Page 44 - NAMAH-Jul-2024

The Power of Japa and Affirmations

Dr. Monica Gulati

Abstract
Some of us doubt the power of a Japa or affirmation, or repetition of any name or phrase or
mantra or sentence. But then we can question ourselves, ‘Am I not doing a Japa all the time?’ I
am repeating my storylines in my mind, judgements and opinions about people and myself,
my narratives of what happened in the past or present. I am doing that all the time! Is that not
a Japa? Is that not an affirmation of something or other? When all this unconscious repetition,
mostly of negativity, can lead to manifestation of an illness or give stress, headache, or make
me dysfunctional, then using the same power of affirmation on words that are healing,
soothing and changing the narrative of my life, I can also think of recreating my life; once I
have done enough damage and become tired of damaging myself and others all the time. The
article explores the power of affirmations and Japa in this light.

the time! Aren’t we? We are ruminating and
regurgitating our thoughts, our feelings,
repeating our narratives, our storylines,
the commentary and interpretation on the
happenings of life. It is just that we never
question the content of it all. I take all that
content for granted, as a natural way of
my life. I never wonder, why am I saying
the same story in my head repeatedly? Why
am I feeling the same thing about myself,
or a happening, or a person again and
We are always doing a japa again? Why this mechanical repetition of
things, interpretations and commentaries?
For those of us who have doubts and question Why do I have such a solid, concrete belief
the power of Japa, affirmations, we can very in them? Why am I so sure that whatever
easily see that we all are doing a Japa all goes on in my head is right and true?

44