree and have their dreams realized. May you always remember that the path least followed is the one with the greatest reward. Tread on...
At Mind over Body we want you to become aware of your mental health and how it affects your physical health by providing resources and a forum for you and others to express and create. Remind readers that this page is regularly updated, so check back often for the latest updates to affirm positivity in your life.