30 Positive Affirmations for Confidence
Using affirmations for confidence and boosting self-esteem, or to keep the psychological symptoms of mental health issues at bay may seem like a new phenomenon. However, they have been a part of the Western psychological world since the 1980s after being popularised by psychologist Claude Steele. The history of positive affirmations goes even further back from that; like many contemporary Western approaches to wellness, they can be traced back to ancient Eastern religions.
Self-affirmation theory centres around how people can adapt to experiences or information that threatens their self-perceptions. For example, if someone is criticised throughout childhood and adulthood, it is easy to fall into the trap of worthlessness.
Repeating positive and affirming words, such as “I can do this” or “I am worthy”, is enough to boost confidence when you need it the most. Think of how sports teams always get a pep-talk before a big game. Positive words are as powerful as words that have ebbed away your confidence. And the good news is that you don’t need a sports coach in your corner for a morale boost. Extrinsic support can be helpful, but when that validation comes from within, you won’t need cheerleaders on the sidelines to feel confident and capable. Think of positive affirmations as customisable mantras which reflect your values. They embody who we want to be or what we want in life.
How Do Positive Affirmations Increase Confidence?
The more we allow our inner monologue to repeat negative statements, the more believable they become and the more they can shape our emotions and actions. When we start to catch ourselves using negative self-talk and replace it with positive statements, we can control our emotions and sense of self-worth.
As the neuroscience saying goes, neurons that fire together wire together. Meaning that everyone can rewire their brains to start thinking more positively about themselves by using positive affirmations. Even if you have struggled with confidence or other negative beliefs for as long as you can remember, it is possible to change your mindset through neuroplasticity, a process of changing the neural pathways in the brain.
Letting go of negative thought patterns is the same as breaking any bad habit or creating a healthier routine. At first, it will be difficult; or even uncomfortable. In time, leaving bad habits in the past and living healthier will start to feel like second nature.
We are all creatures of habit, but we have complete control over the habits we keep. Our minds love to take the easy route by going down a road we have walked down thousands of times before. Adopting a new habit or behaviour is akin to taking the beaten path instead of walking down the nice and even road. Your mind will want to take the easy route; however, that path will start to feel more well-trodden the more times you walk down it.
How Effective Are Positive Affirmations for Students?
A 2013 study by PLOS ONE revealed that when students suffering from chronic stress participating in the research started to adopt positive affirmations that reflected interests and life values, they became more successful in problem-solving tasks than the control group that didn’t. As learning is a process of problem-solving, students must bolster their confidence during academic life. The skills gained ensure students will feel more confident in their capacity to apply what they have learnt during their studies in the workplace.
Stress and burnout can entirely diminish self-confidence; positive affirmations are highly effective in reminding people of their resilience; in time, anxiety reduces, and confidence rebuilds. Personal affirmations are part of many therapeutic practices, including dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), due to their ability to guide people towards more rational perspectives.
How to Use Positive Affirmations for Confidence
The key to positive affirmations is repetition. If you struggle with a general lack of confidence, don’t only resort to them before you sit an important exam or you need to enter another high-anxiety scenario that triggers anxious thoughts and feelings.
There are multiple ways to use positive affirmations for confidence; you can use them to start or end the day, choose a time that suits you best, or use them multiple times throughout the day.
Positive affirmations should always be concise to allow your mind to find the cognitive shortcuts they are always searching for. They should always be relevant to yourself and realistic. For example, if you are financially struggling and adopt “I am going to be a millionaire” as a positive affirmation, this will only lead to disillusionment and toxic positivity. Feeding yourself false statements which do not align with your reality will only do more harm than good in the long run.
Even though we have included 30 positive affirmations for confidence below, remember the importance of creating positive mantras that make sense in your life and reflect your values.
How to Incorporate Positive Affirmations Into Your Self-Care Routine
Once you have developed a set of positive mantras, which may include a process of trial and error, it is time to incorporate them into your self-care routine. This can be done in several ways. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so feel free to experiment with what works best for you.
Use Apps for Positive Affirmations
If you don’t mind your positive affirmation sessions racking up your screen time, you can use one of the many self-care apps. While some positive affirmation apps are free to use, many will also interrupt your positive affirmation sessions with annoying pop-ups.
Some of the most popular apps include ThinkUp, which allows you to listen to music simultaneously. Louise Hay Affirmation Meditations, which is exactly what it says on the tin. And Shine also provides a community support system for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Write Them Down
Your positive affirmations can be written in a notepad, notes on your phone, or saved on a word document on your laptop. By formatting them into the written word, you will create a visual aid and never need to struggle to remember them.
If you have an affirmation that works well for you every time you repeat it, or you feel you need a particular one more than the others at any given time, write it down on a sticky note and place it somewhere where you will constantly see it. For example, if you lack academic confidence, place a sticky note on a wall in front of your desk. If you have a poor self-image when you look in the mirror, tack a sticky note to the mirror to remind you that you are enough.
Use the Power of Visualisation
Visualisation is a powerful tool in the law of attraction. Instead of having a vague idea of what you want out of life, use as many of your senses to envisage the future you want to achieve. It can also be a great aid when tapping into the powers of positive affirmations. If you would prefer to repeat them in your mind instead of writing them down where someone else may see them, visualisations can give affirmations even more power.
Visualisations can cultivate a meditative mindset for you to absorb the positive mantras. Think of where you are happiest or what brings you positive and warm emotions; after you set that scene in your mind, focus on your affirmations.
Recite Your Affirmations
This method can be tricky if you don’t live alone, but by saying your positive affirmations out loud, you will put more conviction into them. To give your mantras even more power, recite them while looking in the mirror, or you can repeat them when walking to campus or anywhere else you may need a confidence boost.
30 Positive Affirmations for Confidence
- Being out of my comfort zone helps me to overcome my fears.
- I am enough.
- I believe in myself.
- I attract positive people into my life.
- The hardest challenges are the biggest growth opportunities.
- I am resilient.
- My best is always good enough.
- I am proud of my achievements.
- I am worthy of reaching my goals.
- I can deal with whatever life throws at me.
- I can overcome challenges.
- I am worthy of what I want.
- I trust my intuition.
- My opinion is valuable.
- I can overcome all roadblocks.
- My future will be positive.
- I am worthy of love, support, and friendship.
- I am aware of my unique gifts and talents.
- I can achieve what I set my mind to.
- I deserve self-compassion.
- My uniqueness is my gift.
- My potential is powerful.
- I am creative enough to find new solutions.
- My past mistakes and failures won’t define my future.
- By being the best version of myself, I can make a difference.
- I can express my authentic self with ease.
- My faith in myself is unshakeable.
- My voice is powerful.
- I’m braver than I give myself credit for.
- I can be as confident as anyone else.
