AFFIRMING VS DECLARING: THE COURAGE TO SPEAK OUT LOUD
John Patrick Morgan
I lead the exodus for high-achievers - helping them leave behind the golden handcuffs of corporate life and step into the freedom, fulfillment, and financial independence of coaching.
My cousin has come close to winning American Ninja Warrior a few times now.
He’s come close, but not won. Not champion.
We were talking about what makes the ultimate difference at such an elite level.
He said that it ultimately comes down to mindset.
How you perform under the pressure of not only the competition, but the lights, cameras, and millions watching.
I shared one of my favorite quotes from the UFC fighter Conor McGregor.
“If you can see it, and you have the courage enough to speak it, it will happen.”
My cousin knew the quote.
“Actually, I have been wanting to say, ‘I am the Conor McGregor of Ninja’.”
What stood out for me is how he said he’d been wanting to say it.
Therein lies the challenge in creating ourselves and our world.
Affirming beliefs, identity, and goals out loud is a common practice in manifesting and creating the life you want.
What’s unique about the Conor quote is his attention to the small but mighty detail of speaking your beliefs, identity, and goals in public.
Speaking publicly versus privately is what distinguishes a Declaration from an Affirmation.
Conor says that it takes courage because he knows the obstacle my cousin is facing.
It’s an obstacle greater than any found on a ninja course. It is, in fact, greater than any physical feat.
This is why there are more who become strong in body than there are who overcome this obstacle and become strong in the way of creating at the highest level.
Think of something you may affirm to yourself in public.
An identity that makes you feel true, strong, and powerful.
A goal of something you want to achieve or have in your life.
Got it?
Now imagine declaring that out loud, in public.
Not just to a few friends, but in a crowd, on stage, and on television.
Can you feel the edge?
That’s the obstacle. The counter-pressure of the world’s opinion that you know will come at you.
On a lower level, I know the pressure of speaking my goals and identity publicly.
To tell my family, friends, and followers things like…
“I am the happiest guy I know.”
“My coaching group/event/etc will sell out on X date.”
“I have a house on a hill in Hawaii.”
And most recently…
“I have 108 active members in Being Accelerator.”
...all before they were material facts, took a willingness to speak something that was not true as if it were.
What I also know, though, is the power of speaking publicly.
When we declare rather than affirm…
Not to mention the possibility that our speaking works in ways beyond the measurable.
If it’s true that the vibration of our voice affects our collective consciousness on some quantum level, then surely our out loud public declarations have a greater power to recruit than our private affirming whispers.
Here is my call to action for you today:
Tell the world who you are and what you’re creating.
Feel the edge of it, lean in, and open your mouth anyway.
Once you’ve done it, do it again.
Every time you tell the world, you’re also telling yourself. You can’t declare publicly without affirming for yourself as well.
Each time you do it, you’re getting a 2-for-1 deal.
Do this multiple times a day for a week and watch how all of the things I listed above start to occur for you.
When you see it happening, shoot me a DM and share it with me, too.
I love hearing from you.
Loving us all, JPM