Tools
Controlled Deep Breathing
With the exception of prayer, there may not be a more important tool for brain rewiring than controlled deep breathing. This practice has measurable positive effects on physical and mental health, not to mention longevity. It is not hard to find information about this in the scientific literature. Here is one example… “The physiological effects of slow breathing in the healthy human.”
This video, How to Calm Your Anxiety, From a Neuroscientist (Wendy Suzuki) includes some great information about how correct breathing practices can make a big difference in your efforts to calm your nervous system.
Finally, here is a link to a VERY HELPFUL pdf on the subject, written by yours truly. I share the nuts and bolts of becoming a master of deep diaphragmatic breathing, along with some ways to integrate it into your brain-rewiring practices.
Uplifting Music <- Link to our music resources
50 Ideas for Stress Reduction
Download this list as a PDF file.
32 Strategies for Better Sleep
When I’ve talked to friends and acquaintances about dealing with anxiety, trauma, or chronic illness, one of the questions I’m most frequently asked is how to sleep better. Greatly improved sleep is one of the very best benefits I’ve enjoyed as a direct result of my brain-rewiring efforts. Dialing down the fear and agitation in the brain is a powerful thing because it gets to the heart of the issue. As someone who has spent way too much time in the ER due to extended and extreme sleep deprivation, I can assure you that I know from whence I speak! But brain rewiring is not an overnight fix, and you will likely need some additional help as you move along your path. This list, excerpted from I Have Faith in God, and He Has Faith in Me, is intended to provide some of that help. And please don’t feel like you have to do everything on the list all at once! Read the whole list, then start slow with a strategy that feels like a good fit. My best advise would be to pray about it and ask God to let you know how to begin.
Download this list as a PDF file.
Visualization Poem: “Cellular Healing”
Download this poem as a two-page PDF file
Affirmations
Repeating positive affirming statements to yourself every day is marvelous way to build self-confidence and increase optimism for your future. Just ask Jessica.
Seriously… the power of looking in the mirror DAILY and telling yourself the best things about YOU and where you’re headed – out loud while you SMILE – cannot be over-stated. The secret is to do it with vocal inflections, facial expressions, and body language that MATCH THE WORDS. That is what helps stir up the positive emotions that are so vital in making the practice truly fruitful. Your brain and your heart are both listening! Make it good!
Start by writing down goals, desires, character traits that match your best accomplishments, etc., remembering to be careful to only talk about the good things you want, in first person. Do NOT mention at all the bad stuff you don’t want. Utilize scriptures and sincere prayer, and you’ll soon discover what you need to hear. I love coupling mine with inspiring images… it doubles the impact! You will find that your affirmations evolve over time as you evolve. Embrace the process.
Having trouble getting started? Alison to the rescue! Below you will find 41 downloadable affirmation poems from my book I Have Faith In God and He Has Faith in Me. I’m excited to share them with a new audience! And yes, all the photography is mine, unless otherwise noted.
I’ve also decided to share my own personal affirmations – all original stuff – along with a collection I created with teens in mind, though it is appropriate for any age. (Most affirmations on that second list are original, but some are borrowed.) You are welcome to make good use of both, but please don’t feel like you have to use/repeat them ALL. Just pick and choose. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself.
Watch out for affirmations that feel like straight up lies to you, especially if you are in a dark place. For example, if you can’t speak words like… “I’m healthy, strong, and happy… moving forward in my partnership with God” because a big part of you keeps saying, “No I’m not any of those things!” you can just start out with “I’m grateful to know I’m moving toward being healthy, strong, and happy.” Or try “I’m so glad for the hope of soon being healthy, strong, and happy!” Then, don’t stay in that state of qualified statements for very long. Set a goal of increasing the power of the words as soon as you are able to do so honestly.
Finally, purposeful prayer before repeating affirmations invites the Holy Ghost to speak to your heart, and bear witness of the truth of your words. I’ve had some truly sacred and transformational experiences that way. You can too.
NOTE: Regarding I Have Faith In God and He Has Faith in Me, I would love it if you bought a copy! However, I wrote it in 2019, before I knew about neuroplasticity and brain rewiring. So even though there is a LOT of great info in it about healing and health, it doesn’t tell the full story I want to tell now. I had been intending a rewrite, but instead decided to write a new book, currently about half finished. We’ll certainly announce its availability on this website when it’s done. But the songs demanded to be shared with the world first!
NOTE: Click on each image below to view the full-sized image. To save one of these pictures to your computer, if you are using a PC, right-click on the picture, and choose “Save image as.” If you’re using a Mac, control-click takes the place of right-click. If you’re using an Android smart phone or an iPhone, touch and hold on the picture, and a menu will pop us that will let you save the picture. (If you’re using anything else, you probably know more about how to use it than we do.) Also, for the Affirmation Poems, there are MP3s of Alison reciting each poem. The MP3 link is next to each affirmation image.
Alison’s Personal Affirmations
Affirmations for Teens
Affirmation Poems from I Have Faith In God and He Has Faith In Me
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