119 Affirmations For Self-Empowerment & Self Love to Boost Self-Esteem

Self empowerment affirmations are a proven way¹ to increase feelings of wellbeing, and while the idea of them may feel awkward, the fact is that they’re a powerful tool in the pursuit of inner peace². Learn about how to use empowering affirmations of self love, plus discover a list of powerful quotes about self worth which can also be used as positive self love affirmations.

Using Self Empowerment Affirmations to Develop High Self-Esteem

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If you want to establish a healthier relationship with yourself, practicing self empowerment affirmations can be immensely beneficial. They are a great way to help you to feel validated, simply by increasing your self-belief. For anybody with a lack of self-love, self-worth and self-compassion, that’s huge.

Do Self Love Affirmations Work?

‘Self love’ is one of those icky terms that is too often considered either pseudo-scientific waffle, or selfish. But contrary to that popular belief it’s a really important thing which is vital to our wellbeing and personal development, and it can do wonders for low self-esteem, which is something that so many people are afflicted with.

Prioritising our own needs is not selfish, it’s self-care.

Everybody deserves a peaceful and fulfilling quality of life and daily affirmations of self love are great things which can help you to reach your full contented potential.

And by the way, there’s a solid reason I buy into this: there is a well-established psychological theory³ which explains exactly how and why affirmations work. It’s not woo woo nonsense – it’s science.

What is a Positive Self Affirmation?

Affirmations are simply positive statements, mantras, or short phrases which challenge negative self talk. And there’s empirical evidence supporting the idea of using affirmations for self-love as great resources to boost mental health and self-esteem.

Essentially, the theory is that using these positive mantras as affirmations strengthens our integrity and self-efficacy (our belief in our perceived ability to adapt and respond flexibly) for the best outcomes. It’s about:

1. Accepting our limitations with compassion, and seeing ourselves as inherently valuable in spite of them;
2. Defining success in a range of different ways, with a focus on principles and integrity;
3. Viewing ourselves positively not for our strengths or talents, but for our efforts to live in ways that align with out personal core values.

Using carefully crafted present tense positive affirmations is an excellent research-backed way to boost self confidence. If you want to know more about the science behind how affirmations work, read this post about manifesting affirmations which breaks it down further.

What is Self Love?

Self love is one of those tricky concepts that is both revered and disdained. On the one hand it’s considered a basic human need, in terms of self-worth. Yet on the other it’s often thought of as conceited or narcissistic. The truth is, it’s about balance. 

Defined as ‘regard for one’s own wellbeing and happiness’, we all deserve a degree of self love in our lives, insomuch as we shouldn’t have to live with negative emotions associated with low levels of self-esteem, self-confidence, or self-worth. Neither should we sacrifice our own needs in order to meet others’ demands or expectations. 

Prioritising our own needs is not selfish, it’s self-care.

In that sense, affirmations are an amazing tool that can be life-changing on your self-love journey – not in circumstances, but in our experiences of the world.

For as long as there is any element of us that is lacking love, we will forever sabotage our own efforts for living harmoniously.

How Do You Fill Yourself With Self Love and Empowerment?

Here are some ways to practice self love:

• Setting healthy boundaries with others,
• Making time for self-care,
• Journaling,
• And specifically journaling for self-love,
• Forgiving yourself,
• Spending time on things that bring you joy,
• Challenging negative thoughts about yourself,
• Getting comfortable saying ‘no’,
• Trusting your instincts and intuition,
• Making pleasure a priority in your life,
• Accepting your flaws,
• Positive self talk,
• Refusing to be a people pleaser,
• Building time into your week for exercise and rest,
• Getting enough sleep,
• Eating well,
• Working through difficult feelings,
• Being as kind to yourself as you would be a friend.

Why is Self Love and Empowerment Important to Your Wellbeing?

Self love underpins our day to day happiness and joy, and lays the foundations for living a meaningful and contented life. Until we are truly accepting of and comfortable in our own skin, bodies and inside our own heads, we cannot fully experience happiness and peace.

For as long as there is any element of us that is lacking love, unhelpful thoughts will forever sabotage our own efforts for living harmoniously and experience bad days that could – and should – be good ones.

Why Is It Necessary to Actively Work on Self Love?

