Are you constantly feeling under pressure and stressed? Does it seem like no matter what you try you'll never rid yourself of stress?

If this is the case then you may want to consider applying affirmations as a coping mechanism for stress. Affirmations have proven to be one of the most effective tools for re-programing the mind on a subconscious level and replacing negative and self destructive thoughts with positive ones.

What are affirmations?

Affirmations are positive scripts that you read aloud to yourself on a daily basis. They are targeted towards a desired outcome, in this instance it would be to help you cope with stress. Essentially you're trying to counteract the negative self talk and thoughts you have become accustomed to and replace them with positive ones.

How to use affirmations

The following are a few principles to consider when drawing up your affirmations so as to get the most benefit from them.

Intention

Understanding your end goal is the first step to applying affirmations. In this instance you want to better cope with stress so identify the negative thoughts, actions, behaviors that lead to you feeling stressed.

Is work causing you stress? Is family life causing you stress? Are financial worries causing you stress?

It's recommended to keep a journal or at least grab a pen and paper and make notes to help you with this first step. Write down all the things that you feel are contributing to your stress. There's no need to be to precise, the examples above such as career related stress and family stress are broad but that's perfectly OK.

Writing Your Affirmations

Affirmations are simply short sharp phrases, there's no need to be to specific or graphic. The idea is to put into a few words the desired outcome you wish to achieve. The key though is to write them as if they were already true. ALWAYS write your affirmations in the present tense not past or future tense.

A good example of a broad affirmation as a coping mechanism for stress might be "I, Ricky am coping with my stress better everyday".

Notice how it's written as though I am already achieving that which I desire. I used the term "I am". Avoid scripts that include "I am going to", "I will" and so on. Secondly you'll see how I added my name to the affirmation. This is something I do personally for all my affirmations and I advise you do the same. I don't know why I just find they work better if you personalize them.

It's also wise to branch out and use the causes of your stress as inspiration for affirmations. That's why I recommended you make notes of your intention and causes of your stress. That way you can use affirmations to get to the root causes of your stress.

For example if I was struggling to deal with work related stress because I was not keeping up with work related chores I might use an affirmation such as "Everyday I am getting better and better at managing my job". This way I'm addressing the root cause leading to stress.

They must be positive

Make sure your affirmations state a positive outcome. Use words of positivity and focus on the outcome you desire not the current reality you're facing. Avoid words like "I don't", "I can't" and use words like "I will".

Affirmations may sound a little silly if you are new to them but there is science behind them. Essentially you are imprinting a message on your subconscious. Your subconscious cannot define reality so with regular practice you can imprint this belief which will slowly manifest and realign your conscious thoughts.

Give them a try, you have nothing to lose! Some of the leading self improvement experts practice them regularly including myself. They can be an effective coping mechanism for stress if applied regularly and consistently.