35 Daily Positive Affirmations to Help You Become More Confident and Happy (2024)

These short, powerful quotes and inspirational sayings can help you achieve success, build self-esteem, and develop deeper self-love.

By Shelby Deering
35 Daily Positive Affirmations to Help You Become More Confident and Happy (1)

Life can be really tough. Even though it’s beautiful and lovely much of the time, anxiety, depression, and other life challenges can take a serious toll on our mental wellness and make us feel unworthy, doubtful, and scared. While it’s so easy (and perfectly understandable!) to let our negative thoughts take over, reciting these daily positive affirmations can help lift us up and make us feel more confident, successful, healthier, and happier.

These inspirational sayings and short quotes — from self-help personalities, global humanitarians, and mental health champions like Oprah Winfrey, Brené Brown, Deepak Chopra, Maya Angelou, and Nelson Mandela — can be written down in a journal or recited first thing in the morning after saying your daily prayers. Another idea: Write a few of these inspiring phrases on a piece of paper and tack them up on your mirror. Better yet, memorize a few of your favorite positive quotes or mental health affirmations from this list and make one of them your very own mantra.

Positive affirmations are for any time and for everyone (from kids and teens to men and women) to learn how to practice self-kindness, reduce stress, and set yourself up for greater success. Studies show that self-affirmation can make a positive impact on your mental wellness, so there's really no downside to giving it a try. No matter the reason you want to start saying daily affirmations today — maybe you're having a bad mental health day or your self-esteem is at an all-time low — this list is bound to serve as a much-needed pick-me-up and lead to positive change.

1

Angela Davis

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“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” Those words were said by the now 80-year-old Angela Davis, who fostered change in the 1970s and beyond as a feminist and activist.

2

Dalai Lama

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In his incredibly popular book, The Art of Happiness, The Dalai Lama wisely wrote, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

3

Oprah Winfrey

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There is never a shortage of “Oprah-isms” to live by, but here’s a positive affirmation shared in a 2018 article: “The answers keep unfolding as your life expands, if you’re willing to see things for what they are — and what they can be.”

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4

Diane von Furstenberg

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As a self-made woman of the 1970s and the inventor of the wrap dress, Diane Von Furstenberg (now a Target designer!) once said, “You are the one that possesses the keys to your being. You carry the passport to your own happiness.”

6

Janelle Monáe

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In the song “Q.U.E.E.N.” by Janelle Monáe, she shares these empowering lyrics: “Even if it makes others uncomfortable, I will love who I am.”

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7

Maya Angelou

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Even though she passed over a decade ago, poet Maya Angelou’s words continue to serve as powerful positive affirmations. In her book Letter to My Daughter, she wrote these beautiful words: “Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud.”

8

Louise Hay

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The late self-help author Louise Hay, who came up with positive affirmations long before they were cool, once wrote, “I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life.”

9

Brené Brown

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Everyone’s favorite self-help author and professor, Brené Brown wrote this quote in her book Daring Greatly: “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”

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10

Beyoncé

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"I don't like to gamble, but if there's one thing I'm willing to bet on, it's myself.” You said it, Beyoncé, the singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur who’s now taking a turn as a country music artist.

11

Malala Yousafzai

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In her book I Am Malala, Malala Yousafzai, the inspiring education advocate and Nobel Peace Prize winner wrote, “Life isn't just about taking in oxygen and giving out carbon dioxide.”

12

Arianna Huffington

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Arianna Huffington, the CEO of Thrive Global and founder of The Huffington Post, wrote in her book Thrive, “Living in a state of gratitude is the gateway to grace.”

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13

Deepak Chopra

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“The most creative act you will ever undertake is the act of creating yourself,” a wise phrase that self-help and alternative medicine advocate Deepak Chopra wrote in his book The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want.

14

Michelle Obama

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At the 2016 Democratic National Convention, First Lady Michelle Obama first shared a phrase that we still love: “When they go low, we go high.”

15

Carl Jung

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The famous psychologist Carl Jung once said these powerful words on self-discovery: “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are."

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16

Serena Williams

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Serena Williams, the queen of tennis turned entrepreneur (with so much chutzpah), is quoted saying, “You have to be fearless to have success."

17

Thích Nhất Hạnh

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The peace-loving Vietnamese Zen master and author Thích Nhất Hạnh wrote, “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it,” in his book Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life.

18

Blake Auden

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Award-winning modern poet and author Blake Auden wrote, “Every now and then, you will fall apart, and maybe that’s okay because you can leave behind those pieces you don’t need when you put yourself back together.”

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19

Ram Dass

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Spiritual teacher and author Ram Dass once shared these words that can pacify those hectic days: “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.”

20

Tara Brach

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“The boundary to what we can accept is the boundary to our freedom.” Psychologist and Buddhist meditation teacher Tara Brach wrote this affirmation in her beloved book Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha.