Unfortunately, today’s world with its commercialised self doubt and low self esteem means we’re surrounded by cues that encourage negative beliefs and self talk. Much of it comes from social media, but it’s also learned behaviour. 

It’s common in most homes to see and hear parents criticising their appearance, for example. Likewise if they’re clumsy, they become a klutz, and so on.

The good news is that learned behaviour can be unlearned.

Calling ourselves names is so normal that we don’t even notice when we do it, but the negative effect is detrimental to our own self-worth – and it rubs off on those watching too. It’s the reason I refuse to mention my appearance in front of my children, I’m so conscious of making them disproportionately focused on something which should be inconsequential.

Sadly, it’s big business to keep people from feeling their best, particularly around body image: for every thing you lack, that’s another product you can be sold. And keeping people in that negative mindset of believing we need to become a better person whilst pedalling solutions is all too easy.

So, most of us are inadvertently ‘taught’ how to be unkind to ourselves, and then that mindset is encouraged and reinforced. 

Media and commercialism have a lot to answer for.

How Do I Affirm My Self Worth?

But you do not have to buy into that.

The good news is that by rewiring our subconscious mind, learned behaviour can be unlearned.

You can make the decision to be wise to the negative and harmful messages you’re exposed to, and interrupt them using new powerful thought patterns.

By using daily self love affirmations to bring positive energy into your life to become your own best advocate, directing unconditional love to your inner self and developing a more positive outlook as a result.

How to Use Positive Daily Affirmations

Speaking affirmations out loud is a compelling way to make them ‘stick’.

Depending on your level of comfort with the idea of affirmations, you can practice in a few different ways:

1. Reciting daily affirmations

Say your affirmations to yourself at a regular time each day so that it becomes habit. Perhaps in front of a mirror as you’re getting ready in the morning, while you’re driving to work, cooking dinner, or while you’re working out.

You might like to use affirmation cards to help you.

Buy here

Speaking affirmations out loud is a compelling way to make them ‘stick’.

2. Creating positive mantras

Similar to reciting them, you can turn your affirmations into personal mantras during meditation or yoga practice. Take a deep breath and tune into the words as you speak or chant them.

The most important aspect of using affirmations is always that you are consciously engaged with the process, so that you feel the words and believe them.

3. Journaling

As ever, journaling is my go-to and personal comfort zone. Plus writing is a powerful way to absorb, assimilate, and embrace your affirmations.

This is also ideal for anyone who feels too awkward to recite affirmations out loud, and so may be a good starting point for those new to affirmations. Why not take inspiration from below and try writing your own affirmations?

Check out these planner quotes to add to your journal pages and get your free printable!

How Many Affirmations Should I Say a Day?

This is subjective; it’s about doing what works for you, and the best scenario is a daily routine that you’re able to maintain regularly so it becomes a healthy habit.

What are the most powerful affirmations? The ones that work for you.

As a rule of thumb, I’d recommend selecting three to five affirmations which speak to you, and repeating them for three to five minutes, three to five times, on a daily basis.

See how you respond after a couple of weeks of this, to help you decide whether you’re ready to move on to adding some more or using completely new affirmations.

If it’s helpful you could write or print the affirmations onto flashcards or sticky notes, and arrange them around your bedroom mirror, by your desk, or anywhere else suitable. This is beneficial for several reasons:

1. The act of writing out the affirmations is powerful in itself;
2. A visual cue will make it easier to remember your affirmations while you’re learning them;
3. Regular visual exposure to your affirmations for self love will help to reinforce them;
4. If audibly chanting your affirmations or journaling is not your thing, reading them over and over is next best option.

What Are the Most Powerful Affirmations?

I’m quite particular about the affirmations I use in my daily life.

It’s important that the affirmations you use feel relevant, and appropriate to your circumstances and belief system. While they may not be entirely comfortable to begin with, they should be ideas you want for yourself and aspire to, concepts you can believe in so that you can say or write them with conviction.

And keep in mind that you don’t need to save affirmations for difficult times – use them regularly to get maximum benefit from them.

What Are Some Affirmations For Self Love?

The following 86 basic self-empowerment affirmations are carefully curated with the above in mind, to help reduce negative self-talk and increase self-esteem and self-worth beyond your wildest dreams!

