Set the Tone For a Good Day Using One (or All) of These Positive Affirmations

The morning is an important time for your mental health. Without powerful daily affirmations to quell anxiety and soothe the unconscious mind, it's easy to slide further and further down the rabbit hole (especially if you're not naturally a morning person). Many of us are inundated with a heavy news cycle, daily stressors, and a looming pile of responsibilities, which can make that a.m. alarm feel more daunting than encouraging. It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed, but the good news is that tools like positive affirmations can have a seriously beneficial impact on your mental health.

In essence, daily affirmations are short statements meant to be spoken until your mind starts to subconsciously believe them. Once the messages are internalized, you can begin to manifest them into existence. Tell yourself you attract positivity, and see yourself start to believe it. Give your goals enough mental energy, and watch them become part of your reality. It may seem like a long shot, but morning affirmations have the potential to limit negativity, improve self-esteem, and positively shift your mindset in the long run. Affirmations can also assist with anxiety, make you feel more empowered, or just help you get through the day (even if you don't believe every word right away).

Dr. Angele Close, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified mindfulness meditation teacher with a background in psychotherapy.

Positive affirmations are encouraging phrases that work to relieve stress through repetition. By allowing your mind to become familiar with a certain feeling or emotion, you're setting good intentions and making it easier to access positive energy. "Shifting our mental attention towards our intention has the potential to help us steer away from negative thinking patterns and create a positive change in mood, mindset, and energy," Dr. Angele Close, PhD, a clinical psychologist and therapist, previously explained to PS. Repeat enough positive affirmations, and you can train your brain to alter its own perspective, turning a "bad" day into a relatively good one.

Starting your day with a positive outlook is also an effective way to cope with anxiety and stress. You can use morning affirmations to enhance productivity, confidence, or any area of your life that could use a shift in mental perspective. "Where goals tend to be concrete and achievable outcomes, affirmations are better used as evoking experiences and shifts in being," Dr. Close clarified, although both can be useful. Even if you're a bit skeptical as to whether or not positive self affirmations work, the psychology makes us think they're definitely worth a shot. Try positive affirmations instead of resolutions this year, and see what a tangible difference they make. Read on for 32 positive affirmations specifically intended to improve your mental health, reduce anxiety, and empower you to be the best you can be.

Haley Lyndes was an assistant editor for PS Shopping where she found and tested the best home, beauty, and fashion products. She is a graduate of Northern Vermont University and has nearly five years of experience in both written and broadcast journalism.

Chandler Plante is an assistant editor for PS Health & Fitness. Previously, she worked as an editorial assistant for People magazine and contributed to Ladygunn, Millie, and Bustle Digital Group. In her free time, she overshares on the internet, creating content about chronic illness, beauty, and disability.

Jade Esmeralda, MS, CSCS, is a Staff Writer, Health & Fitness. A life-long martial artist and dancer, Jade has a strong passion for strength & conditioning, sports science, and human performance. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Exercise Science and Strength and Conditioning from George Washington University.