Sowing the Seeds Of Optimism

The things that we think about and say again and again have the power to influence our feelings and actions. When we say something over and over, we start to believe it is true, and what we believe creates our reality.

For instance, if you keep thinking and repeatedly say, ‘I can’t study’, your mind will eventually believe it to be true, and this could become a cause for your unwillingness to study. However, the reverse is true, too – which means the more optimistic your thoughts are, the more positive is your reality.

As parents, we can help our children build an optimistic attitude. We can do this by practising positive AFFIRMATIONS.

What are affirmations?

Every thought you think and every word you speak is actually an affirmation. All of our self-talk, our internal dialogue, is a stream of affirmations. You’re using affirmations every moment whether you know it or not. You’re affirming and creating your life experiences with every word and thought.

How do positive affirmations help?

“Every thought, emotion, idea or belief has a neurochemical consequence,” writes Vianna Stibal in the book, ‘Theta Healing’.

For example, if you say ‘I am nervous’ over and over again, your body will generate certain chemicals, and you may find that your body is shivering.

As you can see, thoughts are powerful. They can make us quit a habit or create a new habit.

By practising positive affirmations, we can retrain our thoughts and change them. When we do so, it becomes possible to create a new reality for ourselves.

With this understanding, we can help our children become more mindful of their thoughts and of what they speak. By being mindful, they can make a conscious choice to use positive affirmations to change their thoughts and words.

Let’s consider the example of ten-year-old Rahul. One day, he tells his mother, “Mumma, no one plays with me, I feel left out and alone. They do this because I can’t run like them.”

The next day he tells his father, “Dad, I don’t like it when no one plays with me, I think they do this because I am fat.”

And he repeatedly tells his parents this almost every day for three months.

The seed that Rahul has sown in his mind with his repetitive thoughts and words is, ‘I am not good enough’. Hence, one possible outcome of this could be that he feels sad, angry, hurt and has no friends to play with.

It is possible that Rahul’s parents or Rahul can become aware of these repetitive statements. Rahul now has a choice to retrain his thoughts by consistently doing positive affirmations.

He can affirm to himself, “I am lovable and I have many friends to play with.” By doing so, Rahul can sow a new seed. As a result of this new thought, Rahul may no longer feel judged, could feel happy and perhaps have many friends to play with.

Children have a great ability to use affirmations as they believe in them easily. Hence, the sooner they learn to retrain their thoughts by using positive affirmations, the happier, more confident and self-accepting they become. An optimistic attitude can change perspectives, pave the way to solutions, and lead to good health.

An affirmation is a beginning point on the path to change. It usually takes some time to see the results. Practising affirmations is like planting seeds. First the seeds germinate; the roots develop and the shoots emerge through the ground. But, it takes a while for the seed to become a full-grown plant bearing fruits and flowers.

Therefore, by sowing seeds of optimism while young, children will reap the fruits of positivity throughout their lives.

(Edited by Anupama Krishnakumar)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Geeta B Bhansali

Geeta B Bhansali, has been practising therapy and healing, related to mind , body and emotions since 15 years. She is a Heal Your Life Workshop Leader certified by Heart Inspired, USA for over 6 years, and also accredited as Heal Your Life Coach and TeenPlayshop facilitator. She uses skills from Voice and Body movement, Play back Theatre, Theatre of Oppressed, Non violent Communication and Theta Healing while working with adults, children and youngsters.

Geeta believes that when we are aware of our own thoughts, emotions and energy, we create an environment where we all can thrive.