Affirmations are positive statements about yourself or your intentions, repeated deliberately to shift mindset and behaviour.
Self-affirmation theory (Claude Steele, 1988) shows that affirming core values reduces stress responses and improves problem-solving under pressure. Affirmations work by activating the brain's reward system and reducing the threat response to challenging information.
Affirmations that feel implausible can backfire for people with low self-esteem. More effective: process-based affirmations or values-based ones. The most effective affirmations are personal and specific.
Read one each morning. Write them in the present tense. Use our free daily affirmation cards as a starting point.