I’ve also included an additional 33 inspiring quotes at the end.

Let’s get started…

Try These 119 Powerful Self-Love Affirmations

‘I am’ affirmations for self empowerment and self love are some of the most are some of the most effective since they assert and affirm a belief in and about your current state.

I Am Affirmations For Self-Empowerment and Self-Love

1. I am worthy of love and kindness.
2. I am grateful for the wonderful and good things in my life.
3. I am strong and resilient.
4. I am at peace with my appearance.
5. I am capable of reaching my goals.
6. I am beautiful inside and out.
7. I am valued and valuable.
8. I am allowed to say no.
9. I am doing my best.
10. I am learning and growing.
11. I am full of vitality.
12. I am proud of myself.
13. I am unafraid of my feelings.
14. I am optimistic and positive.
15. I am allowed to create healthy boundaries.
16. I am worthy of my dreams and desires.
17. I am a friend to and an advocate for myself.
18. I am compassionate to myself and others.
19. I am not my mistakes or flaws.
20. I am open to receiving love.
21. I am growing wiser every day.
22. I am a wonderful friend to others. (You might also be interested in these affirmations about friendship.
23. I am a good person.

Few (if any) things are more vital to wellbeing than self-worth. These self love affirmations for low self-worth will help you to practice self-compassion and self-acceptance.

Self-Loving Affirmations For Self Worth

24. I deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
25. I accept my whole self.
26. I forgive myself for my mistakes.
27. I respect my limitations with grace.
28. I choose to expect the best for myself.
29. I allow myself to feel deeply and openly.
30. I allow myself to enjoy my body in all ways.
31. Happiness is a choice I make.
32. I deserve rest.
33. I deserve peace and happiness.
34. I matter.
35. I reject all feelings of shame.
36. I love and appreciate my body for all it does.
37. My mind, body, and soul deserve love and respect.

Empowering Self Love Affirmations For Self Acceptance and Self Compassion

38. I reject self-pity and embrace self-compassion.
39. I have a lot to offer.
40. I choose to stop apologising for being me.
41. I give myself permission to cease being weighed down by my regrets.
42. Today I start being kinder to myself.
43. I nourish my body, because it is serves me well and deserves my kindness and respect.
44. I accept and believe compliments.
45. I deserve to feel good in my own skin.
46. I accept myself with compassion, perceived flaws and all.
47. My mind deserves to be stretched and challenged.
48. I prioritise myself and my needs.
49. I love and respect every part of myself.
50. I cherish myself; mind, body, and soul.
51. I deserve and treat myself with the same kindness as I would a friend.
52. I let go of that which no longer serves me.
53. I deserve beautiful friendships which I value.

Affirmations for self-esteem are very powerful when it comes to increasing confidence and starting to have kinder beliefs about yourself.

Self Love Affirmations For Self Esteem

54. I believe in myself.
55. My goal is progress, not perfection.
56. I let go of my past.
57. I work hard and deserve success.
58. I trust in myself.
59. I have the power to change my world.
60. I shine bright with awe and wonder.
61. Life does not have to perfect to be beautiful.
62. I make a positive difference in the world.
63. Happiness is found within.
64. I have so much to celebrate.
65. I deflect negativity.
66. My past neither determines nor defines my future.
67. I trust in my ability to overcome challenges.
68. I forgive others with compassion.
69. I learn from my mistakes.
70. I embrace positive thoughts.
71. My mistakes are learning opportunities.
72. It’s never too late to change.
73. I choose balance and peace.
74. I will keep trying.
75. The only approval I need is my own.
76. I trust my intuition.
77. I do not need the validation of others.
78. I love my own company.
79. I have achieved wonderful things.
80. My life is full of beautiful experiences.

For those who take an interest in law of attraction, you may like to try these affirmations too:

Self Empowerment Affirmations For Manifesting Success

81. I am the author of my own destiny and today I choose to have a phenomenal day.
82. I can improve my experience of life using the power of my thoughts.
83. My natural state is one of positivity and joy.
84. I choose my own definition of success.
85. I am in charge of my own manifestation abilities.
86. I raise my vibrational frequency with positivity and gratitude.

Enjoy these quotes about self worth, which can also be used as affirmations if you wish.

