When we begin to believe them they become real. The best ones are vivid and believable. You can't go about it like that. I didn't feel good today. Choose your mood.
Any strong emotion possesses energy.
I started a few months prior to the swim and it worked. Write the positive statements on 3x5 cards. Read each card three times before you go to bed. Use affirmations in the present tense and work to avoid perfectionistic statements. We are not perfect, but we strive for perfection.