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Shelby Deering

Shelby Deering is a lifestyle writer who specializes in decor, home tours, wellness, travel, vintage, and feel-good stories for national publications. She’s from Madison, Wisconsin, and when she’s not writing, you’ll find her running local trails, shopping flea markets, or going for walks with her husband and corgi.

35 Daily Positive Affirmations to Help You Become More Confident and Happy (2024)

FAQs

What is the best affirmation for confidence? ›

30 Positive Affirmations for Confidence
  • I am proud of my achievements.
  • I am worthy of reaching my goals.
  • I can deal with whatever life throws at me.
  • I can overcome challenges.
  • I am worthy of what I want.
  • I trust my intuition.
  • My opinion is valuable.
  • I can overcome all roadblocks.
Sep 6, 2023

What are powerful affirmations to say daily? ›

I feel more grateful each day. I am getting healthier every day. Each and every day, I am getting closer to achieving my goals. Through the power of my thoughts and words, incredible transformations are happening in me and within my life right now.

What happens if you listen to positive affirmations everyday? ›

Regular repetition of affirming statements about yourself can encourage your brain to take these positive affirmations as fact. When you truly believe you can do something, your actions often follow. For example, you might replace a negative or anxious thought, like: “I'm so terrible at interviews.

What are positive affirmations for anxiety and self-esteem? ›

10 Affirmations to Boost Self-Confidence
  • I can do anything I set my mind to.
  • I let go of limiting beliefs and choose to trust myself.
  • All I need to succeed is within me.
  • I am enough.
  • I am growing and learning every day.
  • I value myself.
  • It's okay to leave my comfort zone.
  • I deserve to feel good about myself.
Mar 24, 2022

What are the 3 P of affirmations? ›

Some suggest following the 3 P's rule: present tense, personal, and positive. This means that we want the affirmations: 1) to be couched as if they were already happening; 2) to relate to us meaningfully; and 3) to be aspirational.

What top 3 affirmations are you going to start using? ›

3 Affirmations Successful People Repeat Every Day
  • I expect to win. I deserve to win.
  • I will not care what other people think.
  • I can't do everything today, but I can take one small step.
Apr 4, 2016

What is today's daily affirmation? ›

I am growing stronger each day. Today, I will be my authentic self. The world is a better place because I'm in it. I am motivated, focused, and capable.

What is a one word affirmation? ›

This could be an encouraging statement like “Success”, “Joy”, or “Love”, or a word that represents the change you're looking to make, like “Confidence” or “Gratitude”.

How long does it take for positive affirmations to work? ›

How long does it take positive affirmations to work? For me, I honestly saw results within a few days. Very quickly I started nipping negative thoughts in the bud which had a huge impact on my day, my positive and whole outlook. I didn't expect to see results as quickly as I did.

Why 21 days for affirmations? ›

Studies have shown it takes only 21 days for a new habit to take root. If there's a spiritual interest you've always wanted to take advantage of, the answer is just 21 days away with the 21 Days to Mastery series.

Can positive affirmations rewire your brain? ›

Affirmations are positive statements that help you deal with negative feelings, thoughts, and situations. This may sound too simple; repeating the same sentences won't change anything around you. But research shows that positive thinking can rewire your brain, changing the way you feel about things.

Do affirmations work for confidence? ›

Will They Boost Self-Esteem? Affirmations can sometimes be very useful for boosting your self-esteem—but there's a caveat. The most important thing, according to self-affirmation theory, is that your affirmations reflect your core personal values (Cohen & Sherman, 2014).

Can affirmations get rid of anxiety? ›

Affirmations are short, positive statements designed to challenge and weaken negative thoughts and replace them with a sense of confidence and calm. They can be a powerful way to support you in tackling mental health difficulties, particularly anxiety.

How can I have positive thoughts with anxiety? ›

Following are some ways to think and behave in a more positive and optimistic way:
  1. Identify areas to change. ...
  2. Check yourself. ...
  3. Be open to humor. ...
  4. Follow a healthy lifestyle. ...
  5. Surround yourself with positive people. ...
  6. Practice positive self-talk.

How can I boost my confidence fast? ›

Here are seven ways to instantly build your confidence that you can use anytime, anyplace.
  1. Pay attention to your posture. Article continues after video. ...
  2. Smile. ...
  3. Give yourself a pep talk. ...
  4. Think about the worst outcome. ...
  5. Primp. ...
  6. Eat something healthy. ...
  7. Breathe.
Nov 23, 2016

Do affirmations work for self-confidence? ›

Positive affirmations are a self-help method to build self-confidence and attract good things to your life. They are simple statements that shift your mindset from negativity and self-criticism to positivity and focusing on your strengths.

What should I say to boost her confidence? ›

What to Say to Someone With Low Self-Esteem
  • You're pretty. You're beautiful. You're stunning. You're gorgeous. ...
  • Don't be stupid, yes you are.
  • Say something you don't like about yourself.
  • Love yourself.
  • It's ok not to like yourself.
  • Find one tiny thing you like about yourself.
  • It's really just up to you what to tell yourself.
Jan 2, 2015

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