10 Positive Affirmations You Need to Hear Ahead of the New Academic Year

The effect prioritising your wellbeing and embracing positive thoughts can have is astounding. Ensuring you have taken care of your wellbeing and have a positive and organised frame of mind before the commencement of the new school year is crucial to getting off to a flying start! Positive affirmations or ‘mantras’ can truly help change your state of mind for the better. Many of us might initially feel sceptical towards the idea of positive affirmations. However, words are powerful and can have a lasting impact. We are all guilty of placing more emphasis on negative words and phrases, often internalising the negative as opposed to the positives. So why do we not place the same significance on positive words and phrases? Positive words and phrases will undoubtedly impact our lives for the better if we internalise them. 

Positive affirmations are loosely defined as statements that can be used to overcome negative thoughts and contribute to leading a more positive life with an improved optimistic outlook. There are no limits to positive affirmations, and they can be used in any aspect of life. Whether that be in your career, your health and fitness or your role as a parent or teacher, positive affirmations can be applicable to just about anything. The overall effect of positive affirmations, when used correctly, is that they help to change thought patterns with the aim of eradicating negative thoughts (which can impact our actions and sense of self). Positive affirmations can silence those negative thoughts we are all guilty of giving too much headspace to. This ultimately leads to increased optimism, resilience and improved self-esteem and confidence.

The options for positive affirmations are endless. It is important to choose positive affirmations which mean something to you and are applicable to your life, your feelings and your actions. There is no point attempting to internalise a positive affirmation that you do not connect with. A quick internet search reveals numerous examples of positive affirmations so you are bound to find some you connect with and which relate to your situation and needs.

 It is important to consider why you need a positive affirmation – what are you aiming for? Think about the pesky negative thoughts you would like to get rid of. Write down things you want to get better at. For example, if you are guilty of being hard on yourself and doubt your ability, you may wish to write down, ‘I will be kind to myself and believe in myself’. This should then transform into a positive affirmation such as, ‘I am doing my best and I can do this’. 

As with most things, you will need practice to internalise positive affirmations. Thinking positively needs to become a habit. Internalising your chosen affirmations can be achieved in a variety of ways such as saying them aloud, writing them down, sticking them in a place you will regularly see it or inputting it as a reminder in your diary. It is important to connect with your chosen affirmations, hence the earlier point of choosing affirmations that matter to you. Attempting to internalise an affirmation you are not entirely connected to is pointless.

Back to School

Returning to school after a 6 week break can be challenging for both teaching staff and pupils. Although excitement and enthusiasm are the main undercurrent, it can be daunting to begin a whole new school year. Here are 10 positive affirmations to remind you how amazing you are ahead of September.

If you are struggling with your wellbeing, then our blogs ‘How Can We Help Ourselves and Others Experiencing Loneliness’ and ‘How Anxiety Can Impact Your Sleep’ are ideal to read next.