by Jessica Robinett, MS, LPC
Self-affirmations. Everyone has likely heard of affirmations and if you haven’t, then you’ll likely know what I’m talking about after I explain. Take a moment and think about yourself. What do you think about who you are; what you do; or how you interact with others? Would you consider those thoughts kind, or were they derogatory statements that you would probably never say to another person? Most of us struggle with our self-talk and this leads to deficits in other areas of our lives. Negative self-talk is correlated with depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. The way we talk to ourselves has a direct impact on our thoughts which, in turn, impacts our feelings and behaviors.
A great way to change your behaviors is to change your thoughts; and the way to change your thoughts is to change the way you talk to yourself.
The bible says in Mark 12:30-31, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Take a look at that again. “Love your neighbor… as yourself.” This implies that we cannot love our neighbor unless we first love ourselves, right? So how do we do that? We talk to ourselves like we’re talking to someone that we love!!
Take a moment today and think about how you talk to yourself. Write down some of the phrases that go through your mind today about who you are and make notes of whether they are positive or negative. For the positive phrases, kudos!! You’re being kind to yourself!! For the negative phrases, take another moment and write down the exact opposite of that phrase. Like this:
- I’m such an idiot, how could I have messed that up?
- I am an intelligent person and I’m allowed to make mistakes.
- I look gross today.
- I am a beautiful person, fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
- I should be better than this. Why am I so anxious?
- God says to be strong and courageous and promises He will never leave me or forsake me.
- Everyone hates me, I suck.
- I. Am. Loved!
Psalm 94:19 says, “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
God promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:8) and He wants us to treat ourselves with the same love and kindness He has for us. Try to remember that as you go about your days: you are totally and completely loved and accepted by the same God who made the universe.
Here’s some additional positive affirmations:
- I am enough
- I am worthy
- I am incomparable
- I am saved by grace
- I live by faith and not by sight
“Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.” – Karolina Kurkova
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