Last weekend my wife and I were invited to our friends 50th birthday party.  Their family has a tradition at birthdays: Affirmations.  Each of the family members will affirm the birthday person.  We have started this tradition in our family as well.

It is interesting to watch other’s reaction to affirmations.  If you are like me, I squirm, cringe, and struggle to truly accept the affirmation. It takes practice and discipline to fully embrace an affirmation.

There were about 20 people at our friend’s 50th birthday party, and the birthday ‘girl’ asked that we affirm her.  About half the party goers did just that.  When it was my wife’s turn to affirm her (I shy away from affirming anyone of the opposite sex accept my daughter and my wife), the birthday ‘girl’ said, “Drew, aren’t you going to affirm me too?”  I LOVE it!

Now the real magic of an affirmation takes place when we stretch and reach to really embrace the affirmation.  This takes place when we take the time to state to those who have affirmed us that you truly have embraced all their affirmations by saying, “I am…..”, and summarizing and announcing to the group who you KNOW that you are based on your affirmations.

I asked the birthday ‘girl’ when that part of the party was going to take place.  She said, “Oh my gosh, I LOVE it! We have to have ANOTHER party so that I can announce to everyone who affirmed me who I KNOW that I am!”

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if we could all ask for, accept, and embrace affirmations?