A Positive Mindset: How To Incorporate Positive Affirmations in 2025
Before December 2024, I did not believe in positive affirmations. I did not understand how repeating short sentences could impact my mental health and mood. As a writer, I thought the words I wrote or spoke aloud carried more significance than the fleeting thoughts in my mind.
But in December, my life changed. I started a new role. I commute around 45 minutes each way to work. Starting a new job involves adapting your schedule; commuting is no exception. If you talk to another who drives over 10 minutes to their job, they love to tell you three observations: commuting can be draining, it gives you plenty of time to think, and it’s not ideal to spend the whole time just chatting on the phone. This commentary got me thinking about how to use my time in the car to pass the time and use it wisely.
In 2021, I read David Epstein's book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Epstein argues that success comes from cultivating various skills rather than specializing in one area. Sometimes, it takes years for the lessons you read to resonate truly. Reflecting on how to make the most of my commute, I realized I wanted to start each day feeling confident, capable, and calm. That's when I began researching positive affirmations.
5 Things To Know Positive Affirmations in 2025
What Is A Positive Affirmation?
A positive affirmation is "a positive statement that helps you deal with negative feelings, thoughts, and situations" (Old Dominion University, n.d.). Clinical psychologist CJ Bathgate further elaborates on positive affirmations when she says, "A positive affirmation is a concise, realistic statement that embodies something we value, whether it’s who we want to be or what we want in life ... Our brains are always looking for shortcuts and tend to latch onto thoughts that come up the most or are the most easily accessible" (Santilli, 2022).
How Do Positive Affirmations Impact Mental Health?
Neurons are specialized cells that "send messages all over your body to allow you to do everything from breathing to talking, eating, walking, and thinking" (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, n.d.). Neurons can modify connections "strength and efficacy" through synaptic plasticity (Mateos-Aparicio & Rodríguez-Moreno, 2019). A positive affirmation taps into this response and can help change the architecture of how your brain processes information (Old Dominion University, n.d.).
How can you express your positive affirmations?
There are three ways to express positive affirmations: "Say it in your head to yourself, write or type them out, or say them aloud" (Essence of Healing Counseling LLC, 2025).
Where/When can you do your positive affirmations?
I like to do positive affirmations on my morning drive. It makes me excited to get into the car. Other ideal places for this are the shower, walking, or sitting on the couch. You can say your affirmations any time of day.
3 Rules Of Creating Positive Affirmations
To Keep In Mind While You Create Your Positive Affirmations
A positive affirmation must:
Be in the present tense.
Be in the first person.
Not contain negative words (e.g., "can't," "not," "don't," "anxiety," "fear," "without").
(Essence of Healing Counseling LLC, 2025).
How to Have A Positive Mindset in 2025
The world can feel confounding and overwhelming in 2025. Maintaining a positive mindset is challenging when so much negativity surrounds us. But positive affirmations can help you get your head in the game and face life's challenges. You've got this.
Citations
Old Dominion University. (n.d.). Daily affirmations. Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.odu.edu/equity/civility-month/affirmations
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Brain basics: Life and death of a neuron. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/public-education/brain-basics/brain-basics-life-and-death-neuron
Gillespie, C. (2022, August 10). Positive affirmations: What are they and do they work? Forbes. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.forbes.com/health/mind/positive-affirmations/
Mateos-Aparicio, P., & Rodríguez-Moreno, A. (2019). The Impact of Studying Brain Plasticity. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 13, 66. https://doi.org/10.3389/fncel.2019.00066
Essence of Healing Counseling. (2025). Using positive affirmations to combat anxiety and depression. Retrieved January 11, 2025, from https://www.essenceofhealingcounseling.com/using-positive-affirmations-to-combat-anxiety-and-depression/
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