This essay provides advanced considerations in the use of affirmations for self-applied personal growth therapy. The first section is principles and why-for's, the second -- "Quest 'n Soul You Shen -- Question & Solution Exercises" (Q&S Technique) -- provides examples. I will later make reference to some essays that provide more fundamental concepts as well as elaborations into other related areas.

Affirmations can be quite valuable for directing ones mind in the directions one chooses to go. There are, unfortunately, a lot of myths and misconceptions about the use and benefits of affirmations. Ineffective use of this tool arises primarily out of unrealistic expectations -- as in when we believe that a few simple repetitions are going to stand up to years of believing in and responding to totally different messages. And how about when the events around us are signaling to us that the affirmation needs modification, and we haven't been prepared or trained for recognizing the signals, let alone for updating the affirmation(s). Let me clarify that:

Various teachers of affirmation usage -- whether teaching via a book or through a church -- do not have a suitable explanation for, or response to, tragedy when it happens to someone who has been faithfully doing their affirmations and positive attitude homework. It can be very disillusioning. Some teachers do respond more knowledgeably. For example, June Miller, in her essay, "Positive Thinking Explained," gives a valuable technique for advantageously employing one of the very (cause and effect) dynamics that may otherwise attract very hard learning opportunities, which can appear and feel and be experienced as tragedies, or at least as tests and trials.

One of the most interesting cause and effect dynamics in the use of affirmations is what I'll call "Shadow Teasing" or "Depth-Charging". This is the reaction born out of one's "Shadow" self - the old and/or repressed beliefs, reacting to the affirmed beliefs, and striving to maintain the territorial power hold of the old beliefs, by proving to you "What really is -- because it always has been -- so it always will be!" As Douglas Block says in "Affirmations: Using Affirmations to Uncover and Transform," when you affirm, "I am the greatest," up may come the reaction, "I'm afraid you're not." Unfortunately, we don't always notice the Shadow's response, and if it has any strength, it may maneuver to attempt restoration of the old order. The Shadow attempts to attract or help you create situations in reaction to your affirmation, sabotaging your plans. We "depth-charge", but if we don't meet the submarine with our reality check, the submarine torpedoes us. But this is all part of the testing and the learning of personal growth, of dropping old patterns - it takes time. And utilizing a more complete knowledge of affirmation therapy can help to minimize the hard lessons, or at least prepare us for some of them that can't be prevented.

This is where the use of questions come in. The Q&S Technique does not confront the shadow so directly. No confrontation, no "charging". It accomplishes the objectives of affirmations; in fact, it can employ them. It starts off with an acknowledgment-preamble (such as on the "Quest..Shen" exercise sheet) and then is followed by questions. These are designed in such a way that the Universal Body-Mind can only respond by producing "positive" answers and solutions (or none at all) -- internally as well as externally (manifested into reality). IMPORTANT: The question technique is BEST used with the previously referred to knowledge and techniques. One of the advantages of the question technique is that it can be used by the worry- occupied mental type of personality with wonderful results: Just by using that (excess) mental energy to flood the mental computer with "positive response questions" (PRQ's).

Quick Tips for designing "Positive Response Questions" (PRQ's): Use PRESENT tense and no negatives ("no, w/o, not" or contractions). Use "...I am..." or "...am I..." in as many of your Q's as possible. Use follow-up Q's such as, "How enjoyable does this feel?" "What does this look like?" "How very often am I enjoying this?". SEE (with your imagination) and/or FEEL (with your emotional self) the desired picture(s) and feeling(s) as you are verbalizing (out-loud) the Q's. Do NOT try to mentally answer the Q's after you ask them. Allow time for your Universal Body Mind to present the solutions in the form that it designs for you, when it knows you are most ready to use them. Use your "issues" (and related hopes, desires, and fears, etc.) to design affirmations, and use the affirmations to design the PRQ's. EG: From "I fear balloons," to "I am calm and creative in the presence of balloons," to "How enjoyably calm inspired am I, and can I be, in the presence of balloons?"

Another accelerator phrase to consider adding to the PRQ is, "...very well, Thank you." OK, for example, when talking to the muscles I might say, "How are you enjoying taking the next step toward your realization of optimal performance and well-being in accordance with Divine Order and Timing ... very well, Thank you." The "very well" part is added as if one with the main part of the PRQ -- as in "how *very well* are we doing this". Then the "thank you" part is added as if to thank the Higher Self or Higher Power (etc.) for facilitating the "answering" or solution manifesting process.

Please refer also to the articles, "Positive Thinking Explained," by June Miller, and "Affirmations: Using Affirmations to Uncover and Transform," by Douglus Block. Related basic and advanced aspects are elaborated in "Attainment and Achievement -- The Alignment of Beliefs, Desires, and Needs," by the author. These do not explain the use of questions but do well at providing clarity in the effective use of affirmations. All of these essays and many more are available (w/o charge) by email from. from Chaliser@aol.com.

Chris Pringer, LMP, MH                    Chalice Productions
Lic. Massage Therapist in                 Alchemical Art & Writing
*Body-Mind Integrative Bodywork*      1819 10th Ave. West, #102
Reg. Hypnotherapist, Reiki Master     Seattle, WA    98119
Essays on Health & Healing              206-286-0899/Chaliser@aol.com