Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

Fear and worry are negative forms of meditation because they focus our mental, emotional, and spiritual energy on defeat and worst-case scenarios. Imagine how that might damage marital happiness. 

Although some people might not believe in positive affirmations, and, admittedly, toxic positivity is a thing, positive affirmations support mental health and boost “happy hormones.” According to the National Library of Medicine, “affirmations can decrease stress, increase well being, improve academic performance and make people more open to behavior change.”

Even for someone who is skeptical about the power of positive affirmations, which is better, dwelling on negative or positive statements about your life and marriage?

Exactly. 

Positive affirmations are statements you repeat to create an optimistic mindset and outlook. 

By making these statements, you speak loving truths to yourself about who you are, why you matter, and how much potential for good lies within reach for you and your marriage. 

With that in mind, why would someone wish to zero in on all the bad things about their marriage and worst-case scenarios? That kind of thinking grinds a groove in your mind that creates a chasm between you and your spouse, keeping you from ever being able to experience marital happiness. 

Positive affirmations create new mental grooves, neural pathways, and new thinking habits, making room for optimism, self-motivation, and solutions. 

How do positive affirmations work? Here are six ways affirmations influence your happy hormones that you can use for a happier life and marriage:

Rewire Your Brain

Repeating positive affirmations reconditions your brain to focus on the good rather than dwelling on the bad, shifting your energy from pessimistic to optimistic. 

Develop Self-Confidence

Affirmations boost your confidence, making it easier to tackle difficult tasks or make challenging decisions that move you outside of your comfort zone so you can grow. By repeating these affirmations, you tap your inner strength and ignite belief in yourself, giving you the courage to take risks and achieve your goals. 

Reduce Stress

Positive affirmations reduce stress by helping you stay focused on the task and keeping your attention away from worries and anxieties, which, as you can imagine, gives you a powerful advantage when working to improve your marriage. 

Increase Self-Motivation

Affirmations keep you focused on your goals and dreams, providing strength and encouragement when you feel like giving up. And they remind you that failure isn’t final but an opportunity for growth and improvement.  

Strengthen Relationships

Positive affirmations strengthen relationships because they keep you focused on the positive qualities of those around you instead of dwelling on the imagined bad things about them or issues you face with them. Seeing someone in a positive light and attaching healthy intentions to them, especially your spouse, is essential to improving your marriage.  

Brighten Mood

Repeating positive affirmations creates a new way of thinking that brightens your overall mood and keeps depression at bay. Positive thoughts encourage your brain to release more “happy” hormones” like serotonin and dopamine, making you feel calmer and content. 

Imagine the effect positive affirmations will have on your marriage compared to all the negativity, resentment, and complaining. 

To use positive affirmations in your daily life, list all you want to accomplish and use it as a reminder throughout the day. 

Make personalized affirmations meaningful to you; for example, if you are anxious about a certain marital situation, tell yourself, “I will have a healthier marriage by lovingly discussing this matter with my spouse.” 

Positive affirmations are a tool for being happier and unlocking your best life. Repeating your affirmations daily is important, but don’t beat yourself up for slipping up occasionally. Instead, get back on track and keep going because quitting gets you nowhere. With consistent effort, it won’t be long until you see the positive impact of affirmations on your mood, well-being, and personal growth. Unlock your best marriage with the power of positive affirmations!