Words can affirm how you feel about yourself. You may already know this, but this post is about knowing-knowing this, and then learning how to believe it for yourself. Language is crucial to one’s self-image and development. Not just the way in which people use language, but how what is said impacts the ego, the psyche and the subconscious– in other words, words impact our experiences with reality, our way of thinking about our experiences, and the thoughts that subtly affect us without us being immediately aware that we are being influenced.
Practicing positive affirmations regularly can actually help you reframe and change patterns of thought that leave you feeling less than empowered. This is the amazingness of neuroplasticity! Now that we know it is possible to rewire our brains in a positive way, let’s get started with nine positive affirmations that you need to hear on your personal growth journey!
Each Enneagram type has affirmations to make you feel loved, worthy, safe, secure, unique and respected. That being said, just because you are a particular type, doesn’t mean all nine of these can’t make you feel better about yourself. So, read yours, read them all. Through meaningful words (and, actions, too) let us work on loving ourselves and having compassion for others.
What positive affirmations Type 1s can practice: “I am perfect with all of my imperfections.”
As someone who seeks to do things right, you might often feel exhausted from always striving for perfection. You also have a strong inner critic that tends to point out your flaws, mistakes, missteps etc. Recognizing and affirming your inherent value will help you let go of self-doubt, and will aid you in breaking that cycle of picking yourself apart every time you try something new, different, or out of your comfort zone.
You are good and perfect just as you are. And, remember not doing it exactly right the first time, every time is not a failure, rather it shows us that we are humans with endless potential for growth and learning.
Beautiful Type 2s, say this out loud: “I am loved for exactly who I am.”
Your superpower lies in your ability to make others feel loved and cared for. Sometimes, that becomes your growth edge when you spend more time taking care of others than you do yourself. Affirming to yourself that you are loved for who you are, and not for what you do and give to others, is a wonderful way to practice self-compassion. Give it a shot, you most certainly will find that showering yourself with the love you instinctually share with others feels really good.
Type 3, talking to you now. Say it with me: “I am worthy, no matter what I have accomplished.”
The dear Achiever, always striving for the best, smashing goals and being tenacious. How wonderful would it feel to know that you don’t have to push so hard? The 3’s are often referred to as the “human doings”, but this constant on-the-go mindset can lead to burn out. Give yourself space to slow down (I know…) and lean into exactly who you are. Your accomplishments don’t define you. I promise.
Our authentic Type 4, repeat: “I am seen and understood.”
To know you is to know you seek beauty and authenticity in every space. You can take us all to places in our hearts that we have never allowed ourselves to be, and you accept all of that in us. Sometimes, however, you get stuck believing that what makes you, you is unlikeable, unwanted, or even unappreciated. Turning inward and practicing this affirmation for yourself allows you to know with every fiber of who you are that you are in fact seen, understood, beautiful and authentic.
Type 5s, this is for you: “I am grounded in my being.”
As the cerebral Investigator, you spend a lot of time in your head. And it is that part of you that makes you so special. Your analytical ability, however, can lead you to disconnect with your heart and body, two very important parts of ourselves to have connection with. Spending time affirming that it is okay to turn inward and bring all three centers online, will allow you to truly experience life and will show you how your intellect can be applied potently and impactfully.
Ok Type 6, you’re up, this is for you: “I choose to trust my inner guidance.”
The Loyalist. The Skeptic. You keep us all safe with your ability to predict the pitfalls in life. You are able to problem-solve through most anything. However, being someone we can all depend on and trust, can actually become your blind spot, when you don’t trust yourself. In moments of doubt, life and the people in it can start to feel untrustworthy and unsafe, and this is a feeling no one wants to experience.
By practicing believing in yourself and trusting your inner-guidance, it will allow you to balance your growth edge with your sense of liability, making the world around you feel more grounded.
It lights you up to hear this, dear Type 7: “I am content, joyful and curious.”
Let’s be honest – who wouldn’t want to experience life through the lens of the Enthusiast? Through rose-colored glasses, the 7 can see the fun in everything. But leading life with an “everything is awesome” mentality can turn the 7 into someone seeking “the next best thing”, missing what is happening right in front of them. Practicing this affirmation shows the 7 that you can be content in the here and now, you can be present to what is happening in this very moment. And it can be empowering and grounding to acknowledge you are happiest right where you are.
To the powerful Type 8, affirm to yourself: “I am peaceful and calm.”
There is not a single person who doesn’t feel safe in your confident presence, let’s take a moment to sink into what a superpower that is to have! This confidence and power can sometimes lead into a need to always be a voice and presence to be reckoned with. That can also lead others to feel your intensity in ways that are no longer experienced as safe. For you, that also can feel like a lot, prompting stress and fatigue. Your presence is more powerful than your voice most of the time, and so practicing being peaceful and calm allows you to relax into your power that serves us all.
Hey Type 9, proudly exclaim: “I am present in the here and now.”
Despite what you may believe, dear Harmonizer, you deserve to be heard. You deserve to take up space. You deserve to share your inner experience with others. As a Type 9, your exceptional ability to make others feel heard often comes at the expense of your own needs and feelings. You may find yourself prioritizing others’ comfort and validation over your own. It is this experience that the 9 then learns to fall asleep on yourself, becoming self-forgetting.
Affirming your presence in the here and now helps you stay engaged with your experience and creates space for you to recognize that your voice is just as important as your ability to listen to others. So, stand up, stretch your arms up and out, and confidently say this as loudly as you can. You got this!
So, what do I do with what I just read?
Well, glad you asked. Let’s first cover what the difference is between our intention, and our affirmations. Simply put, our intentions are the things we want to do, feel, or be. “I intend to be positive today,” is an example. Or, when you get into a disagreement with someone, you might find yourself saying, “That wasn’t my intention!” An affirmation, on the other hand, is a way of re-programming or reframing what we think is true, versus just how we wish or want things to be. Now, if this were easy to do, I wouldn’t have a job, and we would basically go to therapy once, if even at all, and be “cured.”
Incorporating Positive Affirmations into Your Daily Life
First and foremost, to get into the affirmation space, we have to be present. In the here and now. Why is that important? The past is the past, and we can do nothing to change it, and the future lies ahead of us in a way that we don’t exactly know how it may unfold. Being in the here and now allows you to go within yourself, and just be. Being in the here and now is also another way of practicing gratitude, which leads me to the second part of this exercise.
As we begin the journey of self-love and affirmation, we are building a space to connect with our mind, our heart and our body. Place a hand over your heart, and the other on your belly, and just appreciate all of the things you have experienced and how your body has served you. Every cell in your being is there just for you. Take a moment to appreciate your experience as a human being, for all the storms you have weathered, and how you are still here today, preparing yourself for more growth and learning.
Finally, as you say each encouraging word, imagine telling your little self these affirmations. How meaningful is it for your younger, smaller self to hear these things,? How do these words imprint on you? Allow the affirmations to reflect from little you right into your present mind, heart and body. Believe in them the same way the little version of you would. Remember, language matters. Be kind to yourself, always. You are the only you that you have.
Start your journey of self-love today. Repeat these affirmations daily and let them guide you towards greater confidence, self-acceptance, and inner peace. Join us in our supportive Create Joy community to share your achievements!