Affirmations are a beautiful and powerful way to help you shift into a more intentional mindset. Your mind controls your actions, which means repeating and focusing on a specific affirmation can help you gain conscious control of your thoughts which then naturally impact what you do.

Simply put, an affirmation is a short statement you repeat to yourself with the goal of manifesting positive notions, conceptions, and attitudes into your psyche. Saying, thinking, or writing an affirmation to yourself thus becomes your reality.

Consistency is key to practicing affirmations. Keeping the habit up regularly, if not daily, is essential in order to see optimal results for yourself. It is often recommended to repeat an affirmation for five minutes three times daily: morning, noon, and night. However, there are no strict rules to how you practice affirmations and you are free to make it all your own.

Psychology even backs up the efficacy of using affirmations primarily through what is known as the self-affirmation theory. This theory, originally popularized in the late 1980s by social psychologist Claude Steele, posits that when you self-affirm–or reflect on values personally relevant to you–you are less likely to experience mental distress.

Research has shown that affirmations can indeed have a positive impact on your functional well-being. Likewise, neuroscientific studies conducted via MRI found that the brain’s neural pathways and reward center are increased when using self-affirmations. 

When life feels tough, affirmations are a wonderful way to create a positive mental space. If you are struggling, try any of the following 20 affirmations to uplift your mood.

• I see the light at the end of this tunnel.

• My circumstances do not define who I am.

• I am worthy of allowing my heart to heal.

• I am learning to say “no” to anything that does not serve me.

• My life is blessed and full of abundance.

• All is well with my soul.

• With each breath, I become calm and relaxed.

• I believe in myself and my abilities.

• I am whole and complete just as I am.

• I focus on what I can control and make peace with what I cannot.

• I am grateful for both the blessings and the lessons in my life.

• This feeling is only temporary. It will pass.

• I am open to change and will go with the flow.

• I release the need to blame anyone, including myself.

• I am proud of myself for not giving up.

• I deserve to give myself the same kindness I give to others.

• I am capable of overcoming difficult situations.

• This problem will not break me. I am unbreakable.

• I am stronger than I give myself credit for. 

• I am exactly where I am meant to be in my life.

While affirmations are not designed to be a cure-all, they are immensely helpful to incorporate into your healing process. You may also write your own affirmations by identifying the issues you face and then writing down the outcome you wish to experience. Use active voice and be specific. No matter how you choose to do it, affirmations can be an efficient tool to harness negative thoughts and push through obstacles in your life.