What are affirmations again?

My new friend Chat.open.ai explains it: 'An affirmation is a positive statement that you repeat to manifest a desired reality. It changes your mindset by creating positive thoughts and letting go of negative ones.'

Imagine you're struggling. Too much on your mind. You feel shaky. And you think, 'I can't handle this.'

Sound familiar?

Yes, it does to me. I remember sitting among 20 moving boxes filled with my confused mother's 'paperwork'. It was overwhelming. Her dependence, our three children with soccer, lice, and dyslexia training, caring for my brother, the laundry, the allergic dog, my business.

'I can't handle this!' I was about to indulge in self-pity.

"A Blue Dot with a Heavy Life" is a humorous painting that reminds you of the affirmation: I am strong, I am flexible, I am balanced.

The decision that changed everything

At that moment, I made the decision that transformed the entire drowning feeling. In that overwhelming moment of "This is really too much," I decided:

'Okay, I'm going to do this cheerfully. I can handle this.'

It completely changed how I felt. The tightness in my stomach eased, and I tackled it cheerfully. Without stress, I steadily worked through the whole mess.

Changing your mindset

My example shows how my mindset affected that feeling of stress.

My buddy Chat.open.ai again: Your mindset refers to your beliefs, attitudes, and thought patterns that influence your responses to events, challenges, and successes.

Your mindset can be positive or negative, affecting personal relationships, career, health, and well-being.

Fortunately, you can change your mindset by replacing negative thought patterns with positive beliefs.

Art for a better mindset

Telling yourself, 'I'm going to do this cheerfully, I can handle this easily,' is called an affirmation.

What I like to create is art as affirmation. Visual reminders. Something beautiful hanging on your wall that reminds you that you're strong, flexible, and balanced, for example.

Or that your sister supports you Through Thick and Thin. Or that everything will always be ok. Or that if you love something, set it free. Or that you're always lucky.

To give your life a little push in the right direction every time you see the artwork hanging.