Affirmations for comparing yourself to others
For after scrolling, or when a friend's news makes you feel behind. These bring your attention back to your own pace and your own progress.
27 affirmations: 9 thoughts, each in a gentle, steady and bold version. Updated
What are good affirmations for comparing yourself?
Good affirmations for comparing yourself are short and believable, for example "My worth doesn't depend on anyone's approval", "I'm right on time for my own life", and "I am enough as I am". Say two or three of them out loud, five to ten times each, once a day. If a bold wording feels false, start with the gentle version.
Which version should you say?
Start here if kind words about yourself feel hard to believe.
Plain statements for when the gentle ones already feel true.
For when you believe it and want to say it like you mean it.
- I'm learning not to need everyone's approval
- I'm allowed to go at my own pace
- I'm learning that I'm enough
- I've come further than I think
- It's safe for me to be seen
- There are people who would like me as I am
- I'm learning to be kind to my body
- I have more than I notice
- I'm getting better at what I do
- My worth doesn't depend on anyone's approval
- I'm right on time for my own life
- I am enough as I am
- I'm proud of how far I've come
- I let myself be seen
- I let the right people get close
- I'm grateful for what my body can do
- I have enough
- I'm good at what I do
- I know what I'm worth
- I trust the timing of my life
- I am enough, exactly as I am
- I've come a long way, and I'm proud of it
- I'm proud to be seen as I am
- I'm loved by people who really know me
- I love the body I live in
- I have everything I need
- I'm very good at what I do
Say one out loud now
The free affirmation counter listens in your browser and counts each time you say it.
Why these are worded this way
When you compare, you hold your private doubts up against other people's highlights. "I'm right on time for my own life" and "I've come further than I think" turn your attention back to your own progress, which you can actually see.
How to practise them
- Choose two or three from the list above. Fewer is better than many said half-heartedly.
- Say each one out loud, slowly, five to ten times. Hearing your own voice is part of it.
- Do it at the same time each day, like after brushing your teeth or on your walk to work.
- When a sentence starts to feel natural, switch to its stronger version.
Read more: How Many Times Should You Repeat Affirmations a Day?, Do Affirmations Work? An Honest Look at the Research
Questions
How do I use these affirmations?
Pick two or three that feel true, or nearly true. Say each one out loud five to ten times, slowly, once a day. Morning works well because it sets the tone, but any regular time is fine. Start with the gentle wording if the bold one feels like a lie.
Why are there three versions of each affirmation?
A statement you don't believe can make you feel worse, especially when your self-esteem is low. The gentle version is believable on a hard day, the steady one is a plain statement, and the bold one is for when you're ready. Move up when the current one feels natural.
Is it better to say affirmations out loud?
Saying words out loud helps you remember them better than reading them silently, an effect psychologists call the production effect. It also keeps your attention on the words instead of drifting.
How long until affirmations work?
There's no fixed number of days. Habit research found that a daily behaviour took a median of 66 days to feel automatic. Most people notice the words feel more natural after a few weeks of daily practice.
Let your phone keep count
Mantrify is an iPhone app that reads each affirmation to you, listens while you say it and counts every repetition, so you can practise with your eyes closed. Coming soon.