Self-esteem can be a tricky beast. We’re all affected by influences outside of our control – social media, magazines, ads, people in our real life. The list goes on and on. A lot of us strive to be more confident, myself included. It’s not an easy task and trutfully, confidence is a work in progress. That’s because we’re always changing, physically and mentally. When you’re feeling down, positive affirmations for self-esteem can help a great deal.
We live in a society that constantly pushes us to “better ourselves,” whatever that means. Life throws things our way and we’re all just trying our best.
Full disclosure, one of the biggest things I’m working on in therapy right now outside of my health anxiety is my self-esteem. I’m learning that I tend to sell myself short and can be my own worst critic. I joke that it’s because I’m a Virgo moon. Shout out to all my Virgo moons out there!
It’s important to give ourselves grace, and accepting ourselves is a big part of that effort. Speaking kindly to ourselves is important, even if it doesn’t always come naturally.
It’s handy to have some positive affirmations for self-esteem you can look at or reference. It may sound cheesy but they help your brain replace language you’re used to hearing in your head. Think of it like a “cheat sheet” your teacher let you use in school for an exam.
With summer coming up soon, we can be EXTRA hard on ourselves. That’s because we’re surrounded by phrases like “Get your summer body ready!” or “Look your best for summer!”
Being Kind To Yourself
One of my favorite podcasts “Twenty Whatever” recently posted an episode about rejecting the “bikini body” narrative. I highly recommend checking it out! To summarize, they talk a lot about showing kindness to yourself in your confidence journey.
The message is relatable and inspired me to write this post. I certainly can’t remember a time I wasn’t hard on my body or appearance. I’d worry about my weight, my hair, the size of my chest, and the roundness of my face. It was particularly rough for me in my mid-20s as my body began to change.
This happens in your 20s of course and is completely natural. After all, you can’t look 18 forever! But it’s not a topic we discuss often. Truthfully, shopping for a bikini would usually end in tears inside the dressing room.
I’m glad we’re having discussions about this more often. Something that’s helping me out lately is “body acceptance.” It’s accepting your body even if you’re not completely satisfied and taking a more neutral stance. We might not always feel great about ourselves because we are only human, but we’re still going to make efforts to respect and care for our bodies regardless.
I hope these positive affirmations for self-esteem are helpful to you. I’ll also be providing some tips at the end of the post about how to make this practice sustainable so that it sticks. Let’s begin!
36 Positive Affirmations for Self-Esteem
I will show kindness to myself today.
I deserve good things in my life.
I give myself permission to feel my emotions.
I’m worthy of being loved.
I surround myself with people who lift me up.
I accept the natural ups and downs of life.
My thoughts do not define me. They come and go in waves.
I am growing and changing each day.
I am the adult that the younger version of myself would feel safe around.
I can do hard things, even if I’m uncomfortable.
I’m strong, even when I’m scared.
I accept my body for what it looks like right now.
I am proud of myself for being here.
My needs are important, too.
I’m good enough, strong enough, brave enough, capable enough, and smart enough. I don’t need to compare myself to others.
I’ll talk to myself like I would a friend.
I deserve to take up space.
I provide value in this conversation.
I deserve the compliments that come my way.
I got through the tough times I thought I wouldn’t.
I deserve respect – from myself and others.
I have a lot of good qualities and things to offer.
I can’t control events that occur to me, but I can control how I respond to them.
I am trying my best.
It’s okay if I’m not feeling okay.
I did a great job!
I allow myself to make mistakes. In fact, mistakes are learning opportunities!
I accept my flaws.
I’m putting my mental and physical health first.
There’s only one me. And that’s pretty cool!
I’m able to face the obstacles of life.
My voice matters. I deserve to be heard and seen.
My friends, family, and colleagues like spending time with me.
I am worthy of recognition. And I will recognize my own achievements!
Perfection doesn’t exist. I don’t need to be “perfect” to love myself for who I am.
The world is a great place because I’m in it.
Tips for Making Positive Affirmations “Stick”
Introducing positive affirmations into your life is a long-term thing. It takes a while until they “stick,” but it’s worth the effort. I’ve been in therapy for years and I’m just now starting to understand the importance of self-talk.
Self-talk is powerful. If you’re used to hearing harsh internal (or external) dialogue, that’s what your mind will continue to create. This is because your brain tries to fill in the gaps where it can. Replacing harsh words with compassionate words will be helpful for your overall mental health. Besides, no one should speak to you unkindly…not even yourself!
Make sure they sound authentic to you.
It’s important that the positive affirmations you say sound natural. I’ll be honest with you – you may roll your eyes at first. I remember cringing the first time I used them. But finding the most authentic and meaningful positive affirmations will help you keep the practice going.
