What is your daily affirmation?

Hello All,

Week 3 and I have not destroyed the internet! Woohoo! I must admit that I do say a prayer every single time I hit publish. Again, many thanks to all who are reading Phyl Phacts. I appreciate all of your feedback; it is helping to make the blog stronger! The request this week was to add my picture to the “About Me” page. So the King of the Blog added the recent picture of me, and then sent me a tutorial on how to add more. So for grins and to practice my new skill, I have added a picture of me from the third grade or so (when I was actually a true blonde!). This was also about the time my little mom says I began to write stories on folded notebook papers, folded like little books. Guess I was bitten by the writing bug early.

You can find inspiration in so many places. Have you seen the viral video about the little boy named Ayaan saying his self affirmations on his way to school? He has a banana in his hand, his backpack on and he is saying: “I am smart. I am blessed. I can do anything!” By the end of the video the “I CAN DO ANYTHING” is quite emphatic. (If you have not seen this incredibly uplifting video, search under little boy saying positive affirmations.)

His mother Alissa posted this wonderful video clip on October 1st with the following caption: “I taught Ayaan this positive affirmation on his 2nd birthday last year in the hopes that he would one day memorize it, understand it and use it as a motivational tool whenever he needed it. Well, he shocked me this morning. Out of nowhere he started repeating it, so I pulled out my phone. He ended (with enthusiasm) once we made it to our destination. So proud of the little boy he is growing into.”

I am so impressed with Ayaan! I am equally impressed with his mother and father who want to make sure he knows how valuable he is as a human and that he can, in fact, do anything! I expect we will see President Ayaan one day!

Just last week I told long suffering Bob that I am “flunking retirement”. He looked at me and said “Are you?”. As usual, he made me stop and think. I had my first complete physical exam in 3 years. I have spent more time with my family and friends (including you!). I am still providing support to my passion projects, one being the Western Tidewater Free Clinic. I (with the immense help of the King of the Blog) started this blog. Perhaps I am not flunking!

Ayaan’s video and that conversation with Bob drove me to develop my daily affirmation. I love Ayaan’s, because I, too, am blessed. So I created my own: “I am blessed. I can make a difference in both big and small ways. I can share love.” I have been starting my day this way for the past week. I think it makes a difference in my days!

I know you – some of you are shaking your heads and saying “Really?”. I truly believe these affirmations are important, just like Ayaan’s mother does! I think too much of our current self talk is negative. I am not a good mother/father/wife/husband/coworker/add one of your own. I didn’t get to this today – I didn’t do this procedure correctly – I didn’t – I didn’t – I didn’t. Also think about your team. We get caught up in productivity, statistics and what did not go perfectly. We forget the thousands of data points that they handled in just one shift, the number of things that went absolutely right, the use of their skills and talents, and, as importantly, the amount of care and compassion they poured into their work.

What would your self affirmation be? Think of the difference it would make to YOU if you started your day this way. Perhaps it can be your new habit while you are brushing your teeth! (If you are like me, that is when you are looking at yourself in the mirror!) Don’t you think you would start your day with a different attitude?

Let’s take it one step further. What is the daily affirmation for your team? What if you and your team created a team affirmation? I would be thrilled if I were at work and heard my team say “We care. We are skilled. We make a difference.” These are very true statements about your team, no matter what profession you are part of.

Affirmations are empowering, powerful and demonstrate self love. You deserve all of that! Don’t forget what you did accomplish – who you did help – who you did support. Give positive affirmations to yourself – you deserve it. Provide positive affirmations to others, including your team – they deserve it too. You – and they – are valuable.

And, as Ayann so wonderfully reminds us, WE CAN DO ANYTHING!

Phyl