I want to start by acknowledging, for those of us in the US, today is a lot. 😰

It’s finally the Midterm Election Day that we’ve all been hearing about for weeks in the news, through a plethora of advertisements and a constant stream of spam texts.

This morning we experienced the peak of the Taurus Full Moon Eclipse, which promises to bring with it a bit of chaos and spur changes and innovation.

And our bodies are still adjusting to the time change that occurred on Sunday bringing a lack of afternoon daylight which impacts our sleep patterns, energy levels, motivation and stamina.

So if you’re feeling anxious, sluggish, depleted, burnt out or a sense of heaviness and instability all around you, you’re not alone.

These are the moments when self care is vital for your well-being.

I encourage you to spend your time and energy wisely on what makes you feel rooted, grounded and secure.

To choose spaciousness over busyness.

To surround yourself with what makes you feel joyful, abundant and empowered.

One of those things for me is to cheer on the NYC Marathon runners every year, which I did on Sunday.

I’m always impressed with their will, endurance and determination.

It reaffirms the intimate relationship between the mind and the body and how powerful the mind can be, in this case for better.

When our mind believes something it makes it a part of our identity. And our brain is so attached to our identity that it will do almost anything to prove that identity is true.

It is part of what allows a paraplegic to become a world class athlete and accomplish their goal of completing the NYC marathon.

One of the ways we can utilize that power of our brain to help us accomplish the big dreams and goals that we have in our lives is through “I AM” statements.

When we say, “I AM” our brain assumes that whatever follows those two words is part of who we are. So when it comes time to make choices, our brain will guide us in the direction of the choice that most aligns with what it sees as our identity.

So someone who says “I am a runner” is going to be more likely to get out of bed and go for a run than to hit the snooze button and skip it.

Creating new habits challenges the old version of our identity in order to create a new version.

In these moments, we can use the power of “I AM” statements to our benefit because the brain can’t tell time.

It doesn’t know the difference between the past, the present and the future.

That means, if you’re someone who wasn’t a runner in your past, but wants to be in your future, saying “I am a runner” in the present will strengthen the neural pathways in your brain that believe this new version of your identity thus increasing the likelihood that you will make choices that help you live into that new version of yourself now.

There are several ways you can make this practice a part of your daily routine.

The brain is most receptive when you wake up and right before you go to sleep. So reading, writing or saying your “I AM” statements at these times can increase there potency.
You can use the 369 rule. Choose your “I AM” statements and write them 3 times in the morning, 6 times at mid-day and 9 times in the evening.
Listen to “I AM” guided meditations, like the short practice I created for you below. I encourage you to try it each morning this week and see how it impacts your day.

I would love to hear your favorite affirmation! Share in the comments below.