Affirmations: A Daily Habit to Transform Your Mind

“What you tell yourself every day will either lift you up or tear you down.” - Unknown

What words do you say to yourself over and over? Are they kind and encouraging, or are they critical and self-defeating?  Our thoughts have tremendous power.  They shape our emotions, influence our actions, and ultimately determine how we experience life.  If you find that your inner dialogue is less than kind, you can transform it through an affirmation practice.

Affirmations are positive, empowering statements that you repeat to yourself to shape your thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors.  They aim to shift your mindset, boost confidence, and reinforce your desired outcomes by regularly reminding yourself of your goals, values, and potential.  Practiced consistently, affirmations can reprogram your subconscious mind, replacing negative self-talk or limiting beliefs with a constructive, optimistic outlook.

Getting Started with an Affirmation Practice

Here are some simple steps to begin an effective affirmation practice:

1. Create or Choose an Affirmation
   Start with a positive statement that resonates with you and speaks to something you want to change or improve. For example, if you're working on building self-confidence, you could say, “I am confident, capable, and worthy of success.” Be sure the affirmation is phrased in the present tense, as if it’s already true, to help anchor it in your reality.
2. Repeat Your Affirmation Daily
   Set aside a few minutes each day to say your affirmation out loud or in your mind. You can do this in front of a mirror, during meditation, or anytime you need a positive boost. The key is to say it with intention and belief, even if it feels strange at first.
3. Feel the Emotion Behind It
   As you repeat your affirmation, try to feel the emotions as if it's already a reality. Visualize yourself living out this truth and embracing the emotions associated with it. This emotional connection helps the affirmation sink in more deeply.
4. Be Consistent
   Like any habit, affirmations require time and consistency to be effective. Repeat them daily, and over time, you'll notice a shift in your mindset and how you approach challenges.

Pro Tip: Choose statements that you can genuinely believe.  If the affirmation feels too unrealistic, it may be challenging to convince your subconscious mind that this is possible for you.  For example, a statement like “I am a world-renowned inventor” might be too much of a stretch if you’ve never invented anything.  A statement like “I am creative, and my imagination gets better every day” might be more appropriate. Similarly, in EFT Tapping, if the statement “I deeply and completely love and accept myself” doesn’t feel accurate, we modify it to something like “I am working on accepting myself.”

Here are some affirmations you can begin with:

1. “I am doing the best I can with what I have right now.”
2. “I am worthy of love and respect.”
3. “I am capable of learning and growing every day.”
4. “I trust myself to make decisions that are best for me.”
5. “I choose to focus on what I can control and let go of what I cannot.”
6. “I am enough, just as I am.”
7. “I am open to new opportunities and experiences.”
8. “I have the strength to overcome any challenge I face.”
9. “I am grateful for what I have.”
10. “I deserve peace and happiness.”

Using affirmations can be powerful for shifting your mindset and creating positive change in your life.  Start small, stay consistent, and trust the process. With patience and practice, you’ll notice how your thoughts – and, ultimately, your life – begin to transform.

For additional support, be sure to visit my YouTube channel (@lisacreidcoach) for my tap along video “Affirmations Aren’t Working.”  And in my “Affirmations” playlist, you can practice EFT Tapping while repeating affirmations.