Do you ever wake up in the morning and just not feel like yourself? We all have those days when we keep having so many negative thoughts and judgments about ourselves. It’s even more challenging living in a society that is obsessed with social media, where we can constantly compare our lives to other people we see online. Although it’s normal to have negative thoughts, we can’t let them control how we view ourselves.
Something I’ve learned throughout my life is that shifting your thoughts to more positive messages can actually boost your self-esteem and confidence. Even if it seems challenging to repeat positive statements that you don’t necessarily believe, eventually, as you keep doing it, you’ll start to accept the things you are saying to be true. It’s easier said than done, but at the end of the day, we deserve to feel good about who we are.
Here are seven positive affirmations that I repeat to myself, even on days where I don’t feel my best—and you should, too.
1. I love myself as I am.
This is a statement that has often been hard for me to accept. Growing up, I was always more introverted and felt like I didn’t have a lot of things in common with a lot of the people in my friend group. There were so many times when I tried to force myself to act a certain way so I could fit in.
So many people also experience the same thing, where they feel like they have to change who they are so others will like them. However, one of the best parts about life is that every person is different; no one is exactly the same. Embrace who you are, and if people don’t accept you for that, then they don’t belong in your life. You are who you are for a reason.
2. I wake up today with strength in my heart and clarity in my mind.
As a very anxious person, I am constantly overwhelmed with thoughts and worries, especially when I wake up in the morning. Right when my alarm goes off, it’s like the floodgates open and all the things I’m stressed about pop in my head at once. It feels like I won’t be able to handle everything.
Repeating this affirmation to myself every morning has helped me feel like I am strong enough to handle any thought or worry that comes up throughout my day. It also allows me to breathe and reset so I can stop focusing on the worries and instead focus on the things that are actually important.
Source: @rdulay via #sharetheeverymom
3. Happiness is a choice.
Most people always say that they wish they could be happy or find happiness in their lives. Something I realized is that being happy is actually a choice. I used to always see happiness as a destination, like “once I finish my degree, I will be happy.” But I came to the realization that I never was fully happy because once I did complete one of my goals, it just made me want to reach the next one. When I came to the conclusion that happiness is something you choose, I started to feel happier in the present without always feeling like I had to achieve another goal to make me happy.
4. It’s OK to not be OK. I allow myself to feel whatever I need to.
Have you ever had one of those moments when a friend asked how you were doing and all you wanted to do was break down and cry, but instead you just responded with “I’m OK?” I have definitely done this so many times because I just didn’t want people to think that I was struggling. You are allowed to feel sad, upset, angry, or whatever emotion you are feeling. Sometimes, you just need to remind yourself that it’s OK if you’re not doing well and you don’t need to pretend that everything is fine all the time.
5. I am proud of myself for getting this far.
You should be proud of yourself for getting through so many ups and downs throughout your life. Even if things aren’t going so well right now, just think about how far you’ve come. Think of all the things that you have accomplished and all the obstacles that you overcame. No matter what stands in your way, you can get through it because you’ve already been through so much. It’s good to look back and be grateful for your accomplishments, no matter how big or small.
6. I am allowed to say no to others and yes to myself.
I am one of those people who doesn’t like saying “no” to anyone. It‘s hard for me to set boundaries with people because I always want to make others happy. If you’re like me, it’s important to accept that our job in life isn’t to make everyone else around us happy, but instead, our job is to make ourselves happy. You deserve to put yourself first. It’s not the end of the world if you say “no” to something, especially when it comes at the price of sacrificing your own mental health and well-being.
7. Mistakes are just part of my life and they help me grow.
Sometimes it can be easy to beat yourself up over making a mistake or doing something wrong. It’s OK to make mistakes though, and in fact, it is just a natural part of life. We aren’t perfect, and that’s OK. We need to make mistakes so we can learn and grow from them. The mistakes we make allow us to become better versions of ourselves so we can always keep improving.
