60 Affirmations to Support Your Recovery

One of the funniest viral videos in recent years features a four-year-old girl, Jessica, standing on the edge of her bathroom sink feeling, as her father posted, “really good about her life” with various affirmations. Not everyone can be that optimistic, especially if we’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or just our overall perspective. But it’s possible that using affirmations to support your recovery can be helpful to your well-being. 

What Are Affirmations? 

Merriam-Webster defines self-affirmations as “the act of affirming one’s own worthiness and value as an individual for beneficial effect (such as increasing one’s confidence or raising self-esteem).” This isn’t a new practice—while this particular term originated in the late-1800s, there are examples throughout ancient cultures of affirmations used in rituals, noted ceremonies, daily mantras, and before battle. 

But the New Thought movement, popularized in America in the early 20th century, really presented affirmations as an essential aspect of health and wellness. The forerunner of this movement was self-help author and speaker Napoleon Hill. In his books The Law of Success and Think and Grow Rich, he detailed the power of positive thinking and believed affirmations fostered success in all aspects of your life. Here’s one of his famous quotes: “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”

How Can Affirmations Help You?

Not everyone uses quotes and affirmations to support goals and affect change. Yet there’s research to suggest that uplifting quotes and affirmations help boost confidence, calm anxiety, relieve stress, and stop negative self-talk, among other things. Positive Psychology also cites numerous studies highlighting other benefits, including “MRI evidence that suggests certain neural pathways are increased when people practice self-affirmation tasks, such as repeating positive affirmations daily.”

Mindtools, a personal and professional development organization, references additional research regarding positive reinforcement: 

• Combined with cognitive behavioral therapy, researchers helped young women reduce levels of depression and negative thinking through techniques such as “thought stopping and affirmations.”
• Another study outlines how self-affirmation helps improve someone’s perspective on self-worth and competence, among other factors.
• Self-affirmation, according to other researchers, helps individuals improve problem-solving skills, even while they’re stressed.

Another Mindtools article cautions that people with self-esteem issues—especially early in recovery—should consider partnering with a therapist first to understand what caused these issues and work on developing a healthier attitude about themselves and the value of their contributions.

60 Affirmations to Support Your Recovery 

The University of Colorado Boulder states that “positive affirmations are typically written as ‘I’ statements. These are often referred to as identity statements, because they allow us to replace negative thoughts with a clear identity that reflects who we are or who we want to be.” Other affirmations are strong declarative statements intended to leave no room for doubt. 

Here are just a few you might want to post on the bathroom mirror, slip into a book, or add to your journal. Try reciting them out loud, too.   

1. I believe in myself and can achieve my goals.
2. I’m exactly where I need to be.
3. All is well in my world.
4. I am strong and have the skills and abilities to handle this difficult situation.
5. I am loved and supported.
6. I am getting healthier every day.
7. I have everything I need to be happy and successful.
8. My past does not define me: I am creating my own story now.
9. I accept myself for who I am and create peace, power, and confidence of mind and of heart.
10. I am worthy of love, respect, and happiness.
11. I release all negativity from my past and present and open myself up to endless possibilities.
12. I am perfect just as I am.
13. Inside me, I feel calm, and nobody can disturb this peacefulness.
14. I accept myself unconditionally.
15. I possess the power to uplift myself.
16. I am confident and ready to start the day.
17. I am desirable.
18. It’s safe to express my thoughts and ideas.
19. I am open to receiving love, abundance, and all good things.
20. I choose thoughts and beliefs that empower me.
21. I am accepting of my uncomfortable feelings.
22. My soul radiates from the inside and warms the souls of others.
23. I am going to forgive myself and free myself. I deserve to forgive and be forgiven.
24. I release all negativity from my past and present and open myself up to endless possibilities.
25. All of my needs are being met, both physically and emotionally.
26. I am not to blame for my abuser’s actions.
27. I am learning more every day, viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth.
28. I am an unstoppable force of nature.
29. I am not defined by my past; I am driven by my future.
30. I am resilient, strong, and brave, and I can’t be destroyed.
31. Every cell in my body is healthy and whole.
32. I am confident and capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.
33. I am constantly growing and evolving into a better person.
34. I am open to receiving love, abundance, and all good things.
35. I trust myself and follow my instincts.
36. I am a living, breathing example of motivation.
37. My mind is clear, focused, and ready to take on whatever comes my way today.
38. I choose positivity, even when negative thoughts try to creep in.
39. I deserve love and respect.
40. I have the ability to develop a growth mindset. 
41. Despite what was done to me, no one can take my soul.
42. I am becoming a better version of myself each day.
43. I am surrounded by people who love and support me unconditionally.
44. I am confident and capable at what I do.
45. I am worthy of a life that feels good to me.
46. Everything is working out for my highest good.
47. I will not be a victim of my circumstances.
48. I am responsible for my own happiness.
49. I am valuable and contribute to the world around me.
50. I am powerful and capable of success.
51. I am a likable person with much to offer.
52. Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better.
53. I am inspiring people through my work.
54. I am in control of my life and my destiny.
55. I create my reality through my thoughts, words, and actions.
56. I am grateful for all the abundance in my life.
57. I am Love. I am Joy. I am at Peace.
58. Today is a phenomenal day.
59. I am abundant in every way: time, energy, money, love, and joy.
60. I am living my best life now.

PsychCentral notes that “repeating affirmations is helpful, but there are ways to make them more effective. When you choose phrases, consider what will help you most in your life right now. Then, you can set a plan and follow it through, continuing to use affirmations for motivation.” You might not notice a difference right away, but be patient. This process is just another aspect of discovery in your newfound wellness. 

Become Your Best Self at Ivory Plains

Our addiction rehabilitation program in Adair, Iowa utilizes an evidence-based approach to help you establish a strong foundation in recovery. In our residential care facility, you’re introduced to new ways of believing in yourself and your future. Contact us today to learn more.