Positive affirmations are positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. They can serve as inspiration, as well as simple reminders to yourself. Putting this into practice is extremely simple: just pick a few phrases and repeat them to yourself aloud. If you frequently find yourself getting caught up in negative self-talk, positive self-talk can be used to combat these often subconscious patterns and replace them with more adaptive narratives.
To make sure affirmations are effective, psychologists recommend the following criteria:
- Positive affirmations should be spoken aloud and repeated
- Always use the present tense
- Avoid any negatives
- Focus on the solution, not the problem
- Craft affirmations that are specific, simple, and direct
- Fill them with passion
- Add visualizations to your affirmations
- Ground your affirmations in your body
- Set aside 10-15 minutes a day to repeat your affirmations
- Take action on your affirmations
- Stick to your positive affirmations
Having trouble crafting your own positive affirmations? Here are some examples that you can try:
- I give myself space to grow and learn.
- I trust that I am on the right path.
- My mind is full of brilliant ideas.
- I put my energy into things that matter to me.
- I am at peace with who I am as a person.
- I am becoming closer to my true self every day.
- I am learning valuable lessons about myself every day.
- I feel proud of myself when ______.
- What I love about myself is my ability to ______.
- I share my talents with the world by ______.
- I am happy.
Positive affirmations give us a more confident attitude that allows us to feel good about ourselves. When we feel good about ourselves, our lives tend to run more smoothly. Whether you are giving yourself a pep talk, managing anxiety, or just want a more optimistic outlook on life, positive affirmations are the refreshing inner messages to do the trick.
