Looking in a mirror and congratulating yourself on your good qualities may feel silly or not come easily at first. But you don't have to mimic Stuart Smalley from Saturday Night Live ("I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me") to benefit from self-affirmations. Research shows that positive self-talk can better your life in a multitude of ways.

The benefits of positive thinking

In the study, The psychology of change: self-affirmation and social psychological intervention, authors Cohen and Sherman found, "Timely affirmations have been shown to improve education, health, and relationship outcomes, with benefits that sometimes persist for months and years."

Dr. Ronald Alexander, a psychotherapist, mindfulness expert, clinical trainer, and author of Wise Mind, Open Mind says, "Positive affirmations are a powerful tool to shift unwholesome thinking by combining positive imagery with a series of powerful thoughts in order to overlay any negative, painful, or unwarranted patterns. The core of the practice is to assist a person to shift in the actual neuronal circuitry of their brain from the right prefrontal cortex, where feelings of negativity and depression reside to the left side that commands positive, outward-reaching emotions."

How to write your own self-affirmations

Besides feeling a little weird at first, there's nothing to lose from trying self-affirmations (if talking to yourself in a mirror seems too out there, try journaling your affirmations.) A few tips from Mind Tools:

  • Focus on areas of your life you'd like to change

  • Make your affirmations credible and achievable

  • Say or write your affirmations in the present tense to help you believe the statement is true right now

20 affirmations to boost self-esteem

Whether you're looking to improve your self-worth, increase productivity, get rid of bad habits, or any combination of motivations, here are twenty affirmations to get you started.

  1. I am enough

  2. I choose what I become

  3. I have the power to change my story

  4. I am at peace with my life

  5. I am letting go of negativity

  6. I deserve to feel loved and happy

  7. I am making progress every day

  8. I am capable of amazing things

  9. I've made it through before and I'll make it through again

  10. I have the power to change my story

  11. I choose hope over fear

  12. I am free of worry and at peace with who I am

  13. My intelligence and wisdom grow every day

  14. I am on the best path for me

  15. My mind, body, and soul are fit and strong

  16. I feel gratitude for this beautiful life

  17. I believe in my potential

  18. Good things are coming my way

  19. I am in charge of how I feel

  20. I matter and what I have to offer this world also matters

The more you practice replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations, the easier it gets. So, find a comfortable spot, access your mindful brain, and empower yourself.

Need more support? Join our empathetic community, chat with a free, trained listener, or start affordable online therapy today.

Sources:

Cohen GL, Sherman DK. The psychology of change: self-affirmation and social-psychological intervention. Annu Rev Psychol. 2014;65:333-71

RonaldAlexander.com

Mindtools.com

Developgoodhabits.com

Upandforwardonpurpose.com

Lemonadebrain.com

Notesonbliss.com

Spirituallyempowered.uk.co

Simplystepping.com

Prolificliving.com