5 Affirmations That Keep Me Grounded In These Turbulent Times

When the ground beneath us is shaking, what do we hold on to? How do we steady ourselves? One tool that I draw upon daily is affirmations.

An affirmation is a statement that we declare to be true. Declare the affirmation enough and it will become a belief i.e. something that we hold to be true. Our beliefs form the basis of our behaviours and therefore, how we show up in the world, how we interact with others and the results we achieve. Affirmations are a very powerful way to rewire our beliefs, by injecting a new thought into the cycle: “Change your beliefs, change your life”

Affirmations are a very important part of my daily morning practice. I write one or two in my journal each day, taking time to ponder their meaning to me. Sometimes I stand up and repeat them out loud, with conviction. I may also write them on a post-it that I keep beside my computer, to remind me throughout the day. They anchor me in new, positive, thoughts that keep me focused and steady no matter what comes at me throughout the day.

Here are 5 affirmations that I keep coming back to now, that keep me grounded in these times:

1. This too shall pass:
   In uncertain, turbulent times like these, I need to remind myself that there is an end. I may not know how or when, but the pandemic will end. The economic lockdown will end. The isolation will end. The mask-wearing will end. So I need not worry IF it will end – it will
2. If you resist change, you resist life – Sadhguru:
   Life is all about change. Change brings opportunities. It brings challenges, but many of the challenges are amplified by our resistance. I want to live life to its fullest, so therefore I have to embrace change.
3. To know is to be ignorant, to not know is the beginning of wisdom – J. Krishnamurti
   One thing this pandemic is teaching us is how little we know. Trying to hold on to our limited knowledge limits our openness, and ability to question and explore. In our culture where what we know is what we get paid for, it’s sometimes hard to say, “I don’t know”. We feel we might be seen as being weak and of less value. But perhaps our greatest value is in when we open to the infiniteness of what we don’t know, and BEGIN to be wise, instead of simply knowledgeable.
4. Progress is happiness – Tony Robbins
   All my clients hear me repeat this (hopefully not ad nauseum). This reminds me to be patient, to honour progress, no matter how small, to celebrate every step. I physically relax whenever I repeat this.
5. Just do you:
   I first heard this from a Jamaican Olympian, Omar McLeod, after he had won the Gold Medal for the 110m hurdles at the Rio Olympics. I figure that if it won him the gold, then what can it do for me? This affirmation reminds me that we are each unique beings with a job to do in this world. There has never been, nor will there ever be another Marguerite, nor another you. Whenever I feel I should be doing this, or that, because others are doing it, or when I feel I am not doing enough, I repeat this to myself.

I would love to hear about some of the affirmations that are particularly helpful to you. How do you use them? And how have they changed your thinking, and your life?

For similar blog posts by Marguerite:

15 lessons from some people (and 2 dogs) in 2016!
How to Stay Grounded in Turbulent Times