When people ask me whether afformations are better than affirmations, I always find it tricky to give a straight yes or no answer—because both are super powerful in their own ways.
I’ve personally found that affirmations and afformations can work beautifully together. The key is understanding how each one interacts with your subconscious mind, and learning which approach your body naturally responds to best.
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A Quick Overview of Both
Affirmations are positive statements that declare something you want to be true—such as:
- “I am confident.”
- “I am attracting abundance.”
- “I am successful in my business.”
When repeated consistently, affirmations help reprogram your subconscious beliefs and align your energy with the outcome you desire.
Afformations, a concept popularized by Noah St. John, are positive, assumption-based questions that prompt your subconscious mind to look for supporting evidence.
Instead of saying “I am confident,” you’d ask:
- “Why am I so confident?”
- “Why does abundance flow to me so easily?”
This question format feels more natural to your subconscious mind and often bypasses resistance or disbelief.
So, Which Is Better?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Many people find afformations work faster because they feel more believable right away, while others thrive on the repetition and reinforcement of affirmations.
In my experience, the best results come from using both — afformations to open the door, and affirmations to strengthen and build the belief over time.
And the great news is, there’s a simple way to discover which approach works best for you right now…
🌀 Muscle Testing: Discover Which Method Your Body Accepts
If you’ve never tried muscle testing, it’s a simple and fascinating way to see what your body and subconscious truly accept as true. It’s a wonderful tool for finding out whether affirmations or afformations are more effective for you in this moment.
How Muscle Testing Works
Your body gives a subtle strength or weakness response when presented with something it perceives as true or false.
Here’s a quick example:
- Say something true: “My name is [your real name].”
You’ll likely feel steady and strong. - Say something false: “My name is [a different name].”
You’ll notice your body feels slightly weaker or off-balance.
That same principle applies when testing affirmations or afformations.
How to Test Affirmations vs. Afformations
- Stand tall or sit comfortably with one arm extended (or use a simple self-test method like the sway test).
- Say an affirmation, e.g., “I am rich.”
- Notice your body’s response. Do you feel strong, balanced, or a bit of resistance?
- Then say the afformation version: “Why am I so rich?”
- Observe again—does your body feel more open, lighter, or more accepting?
This quick test helps you identify which phrasing your subconscious currently supports. You can then tailor your mindset practice to use what your body believes right now, while still gently working to expand that belief over time.
The Linking Method of Muscle Testing
Another great way to test how your body responds to affirmations and afformations is by using the linking method of muscle testing. This method involves creating two loops with your hands, which allow you to test whether your subconscious accepts or rejects something.
Here’s how it works:
- Form a loop with one hand:
Press your index finger and thumb together to create a small circle or loop. - Create another loop with the second hand:
Repeat the process with your other hand—press your index finger and thumb together to form another loop. - Link the two loops:
Now, with the loops formed on both hands, place the second loop inside the first loop, so both hands are linked together, creating a connection. - Testing:
Now, with both loops interlocked, try pulling them apart gently. When your body and subconscious mind accept something as true, the link between your fingers will feel strong, and you should be able to keep the loops intact.
When your body rejects something as untrue (like an affirmation that feels out of alignment), the link will feel weak, and the loops will break apart easily.
How to Use the Linking Method to Test Affirmations vs. Afformations
- Test an Affirmation:
Start with an affirmation, such as “I am rich.”
See how your body reacts when you try to pull the loops apart. If the link feels strong, your subconscious might accept this affirmation. If it feels weak and the loops break apart, your body may reject it for now. - Test an Afformation:
Try the same test with an afformation: “Why am I so rich?”
The link might feel stronger this time, as afformations often bypass resistance by posing the idea as a question, making it more believable for your subconscious.
This is a quick and effective way to see which type of phrase (affirmation or afformation) resonates best with you in the moment. You can use this method to experiment and see which approach your body naturally supports!
Quick Answer: Affirmations vs. Afformations
Let’s start with a simple answer: Afformations tend to be more immediately effective because they’re naturally more aligned with how the subconscious processes information.
Affirmations, on the other hand, especially when they’re a huge stretch from your current reality (e.g., “I am rich” when you’re struggling financially), may be rejected by your subconscious, leaving you frustrated.
That being said, affirmations are still be incredibly powerful if used correctly. In this post, I’ll show you how both tools can work together to support your personal growth.
Better Ways to Use Affirmations Effectively
So, if afformations seem more easily accepted, what about affirmations? Are they useless? Definitely not!
Here are some strategies to make affirmations more effective:
- Make them believable
- Combine them with Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT)
- Be consistent – repetition is key!
1. Make Your Affirmations Believable
Affirmations like “I am a millionaire” can be too much of a jump if you’re currently struggling with money. Instead, use step-up affirmations that feel more achievable, such as:
- “Every day, I am better at managing my money.”
- “I’m building my millionaire mindset.”
- “I’m increasing my income each month.”
These affirmations feel more realistic to your subconscious, which helps you gradually build belief and take the necessary actions to create wealth.
2. Combine Affirmations with EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques)
EFT is a tapping technique that helps release emotional blocks and resistance, allowing your subconscious to accept affirmations more easily.
If you’re new to EFT Tapping – Here’s my Free EFT Tapping Guide.
Here’s a simple EFT script to help your subconscious accept an affirmation:
- Setup (tap on the side of your hand): “Even though I don’t fully believe this affirmation right now, I choose to accept it.”
- Tapping Sequence:
- Top of the Head: “I accept this affirmation.”
- Forehead: “I release resistance to this affirmation.”
- Eyebrow: “I am becoming a match for this affirmation.”
- Side of the eye: “I allow this affirmation to be true for me.”
- Keep moving through the rest of the EFT tapping points, under the eye, under the nose, under the mouth, collarbone, side of the hand.
3. Consistency is Key
You can’t just say an affirmation once and expect it to work. To reprogram your subconscious, you need to repeat your affirmation multiple times a day for an extended period. With consistency, your mind starts to accept the new belief and shifts your reality accordingly.
Should You Use Affirmations or Afformations?
In conclusion, both tools have their place in personal transformation. Afformations tend to work quickly, since they’re naturally more aligned with how the subconscious processes information. They’re great for immediate shifts and quick results.
On the other hand, affirmations can help you build a solid foundation of beliefs over time, especially when combined with techniques like EFT and consistent repetition.
My recommendation? Use both—afformations for short-term shifts, and affirmations (with the right strategies) for long-term transformation. Together, they can help you unlock the life you desire.
Additional Resources:
- EFT Tapping Guide – Learn how to combine tapping with your affirmations for greater success.
- Affirmations Guide – Learn how to effectively use these positive messages to shape your life.
- 100+ Afformations Examples – Check out my list of powerful afformations to get started today
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