How to Use Affirmations to Transform Your Life

I love a good affirmation. I use them daily to stay focused and positive. But here’s the thing—affirmations don’t work for everyone. Why not? The problem usually isn’t the affirmation itself. It’s how people use them.

To make affirmations work, you need the right approach. When done correctly, they can transform your mindset, improve your mental health, and replace negative thoughts with positive ones. In this post, I’ll show you how to use affirmations in a way that actually makes a difference.

Ready to get started? Let’s dive in!

What Are Affirmations, and Why Don’t They Work for Everyone?

Affirmations are positive statements designed to rewire your thoughts. By repeating them, you can train your mind to focus on what’s empowering instead of what’s holding you back. For instance, saying, “I give myself permission to prioritize my needs” helps replace guilt with confidence.

But here’s the thing—not all affirmations work. If a statement feels fake or far from what you believe, your brain may reject it. Saying “I am successful” when you don’t feel it can backfire, creating frustration instead of growth.

The key? Choose affirmations that feel authentic and pair them with consistent practice. Over time, affirmations create positive change by guiding your thoughts toward possibilities instead of fears.

Where Did Affirmations Come From?

The idea of affirmations isn’t new. They’ve been around for thousands of years. Ancient spiritual practices like Hinduism and Buddhism used mantras—short, repeated phrases—to promote focus and inner peace. In the 19th century, the New Thought movement in the U.S. introduced affirmations as a way to align positive thinking with positive outcomes. Even philosophers like René Descartes hinted at their power with his famous line, “I think, therefore I am.” Over time, affirmations evolved into the modern personal development tool we use today.

Why Do Affirmations Work?

Your brain has something called neuroplasticity—the ability to rewire itself. Repeating affirmations regularly helps your brain form new pathways that support positive thinking. These pathways make it easier to replace negative limiting beliefs with empowering ones.

For example, affirmations like “I am enough just as I am” challenge negative thoughts and build self-worth. Over time, they reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and help you focus on what’s possible.

Affirmations also encourage you to focus on yourself instead of worrying about what others expect. A phrase like “I give myself permission to prioritize my needs” reinforces your right to feel good about who you are.

How to Use Affirmations Effectively: A Step-by-Step Guide

Affirmations work best when they’re thoughtfully created and consistently practiced. Follow these steps to use affirmations in a way that empowers you and creates lasting change.

Step 1: Create Your Affirmation

Start by crafting an affirmation that feels meaningful and achievable. A well-structured affirmation will resonate with you and reflect the mindset you want to build. Here’s how to structure it:

• Keep It Positive: Focus on what you want, not what you’re avoiding.
  • Example: Instead of “I won’t fail,” say, “I can handle any challenge.”
• Use Present Tense: Speak as if your affirmation is already true.
  • Example: Instead of “I will be confident someday,” say, “I am confident and capable.”
• Make It Personal: Choose words that feel authentic and specific to your life.
  • Example: Instead of “I am successful,” say, “I am building a life I love, step by step.”
• Start with Believable Statements: If a bold affirmation feels out of reach, start small.
  • Example: Instead of “I am unstoppable,” say, “I am learning to embrace my strengths.”

One of my favorite affirmations is “I can.” It’s simple but powerful. Those two words helped me see possibilities instead of obstacles. Choose or create an affirmation that speaks to you and supports the change you want to make.

Step 2: Practice Daily

Affirmations work through repetition. The more you repeat them, the more your brain starts to believe them. Build affirmations into your daily routine:

• Say them in the morning to set a positive tone for the day.
• Write them in a journal to make them feel concrete.
• Use sticky notes or phone reminders so you see and repeat them throughout the day.

For example, if your affirmation is “I give myself permission to take care of my needs,” you might say it while brushing your teeth, write it before bed, or repeat it when faced with a tough decision. Practicing daily makes affirmations a habit that sticks.

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Step 3: Stay Consistent and Take Action

Consistency is key. Affirmations need time to rewire your thoughts, so stick with them even if you don’t see immediate results. Make them part of your everyday life.

But affirmations alone won’t create change—you need to pair them with action. For example:

• If your affirmation is “I am confident,” try speaking up in a meeting or starting a conversation you’ve been avoiding.
• If it’s “I can handle challenges,” take one small step toward solving a problem you’ve been putting off.

By combining affirmations with action, you show your brain that the words you’re repeating are true. Over time, this builds confidence and shifts your mindset.

