Have you ever felt stuck in life and wondered what to do? I sure have. I became a widow at age 48, and even though my husband Frank had cancer and his death was expected, it still hit me hard.
I have lost jobs, been evicted, had a large benign tumor removed, and now, at age 72, I have had arthritis pain for thirty years.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, to help with arthritis pain, “focus on living life to the fullest by embracing your strengths, and focusing on gratitude, optimism, and purpose.”
How to Use Affirmations for Personal Growth:
Be Thankful for What You Have
Yes, I have a lot of arthritis pain, but I still feel blessed. I am married to a supportive husband; we have a nice car and stable finances that allow us to give to charity. Now that he is mostly retired, we can pick up and go at a moment’s notice.
No matter how bad things seem, there is always something to be thankful for if you dig deep enough into your life.
One problem with cultivating a state of gratitude is losing sight of all the good you have and succumbing to negativity when something bad happens. This is where affirmations can lift your mood.
Use Positive Affirmation Cards
These Positive Affirmation Cards give you a new affirmation each day, along with thought-provoking questions on the reverse. You can also draw a card from the deck and choose to work on that affirmation for a few days or longer.
What I like best is doing the questions on the other side of the card. The one I drew today had the affirmation: Embrace the Glorious Mess That You Are. The questions were: What’s the last compliment I received, and what compliment do I want the most?
On day two, my affirmation was What is the Most Courageous Thing I Have Ever Done? My answer was that the year after I graduated from college, I flew to Indiana to work in a school cafeteria for $60 a month and room and board. That is not a typo, and as I look back, I wonder how I ever agreed to such a thing.
I had more than a few bumps in the road. My apartment’s sewer line busted, and I had a nice mess all over creation. This was a high school academy, but I preferred working with seniors. I was stuck there for a whole year, cooking and serving breakfast and lunch. I surprised myself by staying an extra couple of months.
Spend Time Reflecting
I am providing all these details because you need to spend time reflecting on your affirmations, rather than just glancing at them and hurrying on to the next card. Ensure you answer the two questions on the back of the card.
I look forward to drawing a new card every day, and by going slowly, I can keep the affirmation for a couple of days longer to make sure I take full advantage of its personal growth benefits.
In the past, I lost interest in affirmations because it felt like I was repeating the same thing. Nothing seemed to change, so I just stopped and never got started again.
Get In the Habit of Journaling
These 100 Positive Affirmation Cards can also serve as journaling prompts. Write out the affirmations and questions, and add your thoughts to your journal. I have experienced significant personal growth through journaling. Save your journals. When you look back over what you have written, you’ll see how much personal growth you have experienced.
Final Thoughts
Use these cards to work on goal setting, journaling, meditation, encouragement, or inspiration. Take your time and enjoy the process. Keep practicing good habits of self-care.
