37 positive mental health affirmations to improve your mindset

In today's fast-paced and stressful world, it's easy to get caught up in negative self-talk and harmful thought patterns. However, by using positive affirmations, we can reframe our mindset and create more positive inner dialogue.

Here, we provide 37 positive mental health affirmations that you can incorporate into your daily routine. This can help to improve your mental health and wellbeing.

What are affirmations?

Affirmations are short, positive thoughts or statements that you can repeat to yourself in order to reframe your mindset, boost your wellbeing and create a more positive outlook on your day.

Everyone can benefit from using positive affirmations, but they can be especially effective if you’re going through a  lot of negativity in your life.

Affirmations can help you to shift your perspective and focus on the good in your life, rather than getting overwhelmed by negative self-talk. Affirmations are simple to use and can be tailored to suit your own needs and goals. With practice, they can become a powerful tool for improving your wellbeing.

37 positive affirmations for mental health

• I have the strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle
• I trust myself to make decisions that align with my values and goals
• I choose to focus on the positives in my life
• I am deserving of love, respect and healthy relationships
• I am grateful for all the blessings in my life, big and small
• I am constantly growing and learning from my experiences
• I embrace the journey of life and trust that everything happens for a reason
• I choose to  embrace peace and tranquillity
• I am worthy of success in all areas of my life
• I am deserving of healthy and fulfilling relationships with others
• I am confident in my ability to achieve my goals
• I am open to new opportunities that help me grow and evolve
• I choose to  believe in myself
• I am deserving of rest and relaxation to recharge my mind and body
• I am kind and compassionate to myself and others
• I am surrounded by positivity and joy in my life
• I am grateful for my body and treat it with love and care
• I am focused on living a balanced life
• I am deserving of healthy boundaries that honour my needs and wellbeing
• I am committed to my own growth and healing, both physically and emotionally
• I am full of vitality and energy to pursue my passions and dreams
• I trust that the universe has a plan for me and that everything will work out in my favour
• I choose to see the beauty in myself and others
• I am deserving of forgiveness and grace, both from myself and others
• I am surrounded by positive and supportive people who uplift me
• I am worthy of love and connection, and I actively seek out meaningful relationships
• I am deserving of joy, laughter and fun in my life
• I am committed to my own self-care and prioritise it regularly
• I trust that everything is unfolding as it should and the best is yet to come
• My self-worth is not dependent on external validation or approval
• I  embrace compassion and understanding for myself and others
• I am confident in my ability to overcome challenges and emerge stronger and wiser
• Self-care is a priority in my life, and I make time for it regularly
• I am in control of my thoughts and I choose to be positive
• I choose to focus on the present moment and embrace its possibilities
• I focus on what I can control in my life
• I prioritise and embrace the things that bring me joy, infusing my life with positivity and happiness

How to do affirmations

There are no rules when it comes to using positive affirmations. However, to get the most out of them, when and how you use them can help you to maximise how effective they are.

Firstly, choose a time when you’re relaxed and can give your full attention to the affirmation. This might be first thing in the morning, during a quiet moment in the afternoon, or before bed.

It's also important to be consistent with your affirmations – try to do them at the same time each day. Select a few that feel resonate with you on any given day, then repeat each one about 10 times at least once a day (although twice a day is recommended). Each affirmation session might take you 3-5 minutes in total.

Repeat each affirmation out loud or silently in your mind. This might feel strange at first, and that’s OK. If you practise every day, you’ll start to feel more comfortable with the process and get into a routine.

Remember, the more you practice, the more powerful your affirmations will become.

Writing your own affirmations

Over time, you’ll probably become confident enough to create some of your own affirmations. Creating your own can make them more personal to you and help to freshen things up if your existing affirmations are becoming less impactful.

Here are some simple tips for making the most effective positive affirmations:

• Keep it simple: your affirmation should be simple and easy to remember. Aim for a sentence that’s short and to the point
• Use positive language: use positive language to frame your affirmation. Focus on what you want to achieve or experience, rather than what you want to avoid or eliminate
• Be specific: be specific about what you want to achieve with your affirmation. This will help you stay focused on your goals and maintain motivation
• Use the present tense: write your affirmation as if you have already achieved what you are striving for. This can help you embody the positive feelings associated with your goal
• Make it personal: tailor your affirmation to your specific needs and goals. This will help you feel a sense of ownership and connection to your affirmation
• Believe in it: choose an affirmation that resonates with you and that you can believe in. This will help you to maintain a positive mindset and stay committed to the process

Benefits of positive affirmations

According to a study published in the Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience journal, regularly practising affirmations has been shown to:

• Improve mood
• Increase feelings of positivity
• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression

It can also be a catalyst for change. As a meta-analysis in Health Psychology shows, using affirmations can help people to make positive changes when it comes to their health.

By using affirmations in your daily routine, you can start to experience the many benefits of this powerful tool for your mental health and wellbeing.