In the ebb and flow of life, it's common to experience challenges that leave us feeling stressed, worried, and stuck in a negative spiral of thought. These troubling thoughts and emotions can sometimes seem like a constant battle in our minds, one that we [think] we could never win. As negative as it can feel to be trapped in your own head, it can also be the best motivation to start incorporating more mindful practices into your life.
More often than not, the struggles that we face are what typically lead us to explore new ways of seeking relief in order to reverse mental, physical, or emotional “damage”. After teaching yoga for longer than I ever saw coming, I have noticed that the majority of my students began their yoga journey during a time where they felt that they needed a positive change or transformation — not while their life seemed to be going along perfectly.
Affirmations offer surprisingly powerful benefits by gradually transforming how we feel, think, and communicate with ourselves. From the outside, affirmations may seem like inspirational quotes or even generalized positive words and phrases that are intended to trick us into believing in an illusion. Instead, affirmations can actually enhance a realistic, positive outlook on life, without needing to force feed beliefs that are not true or cause any delusional thinking.
When practiced regularly, affirmations can help elevate our internal dialogue, align our energy centers, and bring balance to our lives. If you are looking to add a simple yet impactful practice to your daily routine, this is it — affirmations can be a transformative tool for cultivating a more uplifting mindset and enhancing mental and emotional well-being.
When we practice thinking and speaking intentionally of what it is that we want to feel or experience, we can begin to reprogram our thought patterns, and shift the way we speak to ourselves.
If you happen to wake up feeling stressed with some problem bearing down on you, you can help lower your stress level by changing the tone of your thoughts around the problem you are facing. In order to do this, we first have to slow the momentum of a negative thought down. This is not done by forcing yourself to be positive, but by gradually converting negative thoughts to positive ones.
This one swap won’t fix all of your problems, but with repetition, these positive words can help your nervous system relax a little, and take you out of a fight or flight response. Having a more relaxed frequency will allow your mind to spend less time and energy dwelling on stressful, negative thoughts, and spend more of it visualizing and feeling the vibration of the life you are excited to live.
Keep in mind, these tools that I am about to share with you are not intended to bypass your emotions or downplay your experiences, in any way. They’re intended to help move you in a more desirable direction by establishing new neurological pathways, eliminating negative thought patterns, boosting your self-esteem, and enhancing motivation.
One of my favorite quotes from Lao Tzu explains this idea beautifully when he states, “watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Expanding Beyond “I am” Statements
A common approach is to begin an affirmation with "I am," such as "I am abundant," "I am loved," or "I am safe." While effective, beginning every affirmation with "I am" can actually limit our healing focus exclusively to the root chakra, neglecting the other six, each of which plays a significant role in our overall well-being.
The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is the foundation of our energy system from which all of the other chakras align and it governs our sense of survival and safety. Bringing awareness and healing intention to this chakra is not only stabilizing, but considering the root is the first and most foundational chakra, it naturally affects the state of all the other chakras as well.
The root chakra is a great place to begin focusing your thoughts, but you don’t have to stop there. To create and maintain balance, try incorporating affirmations that target [all] the chakras.
Below, you will find a list of affirmations that speak to all seven chakras, in order from root to crown. Take note of how each of these make you feel when you repeat them, and if there are any that specifically resonate with you. Please feel free to steal these for your own practice or create other variations that are more personal to you.
Root Chakra (I am...)
- "I am abundant."
- "I am loved."
- "I am safe."
Sacral Chakra (I feel...)
- "I feel at peace with my past and embrace healing in the present."
- "I feel balanced and find joy in every moment."
Solar Plexus Chakra (I do...)
- "I do what aligns with my true purpose and follow my path with confidence."
- "I move forward with strength, leaving toxic situations behind."
Heart Chakra (I love...)
- "I love myself unconditionally and cultivate inner peace."
- "I love and attract healthy, supportive relationships into my life."
Throat Chakra (I speak or communicate...)
- "I speak my truth and trust the process of life."
- "I communicate my needs clearly and protect my peace."
Third Eye Chakra (I see...)
- "I see my path clearly and trust my intuition to guide me."
- "I see beyond obstacles and envision a life filled with positive energy."
Crown Chakra (I know...)
- "I know that I am divinely guided and protected on my healing journey."
- "I know that I am connected to a higher wisdom that brings peace and clarity."
Affirmations play a powerful role in shaping how we feel, think, and communicate with ourselves because over time, they have the power to rewire our brain, instill positive beliefs, and create a more nurturing inner dialogue.
By addressing each chakra with specific affirmations, you bring awareness and intention into balancing all seven energy centers in your body, which can help you set intentions in a more well-rounded way and make a significant difference in how you experience life.
As you incorporate these practices into your daily routine, you'll likely find that with repetition, your affirmations will start to take root, elevating the quality of your thoughts and strengthening the connection you have with yourself and the trust that everything is always working out for you.
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