In order to feel good about ourselves, our lives, and our circumstances, it's necessary to consciously feel appreciation for ourselves, our lives and our circumstances. The most effective way to feel appreciative is to use positive self talk.

From the time we're small children, throughout our adult lives, we hear messages about ourselves. These messages might be positive, or they could be destructive. Kids who grow up hearing "you'll never amount to anything," tend to believe what they hear, and then turn it into a self fullfilling prophecy. On the flip side children who hear positive messages about themselves tend to fulfill those identities as well.

Everyone has an internal dialogue that plays in their minds throughout the day. The language we use and the way we speak to ourselves has a huge impact on all of our experiences. Our belief systems generate the ideas we hold about ourselves and others. What we expect from ourselves and what we believe about our abilities is generated through our self talk. Here’s a question - Do you ever pay attention to what you say to yourself?

Affirmations are a way of creating positive beliefs and expectations. Affirmations are simply statements of truth. We believe whatever we tell ourselves. If you are conscious of your self-talk you can positively impact all of your experiences. Affirmations not only fuel a positive attitude, but can lead you to expect the best out of life, and then experience situations that generate more positive feelings.

But, are affirmations really worth the effort?