Most religious teachings aver that one can do nothing to uplift oneself: One can only wait for God's grace to descend. Other teachings aver the opposite - that man must do the whole work of upliftment himself, without the benefit of grace.

Paramhansa Yogananda brought these two teachings together into a harmonious whole. He explained that we should use "our own, but God-given power". God, in other words, doesn't do all the work for us, but neither can we do it all alone.

(See also: Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Addictions are not formed overnight. An addiction connotes a mental habit of becoming attached to something on which you have become dependent. We commonly think of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, coffee etc. to be objects of addiction.

However, a habit can be as addictive; be it playing cards, sex, watching TV, gossiping, or anything else that you cannot help but do. If for some reason you are unable to indulge in the habit or activity to which you are addicted, it leads to tremendous discomfort, frustration, anger, or even unbearable physical pain (as in drug addiction).

(See also: Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

An affirmation (from Latin affirmare, to assert) is the declaration that something is true. In logic, an affirmation is a positive judgment, the union of the subject and predicate of a proposition. In law, an affirmation is a solemn declaration allowed to those who conscientiously object to taking an oath. An affirmation has exactly the same legal effect as an oath, but is usually taken to avoid the religious implications of an oath. The Constitution of the United States makes four references to an " ...

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We are what we think. But we are also far more than what we think consciously. We are the myriad conflicting patterns of feeling, habit, and reaction that we have built up over a lifetime - indeed, over lifetimes - in our subconscious minds.

To heal ourselves, we must also set those inner conflicts in order.

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Affirmation is only the first step to self-healing. We must do our human part. Without additional power from God, however, our efforts are forever incomplete. Affirmation, in other words, should end with prayer.

Why should one pray only after repeating the affirmations? Why not before? Prayer is always good, certainly. But if it isn't uttered with an affirmative consciousness, it can easily become weak and beggarly: a plea that God do all the work, without man's active participation. Effective prayer is never passive. It is full of faith. It matures in an attitude of affirmation.

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

An affirmation is a statement of truth which one aspires to absorb into his life. It has been said that we are what we eat. It would be truer to say, "We are what we think." For our minds express, and also influence, the reality of what we are far more than our bodies do. Our thoughts even influence, to a great extent, our physical health.

Words, which are crystallized thoughts, have immeasurable power, especially when we speak them with concentration. The mere thought of fatigue is enough to sap our energy. To strengthen that thought by the words, "I'm exhausted," gives definition, and therefore added power, to the thought itself.

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Change all thoughts to empowering ones. Ask not "Why me?" Ask, "What can I do to reach my goals?" Change any mindset of "I can't" to a mindset of "I can." Just as when you climbed the high diving board as a child, gave a first speech in college, got married, or decided to be a parent, you will find the strength to face any future challenges.

Change any overly independent thoughts such as "I'll handle this alone" to "I have many sources of help, if I simply ask." Shift any catastrophising thoughts such as "This is the worst thing that could happen to me" to "I'm sure I'll survive this one."

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Financial, emotional or physical stress can be a real energy drain and ample motivation to play it safe. I don't like being at my edge, it's scary and unsettling. It calls up my anxiety and my old fears and doubts that I think I've resolved. Despite my resistance, I want to know what continues to push me forward, and creates the ability to withstand and thrive when I am pushed to my edge.

Where's your edge? What are you at the brink of and wanting to press forward with in your life? What dreams or passions are you denying because you want to stay safe in your comfort zone?

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Listen to your body's wisdom, which expresses itself through signals of comfort and discomfort.

When choosing a certain behaviour, ask your body: How do you feel about this? If your body sends a signal of physical or emotional distress, watch out. If your body sends a signal of comfort and eagerness, proceed.

(See also: Happiness, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Most religious teachings aver that one can do nothing to uplift oneself: One can only wait for God's grace to descend. Other teachings aver the opposite - that man must do the whole work of upliftment himself, without the benefit of grace.

Paramhansa Yogananda brought these two teachings together into a harmonious whole. He explained that we should use Òour own, but God-given powerÓ. God, in other words, doesn't do all the work for us, but neither can we do it all alone.

(See also: Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

An affirmation is a statement of truth which one aspires to absorb into his life. It has been said that we are what we eat. It would be truer to say, ÒWe are what we think.Ó For our minds express, and also influence, the reality of what we are far more than our bodies do. Our thoughts even influence, to a great extent, our physical health.

