How to Use Affirmations (and Incantations) to Reprogram Your Mind and Become Your Best Self
There are different schools of thought about how to state affirmations effectively, and each taps into distinct psychological and neurological mechanisms for reprogramming the subconscious. Below is a breakdown of the most tried-and-proven methods—including afformations, identity-based affirmations, and incantations—so you can choose (or blend) what creates the strongest impact for you.
1. Classic Affirmations (Declarative Statements)
These are positive statements phrased in the present tense, as if the desired outcome is already true.
Examples:
- “I am confident and capable.”
- “I joyfully attract abundance.”
- “I am calm, grounded, and resilient.”
How to use them effectively
- Use the present tense: Speak as if it’s already true.
- Charge them with emotion: Emotion is what gives affirmations power.
- Repeat consistently: Morning and night works best, ideally in front of a mirror.
- Visualize as you speak: See yourself already living the reality.
Why it works
Research from UCLA and Carnegie Mellon shows that self-affirmations activate reward centers in the brain and reduce stress, making the mind more receptive to change.
Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Clay) is one of the most famous public figures to popularize affirmations and visualization. Long before becoming a champion, he repeatedly declared:
“I am the greatest!”
This wasn’t empty bravado—it was a deliberate strategy to reprogram his belief system and project certainty before external proof existed.
If elite athletes use affirmations to win championships, they’re certainly worth trying for goals like becoming a more present parent, creating meaningful work, or contributing to a better world.
Fake it ’til you make it.
2. Afformations (Positive Questions)
Coined by Noah St. John, afformations flip affirmations into empowering questions. This works because the brain is naturally wired to search for answers.
Examples:
- Instead of “I am confident,” ask:
👉 “Why am I so confident and self-assured every day?”
- Instead of “I attract abundance,” ask:
👉 “Why is it so easy for me to attract opportunities and abundance?”
Why it works
Questions bypass resistance. Rather than arguing with a statement you don’t yet believe, your subconscious starts looking for evidence to answer the question—gently reinforcing belief.
If classic affirmations haven’t worked for you, afformations often do.
3. Identity-Based Affirmations
These affirmations focus on who you are becoming, not just what you want.
Example:
“I am the type of person who takes bold, aligned action every day.”
This approach aligns with James Clear’s Atomic Habits: lasting change happens when behaviors flow from identity, not willpower alone.
4. Subliminal and Audio Repetition
Repetition is essential for subconscious programming.
Tips:
- Record affirmations in your own voice.
- Play them on loop during morning routines or while falling asleep (theta brainwave states).
- Combine with calm music or binaural beats for deeper absorption.
5. Write, Speak, and Feel
The subconscious responds best to multi-sensory input.
Daily practice:
- Write 3–10 affirmations by hand.
- Speak them aloud with conviction.
- Feel them as if they are already true—this emotional congruence is key.
6. Incantations
Incantations are the most intense and embodied form of affirmation.
What they are
Incantations are emotionally charged, physically expressed affirmations, often delivered loudly and repeatedly, using powerful language.
Example:
“I am passionate, productive, prosperous, and positive!”
How they work
Incantations combine:
- Powerful words
- Strong vocal delivery (loud, rhythmic, passionate)
- Vigorous physical movement (jumping, fist-pumping, dancing, strong posture)
This combination shifts your entire physiological state, creating stronger neural associations and rapid belief change.
Key difference
While affirmations work primarily through language, incantations use words plus the body and energy. The physical movement “codes” the message into your nervous system, activating endorphins, increasing confidence, and making the belief feel real.
Incantations are often more potent for rapid transformation because they engage mind, body, and emotion simultaneously.
Blend the Methods for Maximum Impact
You don’t need to choose just one approach. In fact, the most powerful practice blends several.
Example:
- Start with a question (afformation):
“Why is my life filled with joy and abundance?”
- Answer it as an affirmation:
“Because I am aligned with purpose and open to receiving.”
- Turn it into an incantation:
Say it loudly, repeatedly, with movement and conviction.
Visualize and feel it:
See the outcome. Feel the emotion. Let your body believe it.
A Practical Daily Routine (5–10 Minutes)
- Write 3 identity-based affirmations
- Ask 3 empowering afformations
- Speak all 6 aloud with emotion
- Turn one into an incantation (30–60 seconds of movement + voice)
- Listen to a recorded affirmation loop before sleep
Conclusion: From Affirmations to Becoming
The proof is in Ali.
He affirmed greatness before the world agreed.
He trained his subconscious before his body caught up.
He turned perceived limitations into signature strengths.
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them—a desire, a dream, a vision.” — Muhammad Ali
World-class athletes and thought leader have already demonstrated that affirmations—and especially embodied practices like incantations—work. They shape identity, focus the mind, and align belief with action.
If these tools can help someone dominate in the ring, imagine what they can do for what truly matters: raising conscious children, creating meaningful work, or helping build a more compassionate and sustainable world.
We’re all fighting for something.
So yes—speak it, question it, embody it, and live it.
Fake it ’til you make it…
or better yet:
Affirm it. Incant it. Become it.
With love and gratitude,
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