Soulful Sundays: Affirmation

"Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit."— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Each and every word has a spirit—a type of energy that extends beyond the word itself into the reality of thought, action, and creation. Our words give shape to both our internal and external worlds. To speak something into existence requires a precise incantation aimed at future outcomes. It is no coincidence that sorcerers, leaders, and prophets all share a similar mastery of speech—a mastery capable of shaping events and influencing minds. But what about influencing our own minds? How can we learn to harness the power of affirmation to unlock our true potential?

Scott Adams, the creator of the successful comic strip Dilbert, wasn't born with talent, insight, or fame. He had to build those things from scratch. Born to a portrait-painting mother and a dry-humored father, Adams dreamed of becoming a world-famous cartoonist from an early age. But reality got the better of him, and he pursued business instead—eventually earning an MBA and landing a middle-management job at a telecommunications company. It was there, during idle moments in his cubicle, that he began doodling Dilbert—never forgetting the dream he had as a boy. Still, the dream remained dormant—until he met Bob.

Bob, one of his coworkers, was a passionate believer in written affirmations. He claimed that you could get what you wanted by writing the goal down 15 times each day. Skeptical but intrigued, Adams tested the theory on a few low-stakes outcomes: scoring an A on an MBA exam, winning a tennis match, and attracting the attention of a particular woman. After those seemed to work, he set his sights higher. He began writing:

“I, Scott Adams, will become a syndicated cartoonist.”Fifteen times a day. Every day. Until...

One day, Adams received a call from United Media—the syndicate behind Peanuts and Garfield. His comic samples had landed in the hands of just the right editor, and they decided to give him a chance. Dilbert premiered in 1989 in a handful of newspapers and quickly caught fire with readers drawn to its satire of corporate absurdity and the growing angst of the tech world. By the late 1990s, it was being published in over 2,000 newspapers across 65 countries. Adams had realized his dream—but he didn’t stop there. In 2013, he published his quasi-autobiography, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, and he continues to draw his comic to this day.

While Adams credits affirmations as a powerful tool in his success, he places even greater emphasis on building systems. Affirmations, he says, tune the subconscious to the desired outcome—but it’s the daily habits that give those outcomes traction. He describes how his habit of always carrying a pen and paper not only helped him jot down comic ideas, but also enabled him to record a key contact that helped launch his career. He also recounts how, after losing control of the pinky finger on his dominant hand due to a rare medical condition, he wasn't forced to quit because he had already trained himself years before to draw with his non-dominant hand. And when doctors offered no clear solution, his habit of persistent Googling of his condition led him to discover a treatment that eventually worked. These examples, though they may appear as coincidences, are all part of what he calls “systems thinking”—deliberate actions that increase the odds of success.

So how can we affirm our way toward the future we desire?

The first step is obvious: define that future with as much clarity as possible. The more specific, the better. Next, identify the tools, habits, and systems that will support the journey. If we want to become a five-star Michelin chef, we’d better learn our way around a kitchen. Finally, we must actively use our words to align our intention with our identity. Writing down our goal 15 times a day is one simple and powerful approach—but it’s not the only one. Daily prayer, mantra, or meditation can work just as well. The point is to engage intentionally and believe sincerely. By focusing our attention on a clear aim, we align the spirit of our words with the spirit of our potential—unlocking possibilities that would otherwise remain hidden.