Birth Affirmations & Your Brain // Scriptures to help you hold on!
I believe in the power of our words.
We believe what we tell ourselves and what we hear most often. The more we establish patterns of thought, the more our brain literally becomes wired in it's thinking.
You know the way your phone will anticipate what you're going to say next in a text message based off what you say most? Our brains are the same way! Our thoughts follow what we most often think. Our thoughts become words and our words become actions. We end up living out what we think and say.
There is some incredible science behind this. I won't bore you with the studies, but let it be known: 75-98% of current illnesses today come from our thought life. Our brains physically run the rest of our bodies. Everything from breathing to dancing a hip-hop routine...our brains are responsible for the energy behind the action. Every thought that we have becomes a physical manifestation. This is why we are commanded to "take every thought captive." (2 Corinthians 10:5)
If we were created in the image of God, and He is not full of toxic thoughts, why should we be? We were not created to think trash. Our brains were not designed for toxic thinking! Our brains were created to be hardwired for love and positive thinking. Our bodies follow suit in this! (As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23:7)
Going into birth -or anything else for that matter- we are going to believe one of two things: Either "We can do this." or "We can't do this."
Once you get into the transitional part of labor, your "thinking brain" (neocortex) takes a backseat while your primitive brain takes over. (This is why privacy, dim lighting and quietness help labor progress. If you engage the rational (neocortex) part of the brain during labor, labor can slow.) Whatever is deep in your soul will come out. Whatever beliefs you hold about yourself and your body will come into fruition. If you have fear residing there, labor can stall. You could also throw yourself into the fear/pain cycle. If you are confident in yourself and your body, labor can keep moving along. This is why it's so important what we are taking in during our pregnancy! You'll hear in the Hypnobirthing community "Shhh, baby is listening." But the truth is, so are you! Faith comes by hearing and you need to hear good things!
You can print off and hang up the prettiest, cutest birth affirmations...but you really aren't going to want to engage your brain with reading once you're deep in the throws of labor. The key to birth affirmations is meditating on them before hand! To get all these beautiful, life-giving phrases deep into your soul -into your primitive brain. You want to say these affirmations over and over again until they are such a part of you that they take over and become your beliefs when you're giving birth. You want your brain to fill in the dots with good, beautiful thoughts.
“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’”
“The LORD gives strength to His people; The LORD blesses His people with peace.”
“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer. My God, my strength, in whom I trust.”
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”
“Come to Me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
“Children are a heritage from the LORD, they are a reward from Him.”
“Peace I leave with you. My peace, I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be afraid of them. For the LORD your God, He is the one who goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you.”
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.”
“God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at break of day.”
“Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. ”