8 Positive Affirmations to Boost Your Mood
7 minute read
If you’ve found yourself on a social media profile of a lifestyle blogger, then positive affirmations shouldn’t be a new concept for you. In fact, the power of positive affirmations is believed to have been around for centuries, as they are an integral component to yoga and various forms of meditation.
A recent study indicates that “self-affirmation (reflecting on important personal values) has been shown to have a range of positive effects,” on people and their lives. It does so by activating a neural reward pathway in the brain, triggering positive receptors that make us feel happier and better. Here are some easy affirmations to give yourself to keep your mood bright.
The Power of Affirmations
Another way to look at this is through the saying, “you get what you give,” meaning if you put positive thoughts and emotions out into the universe, you will get positive effects and vice versa. Positive affirmations also enable us to not only gather our feelings and dreams, it allows us to begin manifesting what we desire out of life, whether it be a dream job or dream body.
Repeating these in times of trouble can really help improve your outlook, but you should also consider dietary changes and getting more exercise. Both of these have been linked to reduced anxiety.
1. I will not compare myself to strangers on the internet.
We currently live in the internet age. Instagram models and 7-year-olds alike can make anywhere up to six to seven figures a year.
It’s easy to fall down the hole and compare yourself to others on social media, but it’s very important to remember that these profiles and feeds aren’t necessarily real. They are curated, filtered feeds that at the very core are meant to sell a product or lifestyle.
It isn’t fair to you or your self-esteem to compare yourself to photoshopped advertisements. You may want consider limiting your own online interaction as well.
2. I am enough.
Wanting to better your quality of life is definitely a good thing but it’s quite detrimental to our well-being if we decide we need to change because we decide we aren’t fitting into society’s ideals.
Always remind yourself, whether you are going through a big change or not, that you are enough for yourself and the world.
3. Today I give myself permission to choose me.
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of working yourself to the bone at both your job and your relationships, whether romantic or familial, but it’s more than okay to put yourself first sometimes. Self-care is important.
For example, if university life is harder than you thought, email your professor for an extension, they may understand and commend you for putting your mental health first.
4. Today, I abandon my old habits and take up new, more positive ones.
Coming to terms with your own negative behavior is extremely difficult. Acknowledging your harmful habits, whether they be the overconsumption of sugar, alcohol, and cigarettes, or even something as simple as being late, is the first step to changing those behaviors.
Reaffirming to yourself that this is the choice you made that will bring forth positive outcomes will absolutely help on the long climb up to the top.
5. Progress not perfection.
It is so easy to compare your “Chapter 3” to someone else’s “Chapter 23,” but it is of the utmost important to look back and see the progress you are making. While this is primarily thought of for weight loss, it is also extremely prevalent to various forms of self-actualization.
Rather than focus on the big picture goal, focus on the steps it takes to get there; each step you overcome is worthy of celebration. Your progress, no matter how small you may think it is, absolutely matters.
6. I fight for my beliefs.
To believe in something is a truly powerful feeling. When you believe that you can do it and achieve the goal that you set out for yourself, it becomes that much easier to make it happen.
Author of Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women, Becca Anderson says, “Whenever I feel down on myself, or whenever I’m struggling to be who I want to be, I use these affirmations as mantras to refocus my center. Even if I don’t feel like I have unshakable dedication right this second, for example, repeating the mantra that says I do will guide me towards making my dedication true again.”
7. My thoughts create my reality.
You have more power than you think. One might fall prey to thinking that an otherworldly entity like “fate” may dictate what happens in our lives, but the truth is that we create our reality. The power, drive, and strength we put into achieving a goal will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.
| Related: Stephen Hawking’s Beautiful Advice for Depression Sufferers |
If you’ve hit an unfortunate stint of unemployment, working on your resume and applying to job postings or putting yourself out there without giving up, will help you land a job. It most likely won’t happen in a day or week, but it will happen.
8. My life is just beginning.
It’s important to remember that it’s all just begun. Your life and the positive outcomes that you are working towards are just around the corner. After you hit your stride, not only will your emotional and mental well-being be thriving, but so will your goals.
The Bottom Line
Self-affirmations are only one part of taking care of yourself. Using these when you feel your mood tipping into self-pity and stressful fretting can really help you turn things around.
On top of these affirmations, you should consider dietary changes, exercise, and even using turmeric or vitamin D supplements to help improve your mood. If things are getting too serious, though, do not hesitate to contact a medical professional.
