Increasing Self Esteem with Affirmations

Low self-esteem is often the result of negative messages being absorbed by the subconscious, so supplying your mind with more positive messages can make a powerful difference!

So how do we write and use affirmations to change those messages? Below you’ll find some simple tips to help you write effective affirmations for boosting self-esteem.

1) Always use the present tense, not future. You wouldn’t want to say, “I will learn to love myself” because that makes it sound like you’ll get around to it “one day.” Instead you could say, “I choose to love myself.” The wording of that affirmation does two things: it empowers you with the addition of the words “choose to,” and it puts the time frame in the present moment. The difference is subtle but crucial.
2 Your affirmations must be believable to you. If you tried to say, “I am a wonderful, confident person with a lot to offer,” you may not really believe that, so your subconscious mind might reject it. Instead, try to focus on a process rather than an end result in your affirmations. Say something along the lines of, “I am learning to embrace my uniqueness and share it confidently with others.”

3) Use the right tone. When you recite affirmations, you can do so aloud or just mentally, but you should focus heavily on the tine you use. Rather than saying the words without emotion like you were reading a shopping list – really inject an element of love and enthusiasm into them. Your subconscious mind picks up on the emotional aspect of what you’re saying more than the actual words. Imagine the difference between saying the words, “I really love myself” with a tone of love and compassion, or sarcasm. Which do you think would have a greater impact on your subconscious mind? You can also write down your affirmations, both in a notebook or on post its to stick around your environment and remind you of them often!

4) Repeat often, then repeat some more! Once you’ve got some affirmations formed to work towards boosting self-esteem, try saying them several times a day. Remember, your subconscious mind is constantly playing back old, negative messages – so you want to counteract those as much as possible. Recite positive thoughts on a regular basis - especially when you become aware that you’re thinking negatively about yourself. Write them down, keep a card in your pocket, purse, stuck on your mirror or PC, in your car, wherever you will see them often.

5) Be patient. It will take time to change those old, negative messages in your mind to something more positive. It may take a few days, weeks or even months before you’ll notice an obvious difference in how you feel, and you may be tempted to think it isn’t working. Stick with it, and you will see a difference. Most likely it will be a gradual change. Little by little you’ll start feeling more positive, and notice that you’re feeling happier and lighter. That’s your signal that it’s working!

Using affirmations is just one way of boosting self-esteem, work at this one but also explore other exercises to boost self esteem and self confidence.