For example, maybe you’re not ready to hear, “I love myself completely” just yet. However, you might be much more receptive to “I’m learning to love myself.” A little twist of wording can make a huge difference.
Next time you catch yourself saying something hurtful, try your best to replace that statement with something more helpful. You’ll feel better in the long run. Eventually, compassionate self-talk will sound more and more natural to you.
Use a printable.
A lot of people like to write their own affirmations. Some prefer to reference them. I created a printable for you to get you started. Try saying these things to yourself a few times a day or when you’re feeling down. See if they make a difference for you! Feel free to adapt or edit them to best suit your needs.
You can find the printable by clicking this link or by scrolling down to the end of the blog post.
Post them somewhere you can see them clearly.
This tip is super important! You know how they say, “out of sight, out of mind”? Well, we want this to stay on your mind! Make sure to stick your list of positive affirmations somewhere you spend time in often. Some good places to keep your list are on your bedroom mirror, at your desk, or on your kitchen fridge. Keep it in your eye view, where you can’t ignore the list.
Personally, I have a bulletin board in my room that I like to decorate. I’ve put affirmations and positive quotes on that board.
The reason I chose that location is because it’s my home desk where I write and play video games. It’s where I have my Stardew Valley cheat sheet, so I know I’ll look at the bulletin board!
Say them out loud if needed.
You know how something seems much realer when you say it out loud? That applies to positive affirmations. You’re putting these statements out there, even if you’re alone in your room. I know it may sound cheesy, but it really does work.
During tough times in the past couple of years, I’ve whispered positive affirmations to myself when I was scared and it made a difference for me. I remember scheduling doctors appointments for the first time in years and positive affirmations helped a lot.
Hearing myself say, “Things will be okay” “You’ll be okay no matter what happens,” “You have a support network,” over and over calmed down my body. I’m not sure if it would have been as effective in my head at that time.
If you find that just thinking the affirmations isn’t impactful enough, see if saying them to yourself changes things. Go ahead and whisper them if you are more comfortable with that!
Schedule a time to practice.
Scheduling a time to say the affirmations might help you stick with them! It’ll be a part of your routine at that point. I recommend putting on an alarm if you find yourself forgetting to use them or feel unmotivated.
Think about all the other things you schedule during the day – meetings, appointments, routine doctor visits, classes, workouts. Tell yourself this practice is just as important!
Think of a time you’re free. Maybe it’s early mornings, evenings after dinner, or right before bed. Sit somewhere comfortable, take a few deep breaths, and recite or think about a few positive affirmations that are relavent to you that day.
Repeat them.
Repetition helps quite a bit when it comes to positive affirmations for self-esteem. Don’t give up if you haven’t noticed a difference in your confidence at first. It takes time! My therapist has reminded me time and time again that I’m undoing years of negative self-talk. It may be a slow process and that is absolutely okay.
Try not too worry or overthink it. There may be some resistance. It’s a normal part of the process!
If you find yourself getting distracted, repeat the affirmation a few times! Eventually, your brain will hear it and process the words. I promise you’ve got this!
Tell others around you positive affirmations!
Think about one of your best friends. I bet you’d say they’re funny, smart, loveable, kind, and an awesome person. Guess what – I’m sure they’d say the exact same thing about you!
It’s terribly jarring when we hear our loved ones say something hurtful about themselves like “I feel useless” or “I’m ugly.” We immediately reject it because it’s not true.
I particularly loved a segement of the “Twenty Whatever” podcast episode that I mentioned earlier. The ladies mention how if any one of them says something mean to themselves, the others will say, “Don’t talk about my friend that way!” Try that next time your friend, partner, or family member says something harsh about themselves.
When I criticize myself, sometimes my husband tells me, “Hey, don’t be mean to yourself!” It stops me in my tracks and has been more helpful than he probably even knows. At first it honestly agitated me, but it made me realize that I need to speak to myself with more compassion.
If you mindfully start telling your loved ones positive affirmations, you’ll start to realize that you deserve the same treatment.
That’s all for my positive affirmations for self-esteem post! I truly hope that it’s given you some useful info and tips. Remember, try not to put pressure on yourself about making sudden changes. Even the littlest changes in your daily life can make a huge difference. And besides, the whole intention behind this practice is showing yourself compassion.
Above all, you deserve kindness and love.
What are some positive affirmations that help you with confidence and self-esteem? Let me know in the comments below and share this post with a friend if you found it helpful!
 
- Try out these calming and cozy hobbies!
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- Make someone’s day with these acts of kindness ideas!
Positive Affirmations for Self-Esteem Printable
I hope you love this!
Nunzia good advice ! Love ma❤️
Thanks Ma!! Love you too! ❤️