Self Esteem Affirmations

Self esteem affirmations are positive, affirming phrases that are repeated to change one's self talk and improve self esteem.

The affirmations here can help with changing self talk. Each affirmation is realistic, but may not seem so at first. At first you will not believe the affirmations, and they will sound artificial and not seem true. This is completely normal. The reason the affirmations do not seem true is because they are unfamiliar. If the affirmations seemed true already, you would have positive self esteem and would not be looking for self esteem affirmations at all!

Even if you do not believe the self esteem affirmations yet, say them to yourself in the present tense (for example, say "I am" or "I do" rather than "I will") as if they are true right now. Even if the affirmations are not yet true, say them with conviction as if they are. This is the key to reprogramming your subconscious mind. You are training your brain to believe the affirmations.

Your subconscious mind only understands the here and now. Any affirmation phrased in a way that is not present and immediate will not change your self talk. Self esteem affirmations always need to be in the present tense, said as if they are already true.

For example, look at the differences between the following two self esteem affirmations:

1) I will respect myself and treat myself well.

2) I respect myself and I treat myself well.

Statement 1 implies that right now, I do not respect myself or treat myself well, but I hope to someday. This statement fits with my negative self talk, not the new, positive self-talk I am trying to achieve.

Statement 2 says that I DO respect myself, right now, and I DO treat myself well. This tells my subconscious mind how to act - with respect. This present-tense self esteem affirmation reprograms my self talk and helps me treat myself with respect.

Avoid negative words (such as "not") because your subconscious mind will only comprehend the terms that are present in your statement. For example, if I say, "I am not a bad person," the subconscious mind registers "bad person" and understands the statement to mean "I am a bad person." The subconscious mind skips right over the "not."

Phrase each affirmation in the positive. If you want to believe that you are not a bad person, your affirmation needs to state what it actually is you want to believe, such as "I am a good person," or "I am an okay person."

Rephrase the statement "I will not smoke cigarettes" into the positive affirmation "I am smoke free," or "I refuse to smoke cigarettes."

Rephrase "I am not stupid" into the affirmations "I am intelligent," "I am competent," or "I think things through."

Think about the negative self talk you would like to change. What criticisms do you say in your mind? Write down a few of the negative thoughts that you find yourself frequently thinking. Then come up with a more positive, realistic alternative that you would rather believe.

Remember, you probably believe the negative self talk right now, and it will seem false to come up with alternative thinking. Just because you believe something does not make it true. The negative thoughts are lies that you have repeated so often they seem like the truth. Wouldn't it be nice if you actually believed some positive affirmations about yourself? You can, but you need to re-train your brain to believe something new.

Here are some more self esteem affirmations:

I am perfectly okay just the way I am.

I treat myself with respect.

I deserve respect because I am a human being.

I am worthwhile.

I am a valuable person.

I spend time doing positive things that I enjoy.

I care about myself.

I deserve good things.

I am worthy of love and respect.

I enjoy taking good care of myself.

I am a human being with flaws.

I accept being imperfect.

I accept myself.

Repeat the affirmations often; several times every day is best. Self esteem affirmations are only one way to change your thinking. Repeating positive affirmations can be one of the tools you use to improve self esteem, but there are many more techniques for improving self esteem, too. Using several techniques in combination is the most effective way to improve self esteem - and affirmations are an important part of your self esteem work.