Assertions—assert it’s already so

Assertions are strong, positive statements that something is already so. Another name for assertions is affirmations. Assertions can help reduce negative self-talk and help build new, positive self-talk. Examples of assertions to help achieve this include:

You can also use assertions to learn and change specific behaviors related to your training objectives. For flight training, assertions might include:

Assertions can change the way you behave and the way you see yourself. As little as five or ten minutes a day can have an impact after a few days. You can see significant effects after twenty days. Once you change your behavior, you don’t need to do much more work.

When you create assertions, write them in first person, be positive and present, keep them short, if possible be rhythmic, and be sure to record them.

Reciting assertions involves relaxation, starting and ending with supportive assertions, saying them aloud or mentally, reciting them often and anywhere, and visualizing them. In the next few pages I’ll cover all these points in more detail, as well as some general tips

Creating assertions

Many books out there can give you a good start on assertions for various areas of your life. They are often more effective though if you create them yourself. This allows you to tailor assertions specifically to support the learning and training you are doing.

These are some general principles f0r creating assertions:

·  Use first person. Use “I” and “my.” Phrase your assertion so you are the focus.

·  Be positive. Use firm, powerful statement that something is already so. Avoid using negatives. For example, use “I make eye contact with the audience” rather than “I never forget to make eye contact with the audience.” The mind has an uncanny ability to ignore the “never” part of your phrase, and it becomes “I forget to make eye contact with the audience.”

·  Be present. Phrase all your assertions like you have already achieved the outcome you want. For example, use “I make clear and correct radio calls,” rather than “I will make clear and correct radio calls.”

·  Use short and medium length assertions. Short assertions such as “I am an expert surgeon” and “I learn quickly and easily” provide an overall positive approach to your training. You can use longer assertions to focus on specific training needs. For example, “During presentations I have good eye contact with all parts of the audience.” Try to keep assertions to less than four to five seconds when read aloud.

·  Be rhythmic. For shorter assertions, using rhythm and rhyme can help you memorize the assertion and increase its effectiveness. For example “Better every day in every way.”

Reciting assertions

Once you have created your assertions, its now time to use them. Here are a few points on how to use them:

·  Relax. Take a few moments to relax. Do a more complete relaxation exercise if you have time, or just take a few deep breaths and clear your mind.

·  Start (and end) with some general assertions. Create some assertions that affirm your ability to change your life via this technique. Similar to visualization, you want to create an air of “compelling inevitability.”

·  Visualize the outcome. As you recite the assertion, visualize yourself in a scenario where you can use the assertion. For example, if your assertion is “I learn easily,” visualize yourself in a classroom or during study. See yourself easily understanding the material, and feeling good about being able to.

·  Say them aloud or mentally. It doesn’t matter too much, however saying them aloud can help ensure you read the assertion fully, rather than brushing over it (as your mind may do).

·  Recite them often. Keep a copy of your key assertions in your wallet. Put them on small cards in different places at home. Set aside a few minutes each day during the week before key flights or exams and review them. It is far better this way, rather than setting aside an hour on a weekend to do them only once. Use the repetition principles from the Memletic Process.

·  Recite them anywhere. At home, on public transport, in the car, anywhere you like. If you memorize them using peg words, you can recite them anywhere without references. This is powerful. For example, I memorized key training assertions during preparation for my private license, and then recited these assertions when I was jogging or swimming!

·  Record them. For extra impact, record your assertions on tape or CD then listen to them regularly (and relax at the same time!). At minimum, write down your assertions for later use and review. Consider using SuperMemo to track and manage your assertions.

General tips

Further tips include using assertions to enable positive dialogue, say them even if you don’t believe them, start small and build, take action, and they only work on you. Let’s look at these tips:

·  Use assertions to support positive internal dialogue. Positive assertions sure beat internal dialogue such as “I can’t remember anything,” or “I stuff up my radio calls and everybody hears it.” If you keep these negative thoughts in your mind, your mind helps you justify them by continuing the behavior. Assertions help you change negative self-talk and improve your positive internal dialogue.

·  Say them even when you don’t believe them. A common concern when some people first use assertions is “how can I say something about myself that I don’t believe? I’d just be deluding myself.” The right time for an assertion is exactly when you don’t believe it. When you have that negative thought, immediately replace it with the assertion. Sure, in the beginning it’s hard to say. Soon saying it becomes automatic, even if you have some doubts. After a short time you start to act in ways that match and support what you have been saying. The key point is to say the assertion regardless of how difficult it may seem or whether you believe it at the time.

·  Take action when you need to. If you want to lose weight, assertions alone won’t help. They will however provide you with motivation to take action. That action might include changing your diet or getting regular exercise. Recognize that assertions help you take action, they don’t replace action!

·  Start small and build up. When you are starting out, select assertions that are achievable in a short to medium timeframe. For example, if you are physically unfit, it’s unwise to start with “I am the world short-distance sprint champion.” Start with small steps and build up to your potential—giant leaps!

·  They only work on you! Lastly, assertions can only be effective on yourself. You can’t use them to change someone else’s behavior directly. For instance, an assertion like “person X likes me” doesn’t work as it relies on something changing in that person. However, you can use assertions to help you change parts of your behavior or environment. Those changes may make it more likely that person X will like you. If they don’t, someone else may!