Words themselves are like tools. They can be used against you, to knock you down or block your path, or you can use them to help you overcome obstacles and work your way around frustrating or unpleasant situations.
Using words for the purpose of tearing someone else down can be just as powerful as using them to pick someone up. Especially when you use them on yourself. Our mindset can change dramatically depending on the way we speak to ourselves. If we speak negatively, we might react with more negative emotions.
If we speak positively to ourselves and the situations we find ourselves in, however, we can use it to our advantage. This is called positive affirmation, or giving yourself small reminders that turn negative thoughts into positive ones and help you get through even the toughest situations.
Here are seven examples of positive affirmations that will make you more confident and give you a better outlook on your present and future.
1. “Yes, I really can do this.”
Doubt has a way of talking us out of being spontaneous, unique and brave—all traits that naturally and gradually build up our confidence. It’s what keeps us trapped in our comfort zones and prevents us from thinking too freely outside the box. Doubt mutes confidence, but you don’t have to let it.
Tell yourself you can do it, whether you sincerely believe you can or not. Your attitude will change. Repeat it until you do start to believe you can do it. Once you manage to bypass the doubt trying to hold you back, you will realize that you are capable of much more than you think you are.
2. “I am a good person.”
Sometimes we let our emotions get in the way of making good decisions, and sometimes those poorly made decisions affect other people negatively. Even people we care about. Sometimes other people don’t treat us very well, and that doesn’t do much for our self-esteem. It makes us feel bad about ourselves.
Keep telling yourself that you are a good person, no matter what’s already happened to you or what you might have done in the past. Other people do not have the authority to define who you are or what makes you good or bad: only you can do that. You are a good person. You have good intentions.
3. “I am smart.”
Has anyone ever looked down on you because of your education or experience, at least compared to theirs? Intelligence does not make one person better than another. It’s how you use your knowledge to navigate through life and interact with other people. Never hesitate to remind yourself that you are smart.
There are a lot of people out there who look smart on paper but can’t transfer that trait into the real world. You are not one of those people. You don’t have to have a degree or an award to be smart. You don’t have to compare yourself to anyone else. You are smart. You are capable.
4. “I am strong.”
Things happen all the time that can make you feel weak. You aren’t as good as other people you share a certain skill set with, or you take longer to complete a specific task. These things make you feel as though you are falling behind. You aren’t.
You are stronger than you think you are. Just keep repeating the line. “I am strong.” Sticks and stones. No matter what people throw at you, it isn’t going to slow you down. No matter the obstacles you face throughout your life, you are strong enough.
5. “Everyone makes mistakes.”
This isn’t some vague generalization: it’s a fact. Mistakes are just a part of life. Everyone makes them. You can choose to either let them haunt you for all eternity or embrace them as learning experiences and move on from them knowing more than you did before they happened.
Don’t feel bad if you make a mistake. Mistakes should never be something you let yourself feel shame over. Everyone really does mess up. It’s how we learn and grow. It’s okay to be a little embarrassed at first, but do your best to shake it off. Get back up and try again. You will be glad you did.
6. “I matter.”
You’re having one of those lonely days again, and it’s making you feel awful. Nothing you did all week seemed to matter much to anyone. No one’s answering your text messages. Everyone else is busy, and you aren’t. It’s almost like you’re invisible, like you don’t even matter at all.
You do matter. The more often you tell yourself that, the more you will start to believe it. You matter enough to keep moving forward and making a difference in people’s lives. There is no one else in the world quite like you. No one else is going to make the kind of impact on the world that you are.
7. “Things will get better.”
It isn’t easy to stay optimistic when it seems like everything is falling apart around you. What are you supposed to do, when there seems to be no way to fix it? Sure, it seems that way, but that’s because you can’t see the bigger picture. Things are just falling into place. Don’t let yourself forget that.
Things might seem gloomy right now, but they never stay that way for very long. They will always get better with time: just keep pushing through it. Keep reminding yourself that things are going to start looking up soon, little by little, day by day. You are going to get through it.
Here are some more ways you can boost your confidence in all areas of your life. Remember, you can turn any negative thought or comment into a positive one. Just because someone else might think negatively of you in some way doesn’t mean that’s how you have to perceive yourself. Words can be very powerful. Use them to build yourself up.
