Pro Tips Link Copied 07.27.23

35 Daily Affirmations for Whatever You’re Going Through

Be the hype you want to see in the world. ByOludara Adeeyo, LCSW

Shutterstock / Wondermind

Whether or not you’ve practiced affirmations before, you’ve probably heard about how these short (usually positive, sometimes neutral) phrases are supposed to do wonders for your mental health. As a mental health pro and affirmations stan (seriously, I wrote a whole book on them, y’all), I’m here to tell you this mental fitness exercise has many benefits, and it’s worth making daily affirmations a regular part of your wellness routine. 

Daily affirmations can help you get into a headspace that’s ready to tackle whatever’s bugging you or offer some validation, confidence, and encouragement to yourself, which we all need every now and then. Regularly overcome with road rage on your daily commute? Great time for a level headed affirmation like, “These jerks’ failure to signal will not make me drive like a fool in response.” Tired of your roommate’s passive-aggressiveness? An affirmation like, “I deserve to live in a peaceful home with someone who respects me,” can help get you through while you scour every Facebook housing group at night. You get the point. 

That said, affirmations aren’t a magic wand you can wave to fix all your problems or make serious conditions like depression *poof* and disappear. Affirmations are just one tool in your mental health toolkit, and you still have to take care of yourself in other ways by doing things like going to the doctor, surrounding yourself with good people, or using other healthy coping tricks for dealing with the sucky parts of life. 

Of course, the affirmation that’ll be best for you depends on your current mood and whatever you’re facing. To make your life a little easier, here are 35 daily affirmations for some big emotions you might be feeling, from sad and lonely to stuck and even happy. Feel free to take any of these and repeat them to yourself in the mirror, at your desk, or in your car. You can even write them down in your Notes app or journal if saying them aloud feels weird. Bon appétit!

For anyone feeling extra lonely. 

Being alone and feeling lonely are two different things—one is just a fact or circumstance, and the other can be an uncomfortable feeling to sit with. Not only can loneliness make you feel isolated from your friends, family, co-workers, or the rest of the world, but it can also make you feel like you have to do this thing called life all on your own. Needless to say, that’s not a fun way to live or feel. If you’re struggling with loneliness, whether you’re surrounded by people or not, use these affirmations to help you push through this time and open yourself up to new or deeper social links. 

1. My feelings of loneliness will pass.
2. There are people in my life who want to support me.
3. I am open to building new connections with others.
4. The power to create strong and healthy relationships is within me.
5. I can find peace in the midst of my loneliness.

For anyone who’s feeling gloomy. 

Raise your hand if you’d rather be happy than sad. Yep, I thought so. As much as we might try to hack our feelings, sadness is part of being human and dealing with tough experiences, like losing a loved one, moving away, and even watching Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again—again. But even though it’s normal, that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. Sadness can make you feel utterly exhausted and like you can’t bother to seek out the light at the end of this dark tunnel. It can even cloud your head with negative thoughts, which also makes it difficult to connect to positive emotions or actions, like laughing at your bestie’s jokes. While pulling yourself out of a sad patch may take some mental elbow grease, these affirmations can help you get through your sadness and put things into perspective when needed. 

1. I am allowed to feel sad.
2. Being open with others about feeling sad makes me stronger.
3. I am doing my best to manage my sadness.
4. My sadness does not define me; it encourages me to take care of myself.
5. I choose not to believe the lies of sadness, and I know each day is a fresh start.

For anyone who’s honestly about to lose it. 

Whether you’re a hotheaded fire sign or are just mad at yourself, someone else, or a crappy situation, it’s important to know that anger is a secondary emotion. Basically, there are usually other feelings or circumstances that are fanning the flames of anger, like when you’re hangry because you just need a snack. Of course, getting to the bottom of those other emotions can be tough too, so as you work on pinpointing what you’re really mad about (free tips here!), use these affirmations to de-escalate your mood and get more curious about why you’re feeling this way.

1. There is nothing wrong with feeling angry.
2. I am open to what my anger is trying to tell me about myself.
3. My anger does not always have to result in a strong reaction.
4. I inhale in peace and exhale anger.
5. How I choose to express my anger is my responsibility.

For anyone who’s actually loving life right now. 

I mean, is there anything better than walking through life, feeling like you have Pharrell’s “Happy” playing on a loop in your mind? When you’re happy, you’re much more likely to savor the joys of life and feel better about yourself and your place in the world. But since life is filled with ups and downs, sometimes, you may get suspicious of your happiness—waiting for something bad to happen. To get ahead of that anxiety, practice these affirmations and keep the good vibes going. 

1. I deserve to live a happy and healthy life.
2. I no longer wait for something bad to ruin my happiness.
3. I am allowed to prioritize my happiness.
4. I create my own version of happiness every day. 
5. I choose to let go of the things that no longer make me happy.

For anyone who’s dealing with negative self-talk. 

As much as we might hate to admit it, we all feel insecure from time to time. Even the people on Instagram you hate follow for their seemingly perfect lives struggle with confidence! If you’ve ever battled self-esteem issues, you know that insecurities can lead to constant comparison, hurting other people, and feeling like you can’t live the life you want. Because we all—yup, you too!—deserve to feel better than that, here are a few confidence-boosting affirmations to help pick your self-esteem up off the floor. 

1. I am proud of who I am becoming.
2. My “failures” don’t define me.
3. I have the ability to accomplish anything I want.
4. My insecurities do not define my self-worth
5. I have compassion for the insecure version of myself.

For anyone who needs a stress ball STAT. 

Most of us are stressed AF on a regular basis. From dealing with job searches to trying to squeeze in some daily mindful movement to having to schedule your own doctor’s appointments because your mom says you’re an adult now (rude)—it’s a lot. And along with that stress often comes anxiety and overwhelm. When you’re in this frazzled state of mind, it’s so easy to think that these pesky feelings will last forever, but please take my professional word for it: They won’t. Like all feelings, stress can fade away. So the next time you find yourself stressed out and thinking this is just what you have to deal with until the end of time, take a deep breath and repeat one of these affirmations.

1. I always make it through these tough moments.
2. I will not allow what is stressing me out to ruin my entire day.
3. I am choosing to focus on things that bring me peace.
4. I give myself permission to release my anxious thoughts.
5. I trust that I will be able to move past all of this stress.

For anyone who could use some change. 

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your current situation or mood, you know how frustrating it can be to want better (or, at the very least, different) for yourself but not be able to get there right away. In these moments, it can help to get specific about what you really want and what’s best for you to reignite your motivation. Plus, having that guiding light, it makes it easier to identify what concrete steps you actually need to take to make a change. To help you navigate the range of thoughts and emotions that often accompany feeling stuck, keep these handy. 

1. Choosing to start over does not mean that I have failed.
2. I owe it to myself to discover what I am passionate about.
3. My life choices only need to make sense to me.
4. There is no rush in figuring out how to move forward with my life.
5. I trust that the things that are aligned with me will find me.