Affirmations for feeling stuck
For when the days look the same and you can't see the next step. Most of these are about movement: starting small, starting again, keeping promises to yourself.
33 affirmations: 11 thoughts, each in a gentle, steady and bold version. Updated
What are good affirmations for feeling stuck?
Good affirmations for feeling stuck are short and believable, for example "I start, and the rest follows", "My work matters", and "I'm finding my way, one step at a time". 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 can start before I feel ready
- What I do matters to someone
- I don't have to have it all figured out
- I can begin again
- I'm getting better at keeping my word to myself
- I can notice one good thing
- I'm open to new opportunities
- A little at a time still adds up
- I've come further than I think
- I'm allowed to go at my own pace
- I'm a little braver than yesterday
- I start, and the rest follows
- My work matters
- I'm finding my way, one step at a time
- It's not too late for me
- I keep the promises I make to myself
- I notice the good things
- I notice good opportunities
- I'm building something that grows
- I'm proud of how far I've come
- I'm right on time for my own life
- I'm getting braver every day
- I finish what I start
- I make a difference
- I know where I'm going
- My best work is still ahead of me
- When I say I'll do it, I do it
- I find something good in every day
- I say yes to good opportunities
- My income keeps growing
- I've come a long way, and I'm proud of it
- I trust the timing of my life
- I am brave
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
Being stuck often comes with the idea that it's too late, or that you need a full plan first. Sentences like "I can start before I feel ready" and "It's not too late for me" go straight at those two beliefs.
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.