Positive Affirmations: This Self-Talk Can Change the Way You Think

Ever said something to yourself that you wanted to believe—and the act of saying it helped you feel more confident and prepared? You may have been saying a positive affirmation.

If you’ve never heard the term before, a positive affirmation is a statement or phrase you can say to yourself that helps you challenge and overcome negative thoughts. Also called self-affirmations, these statements tend to focus on positive traits, values, and skills and are both “believable and vivid,” according to the American Psychological Association. Often, these statements reaffirm a person’s resourcefulness, resilience, and self-worth.

As an example, someone facing the stressors of new parenthood may use the following positive affirmation: “I have everything it takes to succeed in my role as a parent.”