Positive affirmations are positive phrases or statements used to challenge negative thoughts. You might choose to use positive affirmations to motivate yourself, encourage positive change in your life or boost your self-esteem. If you frequently find yourself getting caught up in negative self-talk, positive affirmations can be used to combat these unhealthy patterns. When used as a daily practice, you could expect results in these different ways:

☆ Motivate yourself– When you are speaking truths about yourself, you are more likely to move in that direction. “I am hardworking” will motivate you to be hard working much more than telling yourself “you are so lazy”. What you think directly influences how you feel and how you behave. So if you think you’re a failure, you’ll feel like a failure. Then, you’ll act like a failure, which reinforces your belief that you must be a failure.

☆ Improve our overall quality of life– Studies have shown that people that practice positive affirmations are happier, more optimistic, and have a clearer perspective on life. Working to keep yourself in a constant state of gratitude means you don’t sweat the small stuff.

☆ Could help you live longer- Recent research indicates that optimistic people tend to have better cardiovascular health.

Here are some great affirmations to help you get started-

Positive affirmations are not only for adults. Teaching your kids how to practice daily affirmations can be incredibly beneficial for them as well. It can be empowering for them to learn that they have a say in their thoughts.

Are you up for the challenge? Commit to saying positive affirmations to yourself for the next week and see if you can tell a difference in your thoughts and overall attitude!