We know what we aren’t and what we don’t want to do. We’ve cleared out all of the critical negative programming and left room for the real us. So, Who are we and what do we want to do?
The empty space that used to be filled by the inner critic will now be filled with affirmations that we choose. It’s time to replace our limitations and”truths” with reality. We know who we are and what we can do. Who better to decide what to do with our lives?
Doug and I started out asking who we are, really. What drives us? What descriptors suit us now, at this point in life. The old us, the us imposed by others when were were impressionable isn’t relevant anymore. it’s time to create the new, accurate and right here now us…
This is what I’ll do!
We drew a picture of us being who we are now. We’re creating and helping. Our path is leading towards creatively guiding others and that’s what the picture shows…
Positive affirmations must fill the void left by the negativity we deleted from our minds. It’s time to get in touch with the monkey we always knew we were, even when others tried to convince us otherwise.
Doug and I thought about how we really our, about our higher monkey. How does this higher self behave? What do others admire about him? We made a list of new, higher monkey affirmations to replace the inner (and outer) critic garbage we threw away…
- I am successful.
- I make enough money to live comfortably.
- I am creative!
- I don’t give up.
- I’m kind.
- I am very spiritual.
- I help people.
- I work hard.
- I don’t procrastinate.
- I am decisive.
- I am a positive model for others.
Doug grabbed the list of traits the critics told us we were for comparison.
- You will never do anything!
- You’re sick again?
- You’re selfish.
- You’re lazy.
- You never finish anything!
- You never put stuff away.
- You don’t care.
- You’re not good enough at art,
- You’re not a real carpenter.
- You’ll get hurt!
- You waste time.
- You’ll fail.
- You’re not as smart as you think you are!
- You’re a failure.
- You’re mean.
- You’re too skinny.
- You don’t give enough.
Wow. The real us is nothing like the imaginary us we were told was us (hold on, here’s another “us” for this sentence). There’s a lightness within us now, since we vomited up the poison the critics fed us all these years…
Doug is off to print out the list of positive affirmations that we wrote down. We’re going to post it in a prominent place in our home, somewhere we can see it all the time. It’s time to rewire our coconut and move on towards contentment. We now won’t sabotage our happiness by being our own worst critic…
Exercise
Think about yourself doing and being who you know you are. You’ve expelled the critic’s poisonous lies, so now you need to replace them with positive affirmations of your own design.
Write down a list of who you are (or aspire to be) and what you do. How do you express yourself? What is your job? Do you help others? What traits are you proud of? It doesn’t matter if you haven’t achieved all of these things yet. This is a list of aspirations that will become you new affirmations. Word them in the present tense so you KNOW this is you…
Make a copy of your list and compare it to what the critics told you you were. There’s a big difference isn’t there? It’s empowering to define yourself and throw away what was imposed upon you.
Hang up the list of positive affirmations in your home where you will see it all the time. Read it often. Let them become the new programming from which you react to all others and all situations. Become the real you… Claim your youhood.
Doug Does Life 
“I am my own worst enemy,” is now, “I am my own best friend.”
“I know I’m hard to love,” is now “I believe I’m easy to love.” You two are right, I’m feeling lighter already. Thank you, your writings help.
I loved this exercise because it felt so good to write the positive affirmations about myself. Thank you!
You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it useful… I still have about 20 or so posts still to write in the series…