…And 33 Self-Love Quotes You Can Use As Affirmations

Self-love is not selfish; you cannot truly love another until you know how to love yourself.

Unknown

Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.

Anna Taylor

Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.

Brené Brown

Why should we worry about what others think of us, do we have more confidence in their opinions than we do our own?

Brigham Young

There’s no need to be perfect to inspire others. Let others get inspired by how you deal with your imperfections.

Ziad K. Abdelnour

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

Buddha

Eat like you love yourself. Move like you love yourself. Speak like you love yourself. Act like your love yourself. Love yourself.

Tara Stiles

You were born to be real, not to be perfect.

Ralph Marston

If you’re searching for that one person that will change your life, take a look in the mirror.

Unknown

More Quotes About Self Worth

One day i woke up and realised I was not made for anyone, I was made for me. I am my own.

Unknown

The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.

Maya Angelou

In order to love who you are, you cannot hate the experiences that shaped you.

Andrea Dykstra

Falling in love with yourself first doesn’t make you vain or selfish. It makes you indestructible.

Unknown

Remind yourself that you cannot fail at being yourself.

Dr Wayne W. Dyer

The real difficulty is to overcome how you think about yourself.

Eleanor Roosevelt

When I accept myself just as I am, i am freed from the burden of needing you to accept me.

Dr Steve Maraboli

There is no sense in punishing your future for the mistakes of your past. Forgive yourself, grow from it, and then let it go.

Melanie Koulouris

The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.

Mark Twain

We can’t be so desperate for love that we forget where we can always find it; within.

Alexandra Elle

Your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship you have.

Robert Holden

Self love. It doesn’t mean that everyone will treat you the way you deserve to be treated. It means that you won’t let them change the way you see yourself; nor will you stick around for them to destroy you.

Tony A. Gaskins Jr.

If you don’t love yourself, nobody will. Not only that, you won’t be good at loving anyone else. Loving starts with the self.

Dr Wayne W. Dyer

A healthy self-love means we have no compulsion to justify to ourselves or others why we take vacations, why we sleep late, why we buy new shoes, why we spoil ourselves from time to time. We feel comfortable doing things which add quality and beauty to life.

Andrew Matthews

Demonstrate love by giving it, unconditionally, to yourself. And as you do, you will attract others into your life who will love you without conditions.

Paul Ferrini

When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life.

Jean Shinoda Bolen

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list every single day and the rest will fall into place.

Unknown

Be proud of who you are, and not ashamed of how someone else sees you.

Unknown

Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I am not looking to escape my darkness, I’m learning to love myself here.

Rune Lazuli

You’re a work of art. Not everyone will understand you, but the ones who do, will never forget about you.

Unknown

Remember, you have been criticising yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.

Louise Hay

Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.

Pema Chodron

Now Use These Daily Self Loving Affirmations to Live the Life You Deserve!

Your mind will always believe everything you tell it. Feed it faith, feed it truth, feed it love.

Unknown

Practicing these affirmations regularly in your preferred technique will, over time, create a healthier mindset, and ultimately lead to positive changes. Make it a habit, and you will literally rewire your brain⁴ to be kinder and more self loving. This is the power of affirmations.

You may also like these tips for taking professional female headshots for your business.

Sources

1. Christopher N. Cascio, Matthew Brook O’Donnell, Francis J. Tinney, Matthew D. Lieberman, Shelley E. Taylor, Victor J. Strecher, Emily B. Falk, Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation, Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Volume 11, Issue 4, April 2016, Pages 621–629, https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsv136.
2. Falk EB, O’Donnell MB, Cascio CN, Tinney F, Kang Y, Lieberman MD, Taylor SE, An L, Resnicow K, Strecher VJ. Self-affirmation alters the brain’s response to health messages and subsequent behavior change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2015 Feb 17;112(7):1977-82. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1500247112. Epub 2015 Feb 2. PMID: 25646442; PMCID: PMC4343089. PMCID: PMC4343089.
3. Psychology Research and Reference; Self-Affirmation Theory.
4. Cascio CN, O’Donnell MB, Tinney FJ, Lieberman MD, Taylor SE, Strecher VJ, Falk EB. Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2016 Apr;11(4):621-9. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsv136. Epub 2015 Nov 5. PMID: 26541373; PMCID: PMC4814782.