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Frequently Asked Questions

People asking questions

Got questions? You should find the answers here. If not, just get in touch.

General

  • What is a positive affirmation?
  • What are the 3 Ps of positive affirmations?
  • When is it best to repeat affirmations?
  • How often do I use affirmations?
  • How soon will the positive affirmations work?
  • Will I sound odd talking to myself?
  • Should I use first-person or second-person affirmations?
  • How do I choose which affirmations to listen to and repeat?
  • In a nutshell, how do I use affirmations?

Listening

  • How to listen to the audio track?
  • I can't find the track!

Sleep Affirmations

  • I can use affirmations whilst I sleep?
  • What are sleep affirmations?
  • What are the conscious mind and the subconscious mind?
  • What happens when you listen to positive affirmations when you sleep?
  • Can sleep affirmations work for me?
  • How long before the sleep affirmations work?

The science and the research

Happpyness is based on science. Positive affirmations such as the ones you'll find on Happpyness are based on widely accepted and well-established psychological theories.

Carnegie Mellon University

"Practicing affirmations boosts problem solving abilities whilst under pressure."

Carnegie Mellon University
American Psychological Association

"Affirmations lead to a decrease in health-deteriorating stress."

American Psychological Association
Dominican University California

"Daily affirmation phone notifications improve self-esteem and perceived satisfaction with life."

Dominican University California
Human Kinetics Journal

"Affirmations can lead to an increase in physical performance."

Human Kinetics Journal

Here are some of the research papers

Affirmed yet unaware: exploring the role of awareness in the process of self-affirmation
David K Sherman at al | 2009
Self-affirmation alters the brain's response to health messages and subsequent behavior change
Emily B Falk et al | 2015
The Psychology of Self-Affirmation: Sustaining the Integrity of the Self
Claude M Steele | 1988
Self-affirmation promotes physical activity
Logel and Cohen | 2011
Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation
Christopher N Cascio et al | 2016
The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance: A Current Perspective
Elliot Aronson | 1969
Still talking to ourselves after all these years: A review of current research on private speech
Winsler, A | 2009
The psychology of change: self-affirmation and social psychological intervention
Geoffrey L Cohen, David K Sherman | 2014
The inner speech of behavioral regulation: Intentions and task performance strengthen when you talk to yourself as a You
Dolcos, S., and Albarracin, D. | 2014
a

The science and the research

Happpyness is based on science. Positive affirmations such as the ones you'll find on Happpyness are based on widely accepted and well-established psychological theories.

Carnegie Mellon University

"Practicing affirmations boosts problem solving abilities whilst under pressure."

Carnegie Mellon University
American Psychological Association

"Affirmations lead to a decrease in health-deteriorating stress."

American Psychological Association
Dominican University California

"Daily affirmation phone notifications improve self-esteem and perceived satisfaction with life."

Dominican University California
Human Kinetics Journal

"Affirmations can lead to an increase in physical performance."

Human Kinetics Journal

Here are some of the research papers

Affirmed yet unaware: exploring the role of awareness in the process of self-affirmation
David K Sherman at al | 2009
Self-affirmation alters the brain's response to health messages and subsequent behavior change
Emily B Falk et al | 2015
The Psychology of Self-Affirmation: Sustaining the Integrity of the Self
Claude M Steele | 1988
Self-affirmation promotes physical activity
Logel and Cohen | 2011
Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation
Christopher N Cascio et al | 2016
The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance: A Current Perspective
Elliot Aronson | 1969
Still talking to ourselves after all these years: A review of current research on private speech
Winsler, A | 2009
The psychology of change: self-affirmation and social psychological intervention
Geoffrey L Cohen, David K Sherman | 2014
The inner speech of behavioral regulation: Intentions and task performance strengthen when you talk to yourself as a You
Dolcos, S., and Albarracin, D. | 2014
a

How to use positive affirmations

Want to know how to use the Happpyness affirmations? Read on and change your world for the better.

  • Affirmations work – they are backed up by scientific research. They work by repetition, and each time you repeat an affirmation to yourself, you are reinforcing your neural pathways and making them stronger. This is possible because of something called neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to change and adapt in response to new information or experiences.
  • You have to believe in what you are saying, so don’t choose affirmations that appear untrue or unattainable. Instead of “I am the most confident person in the world”, say “I am confident”.
  • Some people respond best with “I am” statements, and others work best with “You are…”. Research suggests starting with the second-person “You are…” style.
  • Create a list of between 2 and 10 affirmations. Then listen to each one, and repeat it to yourself, either out loud, or silently in your head. You can also consider sleep affirmations where you don’t need to repeat them - you just listen as you fall asleep.
  • If you make a sleep affirmation playlist, set the length to 60 or 90 minutes.
  • Sometimes they can start to work almost immediately, sometimes they can take 20 to 60 days to achieve the desired effect, and they don't work for some people. Key to their success though is to repeat them daily or listen in your sleep for long-lasting and positive change in your life.

Sleep Affirmations

Asleep in bed listening to positive affirmations

Sleep affirmations are amazing. They get to work in the first 60 to 90 minutes as you fall asleep and your subconscious mind will process the positive affirmations you have chosen.

Choose some affirmations that are meaningful and achieveable for you, select the 60 or 90 minutes length then just drift off in bed listening to them, on headphones or a speaker. Make sure you can hear the affirmations, but not so loud as to wake you up.

Read more about the power of sleep affirmations.

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Change the way you think and create a happpyer, awesome you. Our content and app are for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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