How to Write Daily Affirmations That Really Work
Daily Affirmations are simple, specific and positive statements declaring a completed goal. They sound very basic when described this way, however they are a way of visualizing an empowered future for yourself and can have an amazingly profound effect on the mind.
In the simplest terms, affirmations are a way of tricking your mind into believing the very best of yourself. When it comes to figuring out how to write daily affirmations that really work, I’ve got all you need to know below.
What are Daily Affirmations or Self Affirmations?
Daily affirmations are small mantras you can repeat each day to help visualize your success. The key to a good affirmation is to create a statement that you would use if you had everything you ever wanted. The most successful business people, athletes and entrepreneurs have learned along the way that it is not enough to work hard and follow your dreams. You must let go of all negativity and force-feed your mind with positive visuals to help you focus on the success you desire.
You must visualize your successful future as if it is happening right now, and your statements of affirmation should be positive and uplifting and in the present tense.
Examples of Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations can be very specific to a future you envision, or they can be more general mantras you repeat to help you stay grounded. If you have a specific goal in mind, such as publishing a novel or losing weight, you can create an affirmation to support it. Or if you are working on your own attitude and mental health, you can create affirmations that turn you into the person you wish to be.
I have just turned in my final draft of my novel, and I’m so grateful for the six-figure deal I’ve made with my publisher.”
I am so proud that I am healthy after finally hitting my goal weight.”
My body is healthy, my mind is expansive and my soul is at peace.”
My heart is open. I speak and act with love first and always.”
How to Create Positive Affirmations
Using positive affirmations daily will eventually reprogram your mind by replacing the negative thoughts and images you’ve become used to with positive and uplifting ones. It is extremely important to use affirmations each and every day, making them part of your daily routine so you can get the best results. In essence, by using these positive affirmations, you will be creating your own new reality.
There are some general guidelines for creating the most powerful daily affirmations, and if you follow them, you will find them to be quite effective.
- Begin with the words, “I am.” These are two very powerful words, which I will come to again later.
- Make your affirmations in the present tense.
- Be positive, making sure to turn any negatives into a positive statement (ie – I am healthy instead of I don’t want to be unhealthy.).
- Make your point succinctly. Use the fewest words possible.
- Be specific if you can.
- Try to include an actionable word (words ending in -ing are great).
- Be flowery in your words. Use emotional statements and powerful visuals.
- Your affirmations are for you, not for others. If you find one you love, change it up so that it works for you.
The Power of “I am”
Remember how I said that the words, “I am” are very powerful? Well let me explain. If you’ve ever taken a second language, let’s say Spanish for instance, you may know that it has two different words that both mean “I am.” There is “estoy” and “soy.” Both words mean “I am,” yet they have very different connotations. “Estoy” is used when speaking about a temporary state of being, while “soy” is for the things that are permanent.
In English, we may say, “I am sad.” This can mean that we are sad right now, or it could mean that we are a sad being. There’s no way of knowing except for listening to cues and guessing. But in Spanish, if someone says, “I am sad,” they will choose the form that best explains their meaning. “Estoy triste” means I am sad right now. But “soy triste” would mean I am a sad person.
When forming your positive affirmations, try to create statements that are permanent and describe who you are/want to be as a person. I am strong should indicate you are a permanently strong person instead of anticipating that you will be strong in a moment or for a reason. Strength should be the goal forever, whether it be internal strength or even muscle mass!
How Affirming Phrases Keep You Focused
Whether you realize it or not, you are very likely using affirmations every day – just not positive ones. Do you find yourself thinking the same thoughts about the same things? Whether it be your health and fitness, your parenting, or your finances, you probably find yourself worrying and bemoaning your weaknesses a lot.
When offered a slice of cake, you may immediately think, “Oh man, that’s going to go straight to my thighs.” Or when you get unexpected bad news, you may think, “I just can’t win.” These are negative affirmations, and they aren’t doing you any favors!
