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Morning affirmations are a powerful way to put yourself in the right mindset to win the day.
What are morning affirmations?
Morning affirmations are strategically written statements designed to transform your mindset from an undesirable state to something that you want. Affirmations are positive, personal statements and they’re almost always in the present tense.
The idea behind affirmations is that repeating positive statements to yourself can actually shift your mindset to align with the affirmation. You may have heard the aphorism, “fake it until you make it.” Well, the idea with affirmations is to “say it until you believe it.”
This might sound hard to believe, but researchers have actually studied the impact of affirmations on the brain. In a 2015 study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Michigan, and UCLA together were able to isolate distinct brain systems affected by affirmations:
Participants who were affirmed (compared with unaffirmed participants) showed increased activity in key regions of the brain’s self-processing (medial prefrontal cortex + posterior cingulate cortex) and valuation (ventral striatum + ventral medial prefrontal cortex) systems when reflecting on future-oriented core values (compared with everyday activities). Furthermore, this neural activity went on to predict changes in sedentary behavior consistent with successful affirmation in response to a separate physical activity intervention.
As their name implies, morning affirmations are optimally repeated in the mornings before your thoughts become clouded with the demands of daily life.
That’s not to say you can’t repeat them at other times of the day as well. But the morning tends to be a great time for building new habits and routines because it’s protected from the normal distractions of the day.
How do I use morning affirmations?
Morning affirmations are incredibly flexible as they can be used for just about anything. From dealing with relationship issues to stage fright, affirmations enable you to push past the inner voice holding you back from your full potential, so that you can push forward toward your full potential.
I use affirmations as way to supplement my morning personal manifesto review. The difference is that my manifesto statements tend to be more evergreen statements of inner truth, whereas my affirmations often pertain to a specific area of improvement that I’m focused on at a given time.
In media and pop culture, you’ll sometimes see people repeating affirmations to themselves while literally looking at themselves in a mirror. I’ll be the first to say that, while the mirror technique is great, you will often find yourself in a place where getting access to a mirror is simply not possible.
Furthermore, repeating affirmations is a very personal experience. If you you live with roommates or family members, speaking affirmations aloud, even behind the a closed bathroom door, can create anxiety over being overheard. You absolutely do not want to be in a position where repeating your affirmations causes anxiety. Affirmations are meant to alleviate anxiety.
For these reasons, I’m actually a fan of silent affirmations. I tend to repeat affirmations to myself in my head without looking at myself or verbalizing them in any way.
I will pick a single affirmation and repeat it again and again until I can feel the belief in the words flood through me. This process can take a long time, and it will be heavily dependent on the state of mind you’re currently in when you first began the affirmations.
How do I write morning affirmations?
In my experience, the best way to write affirmations (or any form of self-guided coaching like this) is to begin with a starting point rather than trying to start from scratch.
Below, you’ll find a list of 100 morning affirmations from which you can choose to start your list:
Step 1: Choose 1-3 affirmations from the list below that speak to a challenge you’re facing.
It’s best not to boil the ocean out of the gate. Consider the challenges you’re currently facing in life, and pick one that you’d like to address through morning affirmation. You can always add more to your practice later if you decide it’s necessary.
Then, run through the list below and pick no more than 3 affirmations that jump out to you. The affirmations provided below cover a broad mix of topic areas and should contain a few that really resonate with you.
In general, you’re looking for affirmations that make bold, compelling, and (ideally) surprising statements. Affirmations should be unique and forcefully positive. They should attack your challenges and insecurities in a way that shakes you free from your comfort zone and enables your mind to push beyond the false narrative it’s been telling itself.
Note: Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’ve searched the list below and are still at a loss for an affirmation that speaks to your unique situation. I am always looking for ways to enrich these resources and will happily do so If there’s something missing here.
Step 2: Modify as needed to fit your specific use case.
Morning affirmations are most effective when they are hyper-personalized to your unique situation. In the world of marketing, Gartner has found that companies with personalized messaging see a 16% increase in impact on commercial outcomes than those with generic messaging.
This benefit isn’t limited to the world of sales and marketing. It works because personalized content connects with your psychological need to feel heard. As much ass possible, I encourage you to modify your chosen affirmations to include mentions of specific people and circumstances you are trying to overcome.
Step 3: Keep them relevant through regular assessment and updating.
As time passes, your circumstances will undoubtedly change. The challenges you face today might not be the same challenges that you face tomorrow or in a year from now.
That’s why it’s important to revisit your list of affirmations regularly. Do your best to practice mindfulness, maintaining an awareness of the thoughts and feelings passing in and out of your mind over the course of your day. Do you find yourself getting hung up on or overly attached to an issue? Is that attachment blocking you from moving forward in some area of your life?
If so, it’s a good time to consider adding an affirmation to your morning regimen to address this challenge and enable you to move past it.
There’s no perfect time to do this. You should be thinking about it all the time and continuously making adjustments. After all, change is the only constant in life.
