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Our worth is defined solely by our perception of ourselves and our inner strength and not by our looks, social status, past actions, or the opinions of others. But many people are too harsh on themselves, struggling with low self-esteem and its consequences which prevent them from being happy and successful.
This is why tools such as affirmations for self-worth are so powerful. They can help you find inner peace and learn to value yourself. This article will explain affirmations and how they work and provide you with 70 examples of positive affirmations to boost your self-esteem.
(Side note: Want a simple tool to record and recite these affirmations? Check out these 13 affirmations apps that help you create a positive mindset.)
What You Will Learn
Why Affirmations Are Important for Self-Worth
Self-worth is a common concern for people of all ages, genders, and social backgrounds. Low self-worth is characterized by having a negative opinion of yourself, always critically judging your actions, and neglecting your achievements and strengths. People who don’t know their worth tend to brush off compliments and compare themselves unfavorably to others.
According to data from Brands in Action, over 70% of teenage girls skip social activities when they feel bad about their appearance. In The Self-Esteem Book, Dr. Joe Rubino reports that nearly 85% of the world’s population suffers from self-worth issues to some degree or another.
Low self-esteem isn’t simply about not feeling confident. It often leads to social isolation, harmful activities such as addictions or eating disorders, and in the worst cases, severe depression or suicidal behavior. Low self-worth is also commonly a consequence of more serious mental issues.
Low self-worth may not seem like a significant problem if it doesn’t lead to depression or severe anxiety, but it always has an impact. The lack of confidence may prevent you from meeting new friends, finding a romantic partner, or achieving your dreams. Any injured sense of self-worth requires action.
Each case is unique and requires a different approach, of course. If your low self-esteem is linked to a traumatic experience or a mental illness, psychotherapy might be the best choice. However, most people suffer from moderately decreased self-worth and can learn to manage it on their own using tools like affirmations. Even in the case of psychotherapy, affirmations are a tremendous supporting element that can help patients improve their mood between sessions with their therapist.
But first, what are affirmations? Affirmations are short, positive phrases or statements that help you dispel negative thoughts and replace them with better ones. It’s a simple but highly effective and versatile tool for improving your self-esteem, mood, and overall quality of life. Affirmations can even be tailored to address a specific situation or concern.
Affirmations may seem too simple to work for mental and emotional problems, so it might be hard to believe in their effectiveness until you try them for yourself. However, there is a convincing scientific explanation for why affirmations work.
The core element of affirmations is persistence. Think of it as a new positive habit – you will only see the results of exercising after some time, not immediately after the first workout. And the more you exercise, the more benefits you start getting from the process. The same applies to affirmations. Numerous studies, such as “The Psychology of Change: Self-Affirmation and Social Psychological Intervention” by Cohen and Sherman, have found links between affirmations and better self-identity.
Affirmations may not help you deal with severe health problems or material issues. Affirmations alone won’t make you rich or change your physical appearance, and they’re not a replacement for professional mental health services. But they can help you fight anxiety and concerns related to low self-worth and help you start thinking positively, understand your best qualities, stop judging yourself for mistakes, and believe in your abilities. Moreover, as our mental well-being is closely tied to our physical health, affirmations may even reduce symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, or pain.
To help you get started using affirmations for self-worth, here’s a list of examples you can use to improve the way you see yourself and the world around you:
70 Affirmations for Self-Worth
- I am just as worthy as anyone else.
- I believe I have a bright future.
- I deserve to be loved, happy, and to enjoy my life.
- I am grateful for my past, happy with my present, and looking forward to my future.
- I’m a good employee, and I deserve to take some time off to relax.
- I am surrounded by people I love, and they love me back.
- I am grateful for my body, and I like how it looks.
- I am not obligated to agree with everything others ask me to do.
- I can and should say “no” without any excuses when I want to.
- I have a right to my own opinion, and it doesn’t have to align with anyone else’s.
- I am a good person, and I don’t need to prove it to anyone.
- I am a great friend, and my friends know it.
- I am beautiful, with all my unique traits, regardless of someone else’s opinion.
- I deserve to feel pleasure in life.
- I am at peace with my past failures and mistakes.
- I am enough, and I don’t need to change.
- I am capable of great things and have the strength, resources, and skills to achieve my goals.
- I am comfortable in my own body and mind.
