08-05-2025
What Are Self-Affirmations and How Can They Help You?
Self-affirmations can help increase your self-worth and motivation. With regular practice, you can shift your focus toward your strengths and adapt to new circumstances more easily.
Self-affirmation theory asserts that we are motivated to maintain a positive view of ourselves. When our self-view is threatened or contradicted, we can use positive statements about ourselves to strengthen or reaffirm our core values and beliefs. These statements are known as self-affirmations.
When we are faced with a situation that challenges our self-view, repeating self-affirmations may help to manage the situation and reduce the need to react defensively.
Learn more about what the science says about self-affirmation theory and how you can incorporate it effectively into your daily life.
What is self-affirmation theory, and what are the benefits?
Self-affirmation theory was popularized by social psychologist Claude Steele in the 1980s. It states that we all want to maintain a positive view of ourselves. If someone shakes our sense of self by providing new and challenging information, we often experience discomfort.
But we can work to resolve any conflicting information by affirming the beliefs we hold about ourselves through positive statements known as self-affirmations.
Positive self-talk can help us strengthen our core values and better understand our sense of self, according to research from 2021.
And research from 2015 shows that self-affirmations have several potential benefits, such as:
reducing stress
increasing well-being
improving work or academic performance
encouraging us to be more open to behavioral changes
It's important to remember that self-affirmations are not an alternative to mental health care. They may also not work for everyone. We all have different needs when it comes to managing our health and may require various approaches to feel our best.
For example, if you regularly experience low motivation or low self-esteem, it may be beneficial for you to connect with a mental health professional. They can work with you to understand any obstacles you may be experiencing and put together an effective treatment plan that considers your individual needs.
How to create positive affirmations that work
When creating your affirmations, it can be helpful to consider your personal beliefs and goals. This can allow you to identify areas in your life where you would like to see improvement or growth.
For example, if you desire to become more confident, start by considering any limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. You can then use this to create a positive statement that works to empower you, such as 'I am confident in my abilities and talents.'
It can also be helpful to set your affirmations in the present tense, as if it is already a behavior or concept you are modeling in your life.
You can do this by creating affirmations that sound like an individual statement, such as:
'I am capable of achieving my goals.'
'I love and accept myself.'
'I am resilient and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.'
'I have the power to create the life I desire.'
'I am safe. I am loved.'
'I am more than my thoughts.'
'I am intelligent and resourceful.'
'I belong here. I am enough.'
'I am worthy of love and kindness.'
How to incorporate self-affirmation into your daily life
To get the most out of self-affirmations, it can be helpful to create a routine that encourages regular or daily use.
This could look like:
Saying them at a set time each day: Consider having a set time to repeat your affirmations to yourself, such as first thing in the morning or during your commute to work.
Placing reminders around your home: It can often be beneficial to have visual reminders to practice your affirmations. This could look like placing sticky notes in areas where you spend a lot of time, such as your work desk.
Saying them with intention: When repeating your affirmations to yourself, it's important to focus on the words and take a moment to reflect on their meaning.
Journaling your growth: Consider taking some time each week to journal about your goals and any growth you are experiencing. You can also use this as a moment of reflection to see if you need to adapt or change your affirmations to serve you better.
It's important to be patient when practicing self-affirmation and to work on building a routine. It may take some time before you begin to notice changes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the self-affirmation theory?
Self-affirmation theory states that we are motivated to maintain a positive view of ourselves. When our self-view is threatened, we can use positive statements about ourselves to strengthen or reaffirm our core values and beliefs.
Self-affirmation theory states that we are motivated to maintain a positive view of ourselves. When our self-view is threatened, we can use positive statements about ourselves to strengthen or reaffirm our core values and beliefs.
What are examples of self-affirmations?
Examples of self-affirmations include individual statements that are set in the present tense, such as:
'I love and accept myself.'
'I am resilient and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.'
'I have the power to create the life I desire.'
'I am safe. I am loved.'
Examples of self-affirmations include individual statements that are set in the present tense, such as:
'I love and accept myself.'
'I am resilient and embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.'
'I have the power to create the life I desire.'
'I am safe. I am loved.'
Takeaway
Self-affirmation theory follows the concept that we are motivated to maintain a positive self-view of ourselves. When this is challenged, we can use positive statements about ourselves to strengthen or reaffirm our core values and beliefs. These statements are known as self-affirmations.
Using self-affirmations in your daily life can have several benefits, such as strengthening your core values and leading to a better understanding of your sense of self.
