The words we speak can be a form of prayer, a driving force that moves us forward, and even a reflection of who we are. The words we choose can shape the way we perceive ourselves and, ultimately, the way we see the world around us. Friends of UNDIRA, sometimes we say things like, “This is too difficult. I know I won’t be able to do it,” or “It’s better for them than it is for me. Who am I anyway? I’m just an ordinary person.” These words may seem like passing remarks, but they can become self-affirmations that reinforce negative perceptions of ourselves and the situations we face.

The power of affirmation refers to the practice of repeatedly telling ourselves positive statements to navigate difficult situations and negative perceptions that may shape how we see ourselves. Positive self-affirmations can help us build and maintain a more constructive perspective, allowing us to recognize our ability to face challenges, pursue our goals, and achieve success. At the same time, affirmations can ease the self-doubt and anxiety shaped by past experiences, so negative perspectives that once held us back no longer become barriers to developing our full potential.

When we talk about self-affirmation, there is also a principle known as the Anchoring Effect. At its core, this principle suggests that the opinions and thoughts we repeatedly apply to ourselves can become an anchor, influencing how we think and behave in the present and even shaping how we approach the future.

Positive affirmations are therefore more than comforting words we say to ourselves. They can also establish a new point of reference from which we see ourselves and our circumstances. In the field of management, positive affirmation and the anchoring effect can work together to transform personal biases into practical strategies, helping us manage ourselves more effectively and stay focused on becoming better than we were yesterday.

This idea also connects with the concept of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity), which describes an era characterized by constant change and uncertainty, both in the real world and in the digital world, where countless feeds and perspectives constantly appear on our screens. In such an environment, combining positive self-affirmation with the grounding effect of positive mental anchors can help us navigate the uncertainty that lies at the heart of the VUCA world.

Ultimately, when we learn to practice positive affirmations, we gradually begin to shift the way we see ourselves and the world around us. We become more grounded in the present while opening our minds and hearts to the possibilities that lie ahead. Our lives are not simply a reflection of what other people experience. They are something we can shape through our own choices, efforts, and belief in ourselves.

Friends of UNDIRA, we may not always be able to decide what happens in our lives, but we still have the power to decide how we interpret those experiences and how we respond to them. When failure is no longer an excuse to say, “I can’t do this,” but instead becomes an opportunity to say, “I haven’t succeeded yet, but I can still learn,” that is where a shift in perspective begins.

It may sound simple, but the way we speak to ourselves can become the starting point for how we act, make decisions, and recognize possibilities we may not have noticed before. Managing everything around us, in the end, begins with how we learn to manage and build ourselves. The best management all begins with you, Friends of UNDIRA.

Sources of Information:

What is the Anchoring Effect?

Afirmasi Positif: Manfaatnya dalam Kehidupan dan Cara Melakukannya - Alodokter

Tolle, Eckhart. (2023). Practicing the Power of Now. Jakarta: Bhuana Ilmu Populer – Kelompok Gramedia. ISBN 978-623-04-0576-1.