Why does it feel so easy to take care of other people, but not ourselves?
We have no problem providing words of encouragement to our friends and family. Yet when we’re the ones struggling and dealing with negative thoughts, it feels difficult to give ourselves that same encouragement.
In this life, no one is going to care about you as much as you need to care about yourself.
And one of the easiest ways to practice self-care is through affirmations. Among the many benefits of affirmations, here’s the primary one — they help you deal with life’s stressors and make you less prone to self-sabotage.
So without further ado, here’s a list of self-care affirmations to help you manage negative thoughts and build a more positive mindset.
Affirmations For Self-Care And Positive Thinking
When you change your thoughts, you change your life.
Okay fair enough, it’s really not that simple. However, thinking positive thoughts makes you more likely to take positive actions. And when you take positive actions, you form new beliefs that move your life forward.
The battle to become your best self starts in your mind. You can never control your mind, but if you can at least manage it, you put yourself in the driver’s seat of your own life.
Here’s a list of self-care affirmations that will help you counter negative thoughts with positive ones.
- I am not my thoughts.
- I’m capable of handling my negative thoughts and taking action in spite of them.
- I can’t always control when I feel stressed, but I can respond to stress in a positive way.
- I practice self-care by accepting all thoughts, positive or negative.
- Taking care of myself is my number one priority.
- Every day I’m becoming more and more cognizant of my irrational mind.
- I’m the only one responsible for my happiness in this life.
- I practice self-care by remaining present.
- I don’t blame myself for my past mistakes, I’m learning from them.
- I’m capable of getting the life that I want.
- I’m surrounded by people who care for me.
- I love my flaws, because they tell me exactly where I should be focusing my energy.
- I’m capable of taking care of myself.
- I believe in the person that I’m becoming.
- I alone control my future.
- I am worthy of the life that I deserve.
- I am evolving into a better version of myself each day.
- I can’t control my thoughts, but I can control my actions.
- I counter positivity with negativity.
- My actions right now can affect my future.
- I choose to let go of what I can’t control.
- I choose to learn from my past instead of letting it wreak havoc on my mind.
- I can’t change the past, so there’s no need for me to worry about it now.
Affirmations For Self-Improvement
Enjoying this list of self-care affirmations? Here’s some affirmations that will keep you headed down the path of self-improvement.
- I’m bettering myself each and every day.
- I’m both a masterpiece and a work in progress.
- I appreciate the opportunity to practice self-care right now.
- Today I will do something for myself.
- I’m happy to be me.
- I welcome and appreciate all of my thoughts and feelings.
- I give myself permission to fail.
- I can make small progress right now.
- My big goals are a product of tiny steps.
- It’s okay that I’m having a bad day, it doesn’t mean I have a bad life.
- I don’t dwell on my mistakes, I learn from them.
- I’m never alone as long as I have myself.
- It’s not selfish for me to prioritize my own self-growth.
- I’m capable of fixing anything that I don’t like about my life.
- I’m patient with myself.
- I will get everything that I deserve if I give myself enough time and work hard.
- The world will not give me the life I want, I have to go take it right now.
Affirmations To Prevent Self-Sabotage
To conclude this list of self-care affirmations, here are some positive phrases that you can use in moments where you’re tempted to self-sabotage.
- Right now is not the time to give into instant gratification, I’m after something bigger.
- If I resist temptation now, I will reap the rewards later.
- My goals are bigger than my desire for short-term rewards.
- My primitive brain wants me to stay the same, I’m not going to listen to it.
- Giving into self-sabotage does not serve my future self.
- My desire to achieve my goals is stronger than my desire for self-sabotage.
- I take a moment to pause and reflect before engaging behaviors that don’t serve me.
- I can’t control my urges, but I can control how I respond to them.
- I’m prioritizing self-care every single day.
- Each time I refuse to give into bad habits, I become stronger.
- I don’t need to listen to my brain all of the time.
- I’m in complete control of my actions at this very moment.
- Every good decision that I make compounds over time.
- My desire to change trumps my desire for short-term pleasure.
- What I do right now determines who I become in the future.
- At present, I am more than capable of choosing growth.
- I feel my best when I prioritize my self-care.
- I won’t always feel my best, but I can always do my best.
- My actions, not my thoughts, determine my future.
Is Affirmations A Form Of Self-Care?
Self-care isn’t just about taking care of your body, it’s about taking care of your mind as well.
In that respect, affirmations are certainly a form of self-care. We live in a world where the mind is easily overwhelmed and prone to doubts of anxiety and depression.
A recent article published in the Lancet found that since the beginning of the pandemic, the prevalence of anxiety disorder and depressive disorder has increased 25.6% and 27.6%, respectively.
Given these findings, it’s never been more important to put habits in place that counter negative thought patterns. If you don’t, these thoughts will keep you from living up to your full potential.
Practicing the self-care affirmations listed above is a great start, but they shouldn’t be used alone. You still need to keep your body healthy through consistent exercise, and instill daily routines that keep you happy and fulfilled.
Positive affirmations just put you in a better position to do these things. (if you’re struggling to get to the gym, then these fitness affirmations may be of use to you).
How To Use These Self-Care Affirmations
In order for these affirmations to be an effective form of self-care, there’s a few guidelines you should consider before implementing them.
Here’s a couple things to keep in mind before practicing self-care affirmations:
Don’t Lie To Yourself
Self-care isn’t the same thing as delusion. Repeating affirmations that are too incongruent with your current identity will do more harm than good.
Use the self-care affirmations above to recognize reality and put a positive spin on it, but don’t ignore it completely.
If you’re feeling anxious and overwhelmed, don’t say things like: “I’m completely free from anxious thoughts.”
Here’s a better alternative: “I accept the fact that I’m having anxious thoughts. I also accept that I can take positive action in spite of them.”
The latter approach is a far more effective way to self-motivate because you’re not running from the truth.
Repeat These Affirmations Consistently
In order for any behavior to create positive change, it needs to be repeated consistently.
Self-care affirmations are no different. Forming new beliefs and rewiring your habitual thought patterns requires disciplined practice.
Here’s the best way to go about doing this:
- Every day, try to use these affirmations in moments where you feel you need them.
- By responding to stress and negativity immediately, you’re reprogramming your automatic responses to these emotions.
- Pick 3-4 of these affirmations that resonate with you and keep them somewhere visible (or just memorize them).
- When you feel yourself ruminating over the past, dreading the future, or self-loathing, practice these affirmations for 30-45 seconds.
If you routinely practice affirmations during times of internal conflict, you’ll gradually find it easier to manage your irrational mind.
Final Thoughts On Self-Care Affirmations
I hope you enjoyed this list of self-care affirmations!
When faced with intrusive thoughts, recite a few of these affirmations to yourself. You’ll find that bringing your rational mind into the conversation will make it easier to deal with stress and negativity.
You May Also Like These Articles:
