In today's society, when someone asks "what are you?" do you immediately jump to physical qualifiers? race, height, weight, occupation? While all of these things might actually accurately describe you; do focusing on these descriptors make you better? Do they fuel you to improve? Again, they might... but have you ever thought beyond these physical qualifiers; and really considered positive affirmations? Taking a concerted stab at some personal development starting with the words you use to describe yourself can translate into real life benefits. Some proponents of affirmations claim that, when practiced deliberately and regularly, they reinforce a chemical pathway in the brain, making the connection between two neurons stronger, and therefore more likely to conduct the same message again. Research from Carnegie Mellon University provides the first evidence that self-affirmation can protect against the damaging effects of stress on problem-solving performance.

This isn't something super complicated. It starts with you. And like a good friend once told me,

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

So why not put some effort into yourself that is sure to translate into positive ripples throughout other areas of your life? By making yourself better, you will also be positively affecting those around you too! We all know that Speshio is a fan of teams, and in order to be a good teammate you have to be a positive force that others actually want to be around. You have a choice, so choose to BE what you want. When someone asks you "What are you?" ... what will you reply? Remind yourself daily, and never forget that energy is contagious. What energy do you want to spread to those around you?

3 simple steps to positive personal development:

*Health coach Briana Jarrett writes her I AM's on her mirror as a daily reminder of her power!*

• Start Fresh: before you grab your cellphone (and are inundated with gossip, news, and potential negativity) - tell yourself 3 things you are going to accomplish for the day

• Repeat your I AM's: pick the adjectives you want to attribute to yourself, and make sure they are in line with the goals you are working towards.

• Remind yourself: Visual cues can make all the difference throughout the day! We all know that some days are better than others. So if your day takes a turn, having your I AM's within sight is a good reminder to help you get back on a positive track.

I AM Capable. I AM Creative. I AM Powerful.
What are you?
Create your "I AM's" today!