Overcoming Common Challenges with Affirmations

Affirmations sound simple, but they can feel tricky to get right. If you’ve ever thought, “This isn’t working,” you’re not alone. Many people struggle with affirmations at first. The good news? With a few tweaks, you can overcome these challenges and make affirmations work for you.

Challenge 1: They Feel Fake or Forced

You might feel awkward saying affirmations that don’t match how you feel inside. For example, repeating “I am confident” when you’re full of doubt can feel untrue.

What to Do Instead: Start where you are. Use affirmations that reflect your current journey, not just the destination.

• Instead of “I am confident,” say, “I am learning to trust myself.”
• Instead of “I am successful,” say, “I am building my success step by step.”

When affirmations feel real, they’re more effective—and easier to stick with.

Challenge 2: You Forget to Practice

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to forget your affirmations. If they’re not part of your routine, they might slip through the cracks.

What to Do Instead: Make affirmations part of your day.

• Say them when you brush your teeth or make your coffee.
• Use sticky notes or phone reminders so they’re always in sight.
• Tie them to an existing habit, like journaling or meditating.

The more you weave affirmations into your daily life, the more natural they’ll feel.

Challenge 3: You Don’t See Results Right Away

It’s easy to get discouraged when affirmations don’t create instant change. But like any habit, affirmations take time to work.

What to Do Instead: Be patient and stay consistent. Think of affirmations as planting seeds in your mind. With regular practice, those seeds will grow into new beliefs.

• Track your progress by journaling how you feel over time.
• Pair your affirmations with small actions to reinforce their power.

For example, if your affirmation is “I can handle challenges,” take one small step toward a goal or problem each day.

Challenge 4: You Rely Only on Words

Affirmations are powerful, but they’re not magic. If you repeat them without taking action, they might fall flat.

What to Do Instead: Use affirmations as a springboard for action.

• If your affirmation is “I give myself permission to prioritize my needs,” schedule a self-care activity.
• If it’s “I trust my decisions,” act on a choice you’ve been hesitating over.

Words create the mindset, but actions make the change.

Challenge 5: You Feel Silly Saying Them

Let’s be honest—saying affirmations aloud can feel a little awkward, especially at first.

What to Do Instead: Find a method that feels comfortable for you.

• Say them quietly to yourself.
• Write them in a journal.
• Use an app that guides you through affirmations.

Over time, the awkwardness will fade as affirmations become part of your routine.

Affirmations aren’t about perfection. They’re about progress. If you tweak your approach and stay consistent, you’ll start to notice shifts in your mindset and actions. In the next section, we’ll share stories of how affirmations have worked for others—and how they can work for you too.

How to Supercharge Your Affirmation Practice

Want to take your affirmations to the next level? Combine them with EFT Tapping. EFT, or Emotional Freedom Techniques, helps release emotional blocks that can make affirmations feel forced.

Tapping calms the nervous system and clears fear or doubt tied to your thoughts. For example, if you repeat “I can handle challenges” but feel overwhelmed, tapping helps release that resistance. Together, tapping and affirmations create a powerful synergy, aligning your emotions and mindset for change.

Curious about tapping? Read my blog post, [What is EFT Tapping?] to learn more.

Reclaiming Confidence and Joy Through Affirmations

Affirmations helped me overcome one of my biggest challenges—reclaiming my confidence in horse riding. For years, I’d loved riding. It was my escape, my passion, and a source of pure joy. But at some point, my imagination went into overdrive. Instead of excitement, I started picturing everything that could go wrong: falling, losing control, getting hurt. Every ride became a mental battlefield filled with fear.

Replaying those “what if” scenarios wired my brain to associate horse riding with anxiety. The joy I had once felt was buried under a mountain of worry. I knew I needed to break the cycle.

To shift my mindset, I turned to EFT Tapping to calm my fears and release the emotions fueling my anxiety. Then, I introduced the affirmation: “I am a calm and confident rider.” I repeated it daily, letting the words settle into my mind. I even chanted it aloud while tapping on my collarbone as I drove to my first event—after months of avoiding the saddle.

Over time, that affirmation took root. I felt calmer before rides and more grounded in the saddle. Slowly, I reclaimed the joy that horse riding had always brought me. That experience reminded me of the incredible power affirmations have to help us rewrite our stories and move past fear.

Embrace the Power of Affirmations

Affirmations are simple, but their impact is profound. They can help you improve your mental health, overcome fear, and create meaningful change. Start with a phrase like “I give myself permission to prioritize my needs” or “I can handle challenges.”

Say it daily. Pair it with action. And trust the process. With time, affirmations will help you create the life you deserve.

You’ve got this—now go make your affirmations work for you!