How Long Does It Take for Self-Concept Affirmations to Work?
Asking how long it takes for affirmations to work is normal. You want to live your dream life and get what you want. You want to see results!
You began your self-concept affirmations. You have a routine and are ready to see the changes in your life and get what you want! After days of self-concept work (or weeks or even months), you ask yourself, how long does it take for affirmations to work? When will I feel a boost in self-esteem? When will I see my self-concept affirmations reflected to me in my relationships or from a specific person?
How long does it take for affirmations to work?
It's normal to ask this question. You want to live your dream life and get what you want. You want to see results.
However, some affirmations may take time to show up in your reality.
Our old dominant thoughts and belief systems can still linger. Although you are aware of your thoughts and old belief systems now, you’ve had years or even decades with an old self-concept in love. That identity created your reality, just like your new identity, beliefs, and assumptions will shape your experiences moving forward once your mind is fully saturated.
For example, if you had an assumption that money is hard to come by, that you’re always broke, or that you don’t deserve to make 6-figures, you probably experienced financial losses or struggled with money most - if not all - of your life. On the other hand, if your dominant thoughts about money were abundant (money is easy to make, I always have money, I’m so lucky with money, etc) you’ve probably won money at every turn, are given money, received random checks, find money, or are rewarded with raises at work.
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The same goes for relationships. If your past dominant thoughts regarding romantic relationships emphasized relationships failing or men cheating, I am almost certain your relationships have failed and that men have been unfaithful to you. On the contrary, if you’ve always assumed that you’re spoiled and loved, you’ve probably been spoiled rotten and loved unconditionally.
So, how long does it take for affirmations to work again?
The time that it takes for you to see “proof” of your affirmations depends on how long you’ve continued to replay thoughts that aren’t in alignment with what you want to manifest. So, it all depends on you. No one can truly tell you how long it takes for affirmations to work because they are not in your mind and they don’t know your history.
How long it takes for affirmations to work also depends on your conscious thoughts when you’re not using a manifestation technique, and if you’re constantly looking for evidence of your manifestation.
So, the answer to this question isn’t straightforward because we all have varying experiences. It also helps to know what happens to our brain when we affirm.
What happens in our brain when we affirm?
According to a study published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, affirmations "activate brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward." That means that the more you say something desirable about yourself and/or your circumstances like, "I am always loved," that part of your brain lights up.
The more you say your affirmations, the more it fires up that part of the brain. This then creates a new neural pathway.
You will then believe in what you are affirming, or at least start to believe it is possible.
Back to how long it takes for affirmations to work…
It seems that the more we affirm (or any other technique you use with repetition) and light up that part of our brain, the more we believe in what we are saying. Since the “reward” part of our brain is constantly being activated when you repeat a thought (affirmation), it has to show you proof of what you believe about yourself and your circumstances because that’s its job.
How often should I say my affirmations?
This doesn’t mean you have to recite your affirmations nonstop, although Law of Assumption coach, Sammy Ingram, encourages this method if you wish to attain your desires quickly. It’s all a personal preference. Impatient people may love affirming all day so they light up that reward center every minute of the day. Others may get triggered emotionally or feel mentally exhausted from affirming all day.
Decide what works best for you: affirming all day, affirming on a schedule, or affirming when you just think of your desire.
Just remember that there is no wrong way to affirm. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. And if they do, it is a limiting belief that there is only one way to manifest your dreams.
Bottom line, how long it takes for your affirmations to work depends on your assumptions and what you believe. If you think it will take a long time to get what you want, then it will, especially if you have a history of waiting for things to manifest in love. If you believe you get what you want easily, then you will. You are the deciding factor!