Words, which are crystallized thoughts, have immeasurable power, especially when we speak them with concentration. The mere thought of fatigue is enough to sap our energy. To strengthen that thought by the words, ÒI'm exhausted,Ó gives definition, and therefore added power, to the thought itself.

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Do not think your mind is in control of you. YOU are in control of your mind! YOU use your mind. YOU can stop thinking those old thoughts!

The only thing you have any control on is your CURRENT Thought! The Universe is a vast reservoir of energy! You can get anything you want provided you 'know' and 'use' the right techniques.

To help you in your mission, here is a special compilation of very practical and powerful affirmations you can use in your everyday situations on a daily basis!

(See also: Life Transforming Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

The power of the mind is so tremendous, that if we use it properly even the deadliest of diseases can and have been cured. This truth has been known and observed for many years now.

Modern research experimenting with diverse healing systems cites numerous examples of cures of even deadly diseases such as cancer and AIDS by attuning the mind to positive thoughts and changing one's lifestyle to a simple and harmonious one.

(See also: Affirmations for good health, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

To claim that affirmations or any similar technique can lead us to enlightenment would be presumptuous. However, what can be attempted is a step towards the calming of one's mind, and internally and externally manifesting certain other aids which in turn help in spiritual progress and life in general.

(See also: Affirmation Advantages, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

You want to be passionate about your work, because you are passionate about your life. You also know people who hear a little voice calling them to do sacred work. They always hear a divine voice that tells them what to do or they feel a real sense of mission in life. They absolutely must become musicians, artists, or writers. They have to save the rainforests, or free Tibet, or become a pediatrician because not doing so is like not breathing.

(See also: Essence of Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Most of the world likes to play it safe. They go to their safe jobs, come home to their safe relationships, they drive safe cars, they invest money in safe corporations, they think safe thoughts and they want nothing more than to feel safe and secure.

But there is another kind, too. This other group lives for thrills. They don't just think outside the box, they prefer to live outside the box. This is a group which thrives on adventure. They love innovative new ideas, they like to explore new things, and push the envelope beyond its capabilities. This group often does not feel understood nor supported by the mainstream population.

(See also: Essence of Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

A human being is not a scarecrow with a head and body full of straw. A human being is an embodiment and channel of God's light and power. Yet there are times when confidence runs low, and we do not feel quite up to the mark. While this happens to the best of us at times, some people who live by a defeatist attitude all the time. This is not just undesirable but detrimental to one's psychological and spiritual growth.

The important point to be noted is that it is changeable.

(See also: Affirmation Advantages, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Philosophers have long held that happiness is the ultimate goal of existence. Aristotle called it the "summum bonum" - the "chief good" - in that while we desire other goods such as money or power because we believe that they will make us happy, we want happiness for its own sake. So do material goods really lead you to happiness?

According to brain scientists, there is actually a specific area in the brain that sets expectations of material gain, and as material goals are achieved, it resets expectation levels. This means that you could be unhappy despite being wealthy, if your expectations were higher, and happy in penury if you exceeded expectations.

(See also: Essence of Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

The famous American scientist of the early twentieth century, George Washington Carver, was trying to make sandpaper, but he wasn't having much success.

Carver fell asleep and dreamed that he was in a wagon shop, where a man was working silently on a wheel. Carver asked the wheelwright if he knew how to make sandpaper. The workman said, "Yes," then continued working in silence.

Carver said with enthusiasm, "This is how I would do it," and described the sandpaper-making process he'd been using. "You did all right," the workman said. "But you need to boil the sand." Carver woke up and immediately went to his laboratory and boiled the sand. His sandpaper was perfect.

The following exercise will help you receive superconscious, intuitive insights:

(See also: Practising Affirmations, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)

Deep in the heart there is hope that there is someone out there who is the 'right one' for you.

Loneliness is a hunger born deep in the heart. It is reflective of the inner need and eagerness to seek fulfillment and completeness. As human beings mature into adults, they consciously become more and more aware of their heart's inner despondency and strive to satiate it through various means. The most prominent way of course is by relating to others.

(See also: Affirmation Advantages, Affirmations, Practising Affirmations, Life Transforming Affirmations, Essence of Affirmations, Faith and Belief, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Body Mind and Soul)