The Importance of Using Affirmations In Midlife

Daily Affirmations are a great way to be mentally kind to yourself. I mean, let’s be honest here - most of us tend to be overly critical of ourselves and under-appreciate the amazing qualities we possess.

Creating a daily habit of using affirmations can help improve mental health and mood.

Today I want to share with you six affirmations every woman should be practicing daily!!

1. Affirmation: I will appreciate myself and others even when I’m having a hard time.

This one is something that a lot of women struggle with. Self-appreciation and the appreciation of others are often treated as entirely separate, but really, they are connected more than we recognize.

We tend to treat others similarly to how we treat ourselves (usually in the heat of the moment). When we fall into episodes of self-negative talk or low self-esteem, that mentality can affect our behavior and how we treat others.

So, instead of allowing it to affect our behavior with others, we must learn to appreciate ourselves and others even on our worst days. You are worthy of kindness, grace, and forgiveness. Being kind to yourself allows you to be fully kind to others.

2. Affirmation: I am a beautiful woman inside and out.

Negative body image is becoming even more common among women in midlife. Women over 40 are not always presented in the media the same way that younger women are, and it can have a serious impact on how we see ourselves in the eyes of others, including our partners.

Instead of feeding into the negative, try focusing on what is naturally beautiful about yourself. Maybe you love your own smile, your eyes, your hands, your kindness to strangers, your green thumb, or those little freckles on your nose that add personality. Whatever YOU define as beautiful, not how social media defines it.

Practicing body positive thinking is a good first step to helping combat negative self talk, low self esteem, belief in one's capabilities, depression, and anxiety. Loving yourself unconditionally just like your love others!

3. Affirmation: I have a growth mindset and am free to reinvent myself anytime.

Sometimes we can get stuck in a slump. A feeling of discontent, boredom, or just plain blah! As much as we strive to achieve success, we can hit plateaus, stages where we feel like we aren’t making progress or achieve anything that will get us to the next level in our careers, and our personal lives. It’s common for women in midlife to count themselves out of the game. Thinking we are too old to move up, too old to try new things - but seriously sis, this is our moment to shine! Our caterpillar to butterfly moment!!

Reminding yourself that you have a growth mindset is especially helpful in this type of situation. When you feel stuck or you’re not sure what next step to take, whether in your career or personal goals, use this affirmation to set yourself up with the right mindset and attitude to help you push through it.

4. Affirmation: I am bigger, stronger, and greater than my fears.

Fear holds so many of us back from dreaming big, trying new things, taking that leap of faith. It’s important to recognize that your fears do not control you, you control them. Reminding yourself that you are greater than your fears is a great way to help you move forward.

5. Affirmation: I am worthy and I am capable.

Self-criticism is one of the biggest contributors to negative self talk. We constantly scrutinize ourselves for not being good enough, smart enough, skinny enough . . . While being aware of our strengths and weaknesses helps us grow, being overly critical can be constructive and damaging to our self confidence and self-esteem.

So instead of criticizing yourself for the things you think you can’t do, highlight the things you can do. This affirmation should be made specific to you. It should emphasize something that YOU take pride in or something that gives YOU joy. 

6. Affirmation: Not every day is perfect, but I’m happy to be alive

Life is not perfect but it’s still good. When times seem overwhelming, it’s important to remember that you have a good life. Think about the things you are grateful for, things/people that make you happy or calm. It could be something as simple as your morning cup of coffee or a rainy day. It could be your family, your children, your partner. It could be your job, your colleagues, the work that you do. Focusing on the things that you appreciate about your life can help lower those feelings of anxiety.

When all else fails and you feel overwhelmed with stress, anxiety, depression, and other negative thinking, practice your affirmations. The more you say it, the more you believe in it, the better you’ll feel.

Affirmations can help you better manage so many of those overwhelming emotions. Be sure to practice the affirmations that work best for YOU. Your mental health is important, so be proactive in supporting it.

What are some affirmations that you can use to help generate positive thinking?