Affirmations work best when...

You have a positive emotional response in your body to the words you're saying.

The better you feel, the more effective the affirmation is for you in actively attracting what you do want.

That's how energy works...you don't attract what you say; you attract what you're being.

So even if you feel just a teensy-weensy bit better it's still a helpful affirmation for you because you're improving your energetic point of attraction.

If you don't have a positive emotional response when saying an affirmation then....

At best, you're replacing a potentially negative thought with a positive one (yay!) so at least you're not adding to the negative pool of thoughts and emotions you've got goin' on (which means your energetic point of attraction doesn't take a down turn).
At worst, you could be inadvertently focusing on the very opposite of the affirmation's message because...when you focus on something you do want you are also simultaneously aware of what you don't want.
So if your limiting unconscious beliefs are strong enough you'll actually be focusing on the opposite of the affirmation. Oops!

Take this affirmation, for instance:

"I am abundant and money flows to me with ease."

The first part of the affirmation focuses on abundance. By necessity, as soon as we see the word "abundant", we also become aware of lack since we cannot understand what abundance is without also understanding what lack of abundance is.

This means that if you don't really believe you can be abundant and have stored up enough negative thoughts and feelings (beliefs) then saying this affirmation will actually get you to focus on your lack of belief in abundance rather than abundance itself.

The same goes for money flowing to you easily. If you've amassed enough negative judgments and beliefs about money, then your energy won't allow money to flow to you with ease. It all depends on how much resistance and negative subconscious beliefs you've built up over time.

So when the scales are already strongly tipped towards negativity you'll actually be actively attracting the opposite of what you desire. That's why affirmations don't seem to work for some people.

That's why affirmations don't seem to work for some people.

So the million dollar question is how do you know if you're attracting the opposite of what you want? And how do you change it if you are?

You'll know because you will experience a strong negative emotional response in your body instead of a positive one when saying the affirmation. That's it; it's that simple. So please pay attention to how you feel.

Your body is your barometer; let it guide you.

Note #1: I also want to point out I'm not talking about mild discomfort here. Feeling a little hesitant, silly, or uncomfortable when saying an affirmation is expected, especially in the beginning. Often times affirmations will feel a little strange at first because they're introducing a new way of thinking. In this case it's actually good since you're making a positive change.

But if you do find you're having a strong negative reaction to an affirmation don't panic...sometimes it's just a matter of changing a word or two to something different that resonates with you (i.e. evokes positive feelings in your body).

For instance, take the affirmation, "I surrender all worry, fear and regret to my guides now."

I noticed that have a freeing response in my body when I use the word "surrender", but you might feel more at ease with the word "release" instead.

"I surrender all worry, fear and regret to my guides now."

vs.

"I release all worry, fear and regret to my guides now."

Which feels lighter to you?

Or the word "guides" might rub you the wrong way, but using the word "Nature" or the "Universe" might feel light.

"I surrender all worry, fear and regret to my guides now."

vs.

"I surrender all worry, fear and regret to Nature now."

vs.

"I surrender all worry, fear and regret to the Universe now."

Notice the difference?

Make a little game out of noticing how words feel in your body when you say and think them. Are they light? Heavy? Does one area tense up or another area relax? Do you feel more expanded & at ease or smaller & bothered? It might be a subtle or profound difference depending on your relationship to the words you're .

Make a little game out of noticing how words feel in your body when you say and think them.

Try to consciously choose thoughts and feelings that make you feel light and expanded, especially when using affirmations. Don't be shy when playing with the words until you find something that feels light for you.

Make it a habit. :)

Note #2...if you feel absolutely nothing when saying an affirmation or it feels a little uncomfortable then your energetic point of attraction is closer to neutral. Sometimes when this is the case and you keep using the affirmation you'll start having positive feelings instead. When this happens it can create massive shifts!

During a tough period in my life I would look in the mirror and say, "I am amazing. I am beautiful." I felt foolish saying it and didn't believe it at first, but over time I actually started to feel and believe it. Suddenly I would look in the mirror and see things I liked about myself instead of focusing on everything I wish was different. I felt lighter and, dare I say, amazing! ;p

All of the information and feedback you need is in your body. Connect to it and trust it.