The 3 P’s of Affirmations

Not all affirmations are created equal. The most effective affirmations follow the 3 P’s of affirmations: Positive, Present, and Personal.

The most common mistake people make with affirmations is choosing poorly written affirmations.

As I explain in my book Feeling Good, it’s not that affirmations don’t work, it’s just that the affirmation you’re using doesn’t work for you!

That’s why it’s important to keep the 3 P’s of affirmations in mind when you are writing or choosing affirmations for your manifestation.

Affirmations that are positive, present, and personal will help stay in vibrational alignment with your desire and attract it into your reality using the Law of Attraction and the Law of Vibration.

Step up your affirmation game with these 3 P’s of affirmations.

1. Positive

The first P stands for Positive.

Always frame your affirmations from a positive perspective.

Avoid using negations such as not, don’t, won’t, and can’t.

We often use these words when we don’t want something to happen.

But according to the Law of Attraction, even when you focus on the absence of something, you’re still giving attention to it, and thus attracting it into your reality.

For example, if you want to have clear skin, don’t write an affirmation such as, “I don’t want to get acne.”

Guess what happens when you remove the word don’t? The affirmation actually says, “I want to get acne!”

Instead of focusing on what you don’t want, your affirmation should focus on what you do want.

Reframe the statement to affirm what you desire, “I feel safe knowing that my skin can heal itself.”

2. Present

man writing

The second P stands for Present.

The main purpose of affirmations is to raise your vibration.

And the only way you can assume a higher vibration in the present moment is to feel as if it is already true.

This is why it’s important to write using the present tense as if the affirmation is happening right now.

Avoid writing in the future tense by using phrases such as, “I will…” or “I am going to…” These phrases imply that the affirmation has not yet happened which prevents you from feeling the good vibes of the affirmation.

For example, if you want to get out of debt, don’t write an affirmation such as, “I am going to be debt-free soon.”

Reframe the affirmation to focus on the present moment such as, “It feels so good to be free from debt.”

3. Personal

girl thinking

The third P stands for Personal.

Affirmations should revolve around you.

The way other people act or behave is outside of your control.

You are only responsible for your own thoughts, feelings, and emotions.

That’s why it’s always good to start your affirmation with an “I am…” statement.

For example, if you want to get a promotion, don’t write an affirmation such as, “My boss will give me a promotion soon.” Remember, the goal of affirmations is not to control other people’s actions.

Reframe the affirmation from your own perspective such as, “I am open to receiving new career opportunities.”