Although affirmations had been used before him, he was right. Emile Coué the one who was among the first to popularize the systematic use of positive suggestions. He is known for the phrase:
»"Tous les jours, à tous points de vue, je vais de mieux en mieux."«
(I am getting better and better every day in every way.)
When Coué worked with his clients, the results were extraordinary. Why?
Because he created hypnotic context.
His clients weren't just mechanically repeating sentences. They were in an environment where:
- they saw other people in a trance,
- were in direct contact with him,
- an atmosphere of suggestibility was created,
- a clear therapeutic framework was present.
In such a context, the affirmation was supported by experience, emotional state, and attitude – which greatly increased its effectiveness.
Why home-recorded affirmations often work worse
When people listened to the same affirmations at home, without the hypnotic context, the results were worse.
There were mainly three reasons:
- A therapeutic framework was missing.
- There was no group dynamic or other person trance.
- The individual often could not identify with what he was saying.
Without the appropriate inner state, affirmation remains at the level of words. Words alone are not enough if they do not reach the unconscious part.
Connecting with the unconscious: a different approach to affirmations
The key difference in the more modern approach is that we do not start affirmations at the level of conscious repetition.
Let's address it first. subconscious.
This means that:
- we establish contact with the unconscious part of ourselves,
- we create an inner state of openness,
- We allow affirmations to emerge from a deeper part of us.
Instead of forcing affirmations on ourselves, we receive them from contact with an inner source.
From this space, we "give" affirmations to ourselves differently - with more feeling, more reality, and less internal resistance.
Surrendering to the process
When affirmations come from contact with the unconscious part, the process changes:
- it's no longer about mental persuasion,
- It's not about fighting inner doubt,
- but for research and observation.
We surrender to what our subconscious offers us.
We observe which words seem true.
Let's allow change to happen organically.
Conclusion
Affirmations in themselves are not the problem. The problem arises when we use them without the proper internal context or when we skip contact with the unconscious part.
The historical case of Émile Coué clearly shows that the success of his methods was closely linked to the hypnotic context he created. When this context is lacking, the effectiveness decreases.
Therefore, when working with affirmations, it makes sense to:
- first establish contact with the subconscious,
- create an inner state of openness,
- Affirmations to be experienced, not just said,
- and surrender to the process that unfolds from the inside out.
When affirmations become part of a deeper inner experience, they no longer act as empty words – but as a bridge between the conscious and unconscious parts of the personality.