I am…

“I am” are two of the most powerful and underrated words in the English language.

“Yahweh,” the Hebrew name for God, is actually translated to “I am.” 

Those two words shape who we are and who we become. Think about that for a second. Think about the power behind those words.

And then think about how many times a day we say those two little words, to the point they often start to seem insignificant.

• I am tired.
• I am annoyed.
• I am lazy.
• I am awkward.
• I am fat.
• I am not smart enough.
• I am not strong enough.
• I am not enough.

These “I am” statements become habits.

We say them so often we forget to stop and think about what we are actually saying. Even if we aren’t saying these things out loud, so many times we say them silently to ourselves, and the thoughts we have each day, the quiet but loud voices in our minds, have so much control over what we believe about ourselves and, therefore, what we become.

What would happened if we changed that dialogue? If we honored the power those words hold?

What would happen if instead we said:

• I am strong.
• I am kind.
• I am intelligent.
• I am a great friend.
• I am creative.
• I am happy.
• I am talented.
• I am important.
• I am loved.
• I am enough.
• I am grateful.

Changing this mindset stems from awareness—choosing to become aware of when we are saying these words, how we are using them and why we are thinking or feeling that way about ourselves.

“I am tired.” Are you? Or are you just saying that because it’s become a habit to say it to your coworkers on a rainy Monday morning. If you are genuinely tired, honor that thought, and act upon it. Go to sleep earlier, wake up refreshed, make a cup of coffee and have a great day!

If you’re just saying it to say it because it’s Monday and that’s the attitude in your office, break the cycle. Instead of “I am tired,” try saying, “I am happy to see you, guys! How was your weekend?” Not to say that everyone needs to feel a thrill stepping back into the work week, but changing the negative I am statements to positive ones can elevate not only your mood, but the mood of those around you, too.

Your brain is the computer that controls your body, and sometimes we have to reprogram it, update it to function at the highest level, and even rid it of viruses it’s picked up along the way. What have you downloaded that you could delete? What can you add to make your life easier or fuller or better?

And there are so many other ways we are using “I am.” We use these words to describe and label our identity.

I am a sister. I am a writer. I am a realtor. I am a daughter. I am a partner.

These I am statements shape our identities and, therefore, our realities.

When saying these statements, actually take the time to think about them. What do they mean to you? Do these statement align with your core values? Do they bring you pride and joy? If so, let that wash over you the next time you say it. Let yourself really feel what it means. Let it fill you up.

If it doesn’t bring you pride or joy or align with your values, can you change it? If you can’t, can you at least change the way you think about it?

If you hate your job, are you in a position to search for a new one? If you feel emptied by a certain relationship, can you cut ties and bond yourself instead with people who add positivity to your life?

If you can’t, maybe consider changing that I am statement so it doesn’t shape how you feel about who you are. Instead of saying, “ I am XYZ job that I’d rather pour lemon juice into a paper cut than do each day” consider saying “I work in XYZ.” Your job, the family you were born into, the things you’ve done in the past, don’t need to dictate who you are.

You don’t need to be your job to do it, and even do it well.

Maybe your I am affirmations don’t look like the traditional standing in front of the mirror each morning and saying “I am kind, I am smart, I am important,” or maybe they do! It can be a powerful way to start your day, but it’s also not for everybody. Maybe you can start to harness the power of “I am” simply by increasing your awareness around these words and using them intentionally by shifting the thoughts you tell yourself throughout the day.

Another realtor on my team recently told us that she and a group of girlfriends were talking about affirmations when someone asked, “But how can I just keep saying I love my body when it isn’t true? Saying it over and over again is a lie and it’s really hard to try to force myself to believe it.” One of the girls told her, “Tell yourself something smaller that you can believe and work your way up. Rather than telling yourself, I am in love with my body, try saying, I am learning to love my body.”

I think that’s such an amazing way to think about that because it’s still a really powerful shift in thinking from “I am so disorganized,” to “I am learning better organization skills.”

What are some “I am” statements you say regularly? Are they mostly negative or positive? What are some you’d like to add or take away? I would love to hear from you, and as always, feel free to leave a comment below!

Sending you all my love today and always.

XO