I AM CALM AND CHEERFUL. I HATE NO ONE. I ENVY NO ONE. THERE IS NO WORRY OR FEAR IN ME. I TRUST IN GOD ALL THE TIME.

I learned that affirmation from my mother, who learned it from her mother. Throughout my childhood, whenever I had a need — such as a stomach ache or other pain, I would say the affirmation and, lo and behold, I would soon feel better.

Between my childhood and my late-adulthood I used my affirmation less often. But now, as I get “up there in age,” I have a need to use my affirmation again. I am what you might call a “hyper” type person at times. I realize I need to slow down and not try to do a “million things at once.” It’s just not healthy.

In the news we often hear about the value of meditation, including the value of concentrating on our breathing. Affirmations are meditations we can use to concentrate on our actions, and they are very powerful. I wonder if affirmations are self-hypnotic suggestions. Or are they just something we have decided to believe in? Which came first? — the chicken (by saying them often, we are “hypnotized” into believing them) or the egg (we decide to believe in them and, when they make us feel better, it confirms our decision to believe in them, and we continue to use them).

If I break down my affirmation, here’s what it means to me:

I am calm

That’s the term I need to deal with the most. I think it has been easy for me to say the phrase “I am calm and cheerful” and give the cheerful part most of my attention. I like being cheerful. I am pretty natural about that. But being calm, well, now I need to emphasize that word in my affirmation. I am CALM and cheerful. That way, I can practice being calm. Being calm means I need to slow down — in thought and action. I believe it will be better for my health.

and cheerful

That’s a no-brainer for me. I enjoy smiling and looking on the happy side of life.

I hate no one

It’s true. There are some people whose behaviors I don’t like, but I don’t hate them. The key to being a good teacher, I believe, is knowing and practicing, that a child’s behavior may be inappropriate, but the child is good. It should work that way with adults, too

I envy no one

It’s true. I don’t really care who has what things. I am happy for them if they are happy. I am also happy with my life.

There is no worry or fear in me — I trust in God all the time

Well, the “no worry or fear” part can be a little challenging at times. But overall, it’s true. I do trust that my “higher power” knows best. And what’s the use of worrying or being afraid. I do the best I can do, and then God must take over.

For the most part, it seems that I have become what my affirmations are saying. Is growing up with affirmations the key to a happy life? I don’t know. But I do know that they work for me when I call upon them.

Mr. Ebsen may be contacted at robertebsen@hotmail.com