If you’re new to the concept of affirmations for body positivity, or affirmations in general, it may seem like a hippy concept. Saying nice things about yourself every day? What’s that going to do? It turns out, more than you may think.

What are positive affirmations?

Let’s start with the basics. Positive Psychology says that positive affirmations are phrases used to “challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts.” You can use these statements in any aspect of your life to boost your confidence or self-esteem, practice self-love, and promote positive body image.

Do affirmations for body positivity work?

Practicing self-affirmations activates the reward center of your brain, making you feel happier and more positive. Self-affirmations can even broaden a person’s perspective and reduce negative emotions. And in a world where one in five adults felt shame about their body in 2019 alone, boosting body image is something we could all benefit from. Consider this, individuals in one study with better positive body image reported less depression, higher self-esteem, fewer unhealthy dieting behaviors, and more.

The takeaway? Cultivating a positive body image goes beyond just being satisfied with your body; it can actually make you a healthier, happier person!

Now, we’re not claiming that saying one phrase will suddenly cure all of your insecurities and make you love yourself (we wish). However, affirmations can be a great way to shift your mindset so that you’re ready to take actions that align with what you want. Besides, out of the 45,000 to 51,000 thoughts per day we average, 80 percent are negative. Affirmations are a great way to help you challenge these negative thoughts. If you’re looking to boost your confidence with affirmations for body positivity, keep reading!

Find body positive affirmations that work for you

An article about affirmations from Healthline points out an extremely important point: not every cookie-cutter affirmation is going to magically make you love your body. You need to focus on choosing the ones that work the best for your specific situation. Maybe you like funnier ones, longer ones, shorter ones - whatever! Even if it feels extremely unnatural at first, over time those phrases will feel more natural to say.

How to use body positive affirmations every day

It can be helpful to set aside time each day to say these affirmations. Maybe you start with setting aside five minutes every morning to say mantras that work for you. Including affirmations in your routine can help it become habitual, and the more you practice self-love, the easier it will be to believe the statements.

Body positive affirmations to try

Here are some examples of body positive affirmations. Remember, if you don’t relate to any of these, find what works for you! Just make sure affirmations are positive and in the present tense. You want to say a statement like it’s already true. For example, “I am confident and happy in my body exactly as it is.” It’s not, “I will be confident…” say it as if it’s already true.

• I am worthy, whole, and complete
• I release my insecurities and grow more comfortable in my own skin
• I am deeply grateful for my body, my health, and my unique talents
• I choose to make peace with my body
• People love to be around me for who I am
• I have a positive impact on the world by being my authentic self
• Eating food gives me the energy to live my life
• My body deserves to be taken care of
• My body is a powerful force of strength, resilience, and perseverance
• My body is allowed to change

Looking for more inspiration? Try looking up self-care and self-love mantras/affirmations. And remember, the right affirmations are the ones that you connect with. Take the time to find ones that make you feel confident.