What if you could give your confidence a lift simply by changing what you’re listening to?
Sometimes hearing the right words at the right time can shift how you feel and how you approach things. I use affirmations quite a lot when I need to feel more confident or less anxious. If I’m feeling worried about something coming up, I’ll put affirmations on that help me feel more assured in myself, more capable, and more like things are going to work out well.
There is some research around self-affirmation showing small positive effects on wellbeing, although the strongest evidence is around affirming things that actually matter to us rather than repeating statements we don’t believe. That makes sense, because if someone is telling you “I am incredibly successful and everything comes easily to me” while your brain is thinking “no, it doesn’t”, it’s probably not going to have any impact on how you actually feel.
So I’d choose affirmations that feel positive but still believable. If you’re nervous about something, that might be “I trust myself to handle this”, “I know what I’m doing”, “I can deal with whatever comes up”, or “Things can work out well for me”. If you need motivation, choose something that helps you feel more focused and ready to take action. If you’re trying to improve your health, listen to something that supports the way you want to think about looking after yourself.
I’d also be quite picky about the voice you listen to. Find someone who has a voice you like and whose words feel relevant to you. You might prefer a female voice because it feels more relatable, or you might prefer something slower, warmer, more direct, or with an accent. The point is to find something you actually want to hear.
And if an affirmation makes you internally roll your eyes because you don’t believe a word of it, change it. You don’t need to force yourself to believe something. Pick words that feel positive enough to shift your state, but realistic enough that your brain doesn’t immediately reject them.
You can put affirmations on while you’re getting ready in the morning, doing things around the house, working at home, or winding down at night. Just use them when you feel like you need a lift or some reassurance. Even 15 minutes could impact your mood.
