In a few recent blogs, I’ve mentioned writing and practicing affirmations. Let’s dive into what affirmations are, why they are important, and how you can begin practicing them on a daily basis.

What is a daily affirmation?

A daily affirmation is a positive statement about what you plan and expect to accomplish. It can be an aspiration about your career, specific relationships, or spiritual development. Ultimately, it is a goal you are seeking to accomplish, phrased in such a way that it is an expectation, not a “someday” hope.

Daily affirmations may also include gratitude statements about everything good in your life, even the small things, such as sunshine, blooming flowers, etc.

What is the purpose of a daily affirmation?

Because affirmations focus on achieving a specific goal, reciting them daily is a way to keep that goal at the front of your mind every day. When you know what your goals are, you will make wiser decisions to achieve them.

Studies show practicing affirmations that include gratitude statements increases happiness levels. Gratitude can make you feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve your health, deal with adversity, and build stronger relationships.

How to write a daily affirmation

The most effective way to write a daily affirmation is to use the SMART method (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound); write your goal specifically and especially with an end time to achieve it.

When writing your daily affirmations, be sure to state it in the present tense, even though you have not yet achieved it. This causes your brain to expect success and therefore work to achieve it.

Here are a couple examples:

• “I am grateful that by January 1, 2022 I will be working for Google as an IT Professional”

• “I am so joyful for when I step on the scale on July 1, 2021 to see I reached my goal weight”

• “I am happy that within 90 days I will run a 10k race and achieve my personal record.”

Do affirmations work?

Daily affirmations serve as a blueprint for the future. Because you are visualizing and describing the goal you are affirming, your brain will strategize how to achieve it; it will develop strategies to overcome any hindrances because it must problem-solve in order to be successful.

Try it yourself

Consider one goal you would like to achieve, then write it down with specificity and an end date. Begin visualizing the moment you achieve it, how you will feel, where you will be, etc. Then affirm it, following a similar format as the examples above. Continue to affirm it every day—then watch as your actions change to get you headed toward success!