100 Morning Affirmations
Below I’ve collected 100 of my favorite morning affirmations to inspire your own practice. Consider the challenges you’re currently facing and look for affirmations from the list below that align to that area. You might need to change them slightly to meet your needs, and that’s totally fine. These affirmations are ultimately yours to own, so think of these as a template, a starting point in building your own, powerful set of morning affirmations.
For Self-Esteem
- I choose to see the light that I am to this world.
- I am beautiful and smart and that’s how everyone sees me.
- I allow myself to be who I am without judgment.
- I am at peace with who I am as a person.
- I compare myself only to my highest self.
- I make a difference in the world by simply existing in it.
- I am a beautiful person.
- I am more than enough.
- I know what I am doing. I will be okay.
- I am beautiful. I am enough. I am blessed.
- I am unique, and that’s my gift to the world.
- I am talented and intelligent.
- I acknowledge my unique superpowers. I use them to help others.
- I am a diamond. It is time for me to shine.
- I am proud of myself and all that I have accomplished.
- My imperfections make me unique and special.
- I feel safe and comfortable in my body.
- I see the perfection in all my flaws and all my genius.
For Confidence
- I listen to my intuition and trust my inner guide.
- My team respects and values my opinion.
- I am resilient, strong, and brave, and I can’t be destroyed.
- I was born strong, and I grow stronger every day.
- I do not fear the fire. I am the fire.
- I suddenly can’t stop saying kind things about myself.
- There are no limits to what I will achieve today.
- My actions are intentional and they bring me closer to my goals.
- I accept complements easily because I know I deserve them.
- I am enthusiastic. I am confident. I am persistent.
- I accept nothing but the best.
- I radiate confidence and others respect me.
- I am in complete charge of planning for my future.
For Success
- My drive and ambition allow me to achieve my goals.
- Money comes to me easily and effortlessly.
- I am always headed in the right direction.
- New opportunities come easily to me.
- I have all the power I need to create the success I desire.
- Everyday I am moving closer to my dreams.
- I easily accomplish all of my goals.
- I instantly manifest my desires.
- I engage in work that impacts this world positively.
For Authenticity
- I am becoming closer to my true self every day.
- I accept my emotions and let them serve their purpose.
- My life is underway right here, right now.
- The more I give, the more I will receive.
- I live my truth unapologetically and inspire others to do the same.
- I am always improving, but for today, I have the knowledge I need.
- I release any fear of failure and mistakes.
- I am grounded, peaceful, and centered.
For Discipline
- I manifest perfect health by making smart choices.
- I excel at completing tasks and projects on time.
- I am consistent in the things that I say and do.
- I am honest in every aspect of my life.
- I excel at completing tasks and projects on time.
- My strength is greater than any struggle.
- I only set goals that matter.
- I am driven by outcomes, and I do not fear obstacles.
- I am my own best source of motivation.
- I am focused. I am persistent. I will never quit.
- I always find a way.
- I master my distractions and remain focused on my goals.
- Every challenge brings me an opportunity.
For Self-Care
- I give myself the care and attention that I deserve.
- I give myself permission to do what is right for me.
- I give myself space to grow and learn.
- I allow myself to say “no” to others and “yes” to myself.
- I love myself first so that others can love me.
- I only desire things that are healthy for me.
- I give myself permission to do what is right for me.
For Mindfulness
- Feelings are not facts.
- I am present in every moment.
- I choose to fully participate in my day.
For Positivity
- I am doing work that I enjoy and that fulfills me.
- Positivity is a choice. I choose to be positive.
- I am creating the life I desire.
- I use my failures as a stepping stone.
- I think only positive thoughts and am always happy and joyous.
- I am happy, healthy, and centered.
- I make healthier decisions every day.
- I am light. I am love. I am joy.
- My body is strong. My mind is brilliant. My soul is fulfilled.
- This day brings me nothing but joy.
- I greet each second of my life with enthusiasm and hope.
- Every day of my life is filled with love.
- I am full of positive loving energy.
- Everyone sees how much joy and love I have for life.
- I am grateful for the life force and energy that runs through me.
- The work I do is meaningful and rewarding.
- I wake up happy and excited every single day.
- Each day of my life is filled with joy and love.
For Creativity
- I am creatively inspired by the world around me.
- My mind is full of brilliant ideas.
- I am creative, and I am open to new solutions.
- I am a creative and inspiring leader.
For Social
- I never know what amazing incredible person I will meet next.
- I am blessed with an incredible family and outstanding friends.
- I am energized in the presence of other people.
- I surround myself with people who bring out the best in me.
- I accept everyone as they are.
Conclusion
I sincerely hope you’ve gotten value from this guide on morning affirmations. At face value, these might seem like nothing more than simple statements you’ve written for yourself. But science and experience have taught millions of people around the world that affirmations are far more powerful than they first appear.
If you’re a skeptic, I encourage you to withhold your disbelief and give these simple statements an honest an open-minded opportunity to change your life. You don’t have anything to lose, and you have so much to gain.