Choosing to keep your affirmations positive will help you when you are faced with new challenges. If you want that slice of cake, you can take it joyfully while reminding yourself, “I am strong and fit, and I can work it off in the gym today!” When you get bad news, you will have already affirmed that you can meet the challenge head-on by remembering, “I can not be held back because I am stronger than my circumstances.”
How to Use Affirmations
At first it can feel unnatural to use affirmations. We’ve all seen films where the nerdy guy or gal stands in front of a mirror and tries to psych themselves up for a big date or presentation or whatever they are afraid of. It’s used as a trope in so many movies and tv shows that it’s easy to think yourself ridiculous if you try it. But the truth is that it is such a powerful tool for creating your own reality.
To use affirmations properly, it is best to set aside specific time each day to dedicate to them. While they can work any time, they are far more powerful when you’re not in a rush, so put them in your schedule and stick to it! Mornings are generally the best time to repeat your affirmations, as it sets up your day in a positive way. Doing them before bed can also have a positive effect because they can help you to rest better with positive thoughts in your head. It is not unheard of for people to do them both morning and night.
You are free to take any action you like when repeating your affirmations, but a popular school of thought suggests standing in front of a mirror and watching yourself as you do your self affirmations. Feel free to try this out, or use your own ritual.
- Stand in front of a mirror and try to use good posture and a relaxed demeanor.
- Smile – it is known to immediately lighten your mood.
- Take three deep breaths to calm your breathing and slow your heart rate.
- Look into your own eyes in the mirror and speak your affirmation out loud, slowly and clearly.
- Repeat your affirmation as many times as you need to for you to believe it.
- If you have a list of affirmations, speak each of them out loud in the same way.
- Take three more deep breaths, smile and allow the positivity to wash over you.
While it can be hard to do this in front of a mirror at first, it may help if you think of your mirror-self as a friend. I find it is often easier to speak kind and supportive words to a friend than to ourselves, so try and do what you can to make each positive statement as authentic as possible.
Remember that if an affirmation does not feel natural or helpful, you can play with the wording a bit to make it more personal to you and your situation. The more authentic each statement is, the more power it will have for you.
Five Daily Affirmations Guidelines to Follow
- Speak your affirmations 2-3 times every day, meditating on the words you are speaking and really understanding the meaning behind them.
- Create a vision of your future self that you can work toward becoming, and make sure all affirmations are supporting this image you have.
- Set yourself goals each day that support your work toward your affirmations.
- Understand that every challenge will be overcome with practice and adjustments to attitude.
- Reprogramming takes time – like taking medicine for an illness, affirmations take time to build up in your system, but consistency is key to success!
Need more inspiration? Check out the links to some great Daily Affirmations below!
101 Best Daily Affirmations from Louise Hay
35 Affirmations That Will Change Your Life
80 Powerful Affirmations that Could Change Your Life
The Ultimate Guide to Beating Negative Thinking
The Only 100 Positive Affirmations You Will Need
Katie Reed is a passionate writer and mother of four vivacious boys from Salt Lake City, Utah. Drawing from her own journey through TTC, pregnancy, and the joys of raising children, she offers a wealth of insight into the world of motherhood. Beyond her heartfelt tales, Katie delights her readers with family-friendly recipes, engaging crafts, and a curated library of printables for both kids and adults. When she’s not penning her experiences, you’ll find her crafting memories with her husband and sons—Dexter, Daniel, Chester, and Wilder.
Thank you, I am grateful I have found this page of yours.
Especially the part about visualizing your successful future, I had not read it anywhere else before but it makes a lot of sense.
It reminds me of the 1982 movie ‘The King of Comedy’, somehow the character that Deniro plays is doing a similar thing as he vividly imagines episodes of a future where he is famous. Even though the odds are stacked against him, he perseveres and end up getting what he wanted.
Nice Post. Thanks for Sharing with us.