By Kristen Donia

I am enough. I am strong. I am healthy. These are examples of affirmations.

Lately, the term “affirmations” has been more present in our society, perhaps because people are tired of living unhappy lives? We are finally ending the stigma surrounding mental health and getting down to the basics of life, which is essentially to say, we all just want to be happy. And we want to talk to one another about how we truly feel and take steps to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.

Many look to affirmations for their power in releasing previously held negative thought patterns. Affirming positive, intentional, thoughts each day can actually rewire our brains. Replacing the negative thoughts and negative feelings, that often lead to negative actions in our lives, with thoughts and feelings of confidence and purposeful action.

With the use of daily affirmations, our awareness changes, we no longer tolerate negativity in our minds and instead opt for positive thoughts, words, and actions that are in alignment with how we want to feel.

What you may notice as you begin to work with these little affirmations is the people around you take notice of your positivity. They may even begin to think, act, or look at things differently, specifically due to your influence, whether they know it or not. The positive influence we have with each other can be huge, and what a beautiful thing it is to make positive changes in our lives and see the ripple effect to those we love.

Did you know you can also create affirmations of your own? Affirmations that focus on a specific area of your life, targeting a behavior or thought pattern that isn’t serving you. In doing so, please remember to include the positive action you wish to affirm.

As we continue to work through our negative body conditioning, and ultimately the ways in which we can begin to feel better about our bodies, rather than affirming: “I am not fat,” when creating your own affirmation, you would instead say “I am strong. I love my body and everything is does for me each day.”

 When creating affirmations, we always speak in the positive, affirming how we want to feel because when you state the negative feeling or emotion, the subconscious part of your brain we are working on, hears the negative term used which is the opposite of what we want to do. Instead, you want to call into your life, your mind, and your body, harmony and acceptance for the beautiful body you possess.

If you want more information on creating your own affirmations, you can find that here. Below you will find suggestions of body positive and strength-inspiring affirmations, you can use throughout your day to remind you of the amazing human you are.

Early Morning

I am grateful.  I am strong.

Mid-Morning

My body is healthy.  I radiate beauty.

Lunch Time

I eat to nourish and strengthen my body.  I trust my body.

Early Afternoon

I meet challenges with a calm mind & body.  I am courageous and I stand up for myself.

Late Afternoon

My ability to conquer challenges is limitless.  I am safe.

Evening

I am good enough.  I trust myself.

Dinner

My body is balanced and healthy.  My body and mind are one with perfect health.

Night-time

I am at peace.  Happiness is me and I am happiness.

If you want to take your affirmation practice a step further, you can find many resources online from Youtube to Apple Music to Spotify. Both Deepak Chopra and Louise Hay offer talks, books, and online offerings to help you in the next steps in creating a purposeful affirmation habit.

Please note: This information is NOT medical advice.