Affirmations are a 'Brain Reward'—The Power of Words Explained by Neuroscience

Now, this may be sudden, but what impression do you get when you hear the word 'affirmation'?

Does it sound a bit spiritual? Or like self-help?
Perhaps some of you feel it's a bit distant,
something that doesn't really apply to you?

However, this affirmation,
is actually something that 'really has an effect' according to neuroscience.
To put it simply,


affirmation is

'a training exercise to calm your mind by repeating kind words to yourself'.


Affirmation is not just about positive words;
it is also a

'reward for the brain' that helps it feel safe and regain your true self. Let's gently offer kind words to your brain, which works hard every day.

You might encounter some unfamiliar terms, but
I would like to talk about the effects of affirmations
from the perspective of neuroscience.

The Effects of Affirmations from the Perspective of Neuroscience

1. The brain changes based on how you 'use' it

The brain has the 'ability to rewire its circuits based on what you repeat.'
This is called 'neuroplasticity'.

For example,
if you think 'I'm no good anyway...' every day,
a 'habit of blaming yourself' will remain firmly in your brain.

But conversely,
by repeating
kind words like 'I'm doing what I can' or 'It's okay,'
it gets rewritten into a 'habit of believing in yourself.'

2. The brain's 'alarm sensor' calms down

Inside the brain, there is a place called the 'amygdala,' which is
like an 'alarm bell' for the heart.

This amygdala is very sensitive to anxiety, anger, stress, etc.,
and reacts to even the smallest things by saying, 'It's dangerous!'

However, when you use comforting words like affirmations, this alarm bell gradually calms down, and your mind becomes quiet.

3. It becomes easier to notice 'what is important'

Inside the brain, there is a mechanism called 'RAS',
'a filter that shows you only important information'.

For example,
if you keep saying 'I am a person who is cherished,'
this RAS will naturally start looking for 'evidence of that.'

Then,
when someone says 'thank you' to you,
or when someone smiles at you,
'Oh, I was cherished just now' you can notice it.

In that way, affirmations also 'tune' how you see your heart.

4. 'Motivation hormones' are released

When you feel happy or a sense of accomplishment,
'dopamine,' a 'motivation hormone', is released in the brain.

When you say positive words to yourself,
it becomes easier for this dopamine to be released,
and it becomes easier to develop the feeling of 'I think I'll give it a try.'

Affirmations are not just 'nice words,' but
something like a 'brain reward' that makes your brain feel energized.

By repeating gentle words little by little,
you can change both your heart and your actions in a positive way.

From here on, I will introduce recommended affirmations
along with how the brain works.

Affirmations to boost self-esteem

1. 'I am valuable just as I am'
→ The brain is prone to feeling that words heard repeatedly are 'the truth.'
Repeating these words will gradually soften the belief that 'I am no good.'

2. 'I am growing a little bit every day'
→ When the brain thinks it is moving forward, even just a little,
confidence also emerges.

You will develop the habit of finding 'I did it.'

3. 'I am doing what I can right now. That is enough'
→ Words that calm your heart when you feel frustrated or anxious.

By giving an 'OK' to 'the current me,' it becomes easier to organize your mind and heart.

4. 'It is okay for me to be honest about what I feel'
→ Rather than suppressing your feelings, it is important to acknowledge them by saying, 'So that's how you felt.'

Not putting a lid on your emotions also leads to peace of mind.

5. 'It is okay for me to believe in myself'
→ The feeling of belief is the source of motivation.

When you repeat these words,the feeling of 'let's try taking action' will well up.

How should I use them?

• Try saying them out loud right after waking up in the morning

• Write them in a notebook

• Say them while looking in a mirror (the brain remembers well when you speak while looking into your own eyes)

If you make it a small habit, you will start to see changes little by little.

And wouldn't it be wonderful if 'gentle words' also reached children?

Finally, I will introduce cute affirmations
that parents and children can use together.

Affirmations for children

If you say them out loud with a gentle rhythm, it becomes easier for the brain to remember!
The effect will double if you do it as a parent and child, won't it?

Rhythm and the repetition of word sounds are easy to remember, so
please try delivering them to your heart like a 'word song'♪

Ear

***

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***

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