- I am living a great life that is full of adventures.
- I accept myself and everyone around me.
- I grow and learn every day, adapting to new circumstances.
- I become a better person every day.
- I never stop learning: from my own mistakes and the mistakes of others.
- The world is a fantastic place, and I am blessed to be here today.
- I am intelligent and fun, and people like talking to me.
- I deserve to speak up when I see injustice.
- I am loved unconditionally.
- I forgive myself and others for hurting me.
- I contribute wonderful things to this world, even if they are small.
- I am a kind person, and I care about others.
- I strive to do my best every day, and that’s enough.
- I love myself more each day.
- I am my best friend.
- I feel support from my family and friends in anything I do.
- My opinion is important, and people genuinely care about it.
- I am unstoppable in achieving my goals.
- I am worthy, and my worth isn’t affected by someone else’s opinion.
- I am beautiful the way I am, and I don’t have to compare myself to anyone.
- Every day, I am getting closer to my dreams.
- I am unique the way I am, and I don’t need to act like someone else to impress people.
- I am strong and can stand up for myself and others when needed.
- I am creative, and I have unique ideas. My work deserves recognition.
- I am grateful to nature for my beauty, intelligence, and talents.
- I am one-of-a-kind, and no one can replace me.
- I deserve to prioritize myself over anyone else.
- My past actions don’t define me today, and I can change my future.
- I am powerful enough to achieve my goals, and I don’t have to beat myself up to work hard.
- I can deal with any situation; just take one day at a time.
- I don’t regret my past actions, as regret won’t help me move further. So instead, I accept them as a lesson.
- I am successful, and my success is defined by my progress, not just the result.
- No one is as hard on me as I am. I don’t have to be so critical, and I’m allowed to make mistakes.
- I can set boundaries, and I don’t have to come up with excuses.
- I can make this world better.
- My success depends on my effort, not solely on my natural talent.
- I am strong, healthy, and my body works just like it should.
- I deserve to love my body today, not only after I lose weight.
- I don’t feel ashamed about my unique traits.
- My mind is a friend to my body, not a bully.
- I live my life right now, and I don’t have to wait until I reach my goal to enjoy it.
- My wishes and needs matter and I will fulfill them without guilt.
- I am happy with the person I am, and I don’t regret any stage of my development.
- I deserve to care for myself.
- I am listening to my body, and I give it what it needs.
- I accept my weaknesses and fears, and I am capable of fighting them.
- I can try new things, and I don’t have to get the best results every time.
- I am following the right path in life.
- My earnings don’t define my worth.
- I approve of myself, and that’s the only approval I need.
- My mistakes don’t make me a bad person.
- The only limits I have are the ones I set for myself. As a result, I am free from boundaries and can live my life to the fullest.
How to Use Affirmations for Self-Worth
It’s important to use affirmations effectively to get the best results. Your confidence in the process and persistence will significantly affect what you get out of it. Also, your affirmations should support your real-life experience. For instance, you won’t believe the statement “I’m a great driver” if you don’t have a driver’s license. But you can tell yourself, “I’m capable of becoming a great driver” instead.
For many people, affirmations are the most effective when used in the morning. After waking up, our brain is clear from daily worries and anxiety and is open to positive thoughts. So start by waking up, taking some deep breaths, and saying your first affirmation aloud. Then, repeat your affirmation multiple times a day while thinking about your main objective. When you’re done with your affirmations, take some more deep breaths.
While the affirmations for self-worth provided in our guide are suitable for most people struggling with low self-esteem, custom statements written personally by you are often even more powerful.
Begin with the statement “I am.” This will give your brain a strong impulse, connecting the statement with your situation. Make sure to write in the present tense. Think of your goals, objectives, and purpose in life. Your affirmations should align with your main objective and help you become a better version of yourself. Lastly, keep it realistic. You should genuinely believe what you’re writing to better adjust to your positive statements.
Final Thoughts on Affirmations for Self-Worth
Affirmations are a powerful tool for improving self-worth, but only if you believe in the process. The most effective affirmations for self-worth are ones you write for yourself while listening to your mind and body. If you’d like to learn more about creating and using affirmations, consider checking out our guide on using this practice to the fullest.
Finally, if you want a simple tool to record and recite these affirmations, then check out these 13 affirmations apps that help you create a positive mindset.