Affirmations for Self-Worth

Why They Sometimes Feel Helpful, and Sometimes Don’t

My Complicated Relationship with Affirmations

I’ll be honest: I’ve never been a big believer in affirmations. Once, I heard someone compare them to “putting whipped cream on garbage,” and I couldn’t help but agree. Repeating a nice phrase over and over didn’t magically make it feel true for me. I wanted to understand what was underneath the words, not just cover it with something positive.

That’s why I’ve explored books like The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest, tools like Intelligent Change’s Shadow Self cards, and even experimented with Marisa Peer’s Rapid Transformation Therapy. These were parts of my own exploration, not a checklist everyone needs to follow. Over time, affirmations started to feel more meaningful alongside honest reflection.

For me, reflection, therapy, and programs like Sarah Lambert’s Evolve helped me explore how I saw myself. After that, words of self-worth felt less like empty frosting and more like reminders of what I was practising. That’s my experience, and it’s okay if your starting point looks different.

If you’d like to explore other perspectives, these resources discuss self-affirmation: the American Psychological Association, Psychology Today, and ScienceAlert. What I can speak to personally is how reflection has changed the way I use affirmations in my own life.

How I Turn Reflection Into Affirmation as a Founder

For me, affirmations started to feel more useful when I paired them with reflection. Journaling gave me a place to notice the beliefs I was repeating and ask whether they still fit. Instead of forcing a phrase I didn’t believe, I could look for language that felt honest enough to practise.

As founders, we’re constantly processing ideas, doubts, and decisions. For me, reflection helps make those thoughts visible, and affirmations can become supportive reminders rather than demands to feel positive.

Here’s the framework I use:

1. Get Curious About What’s Underneath

Before choosing an affirmation, I ask what I’m actually telling myself. Is it “I’m not ready,” “I’m behind,” or “Everyone else knows more than me”? Journaling gives me space to notice the story without immediately judging it. You don’t have to resolve every doubt before you begin; start by listening.

2. Choose Words You Can Honestly Work With

I choose language that feels personal and supportive. Jen Sincero’s “I love money and money loves me” resonated with me, even though I’m still working on fully embodying it. If a phrase feels too far away, I can soften it. “I’m learning to trust myself” might feel more honest today than “I’m completely confident.”

3. Make Room for a Daily Reminder

I write affirmations in my journal and place reminders where I’ll see them, on mirror notes, planner pages, or stickers. Then I ask what one small action would support the words. The reminder isn’t proof by itself; it’s an invitation to notice how I’m showing up.

I’m also interested in practices that go beyond writing a phrase on the mirror. Tracy Litt’s School of Becoming has been on my radar. Sarah Lambert’s Evolve program, which I joined in fall 2025, helped me reflect on the identity I wanted to grow into. I keep bringing those questions into my daily life. Affirmations now serve as reminders of the growth I’ve noticed and the confidence I’m still building.

Writing Self-Worth Into Your Story

Writing affirmations down gives me something to return to. I can see the words I chose, remember what I was working through, and notice what feels different over time. Some days the affirmation feels close; other days it doesn’t. I can be honest about both.

That’s part of why we created the Female Founders Journal: to give your reflections, wins, and vision a place on the page. You can also explore the Female Founders Journal Deluxe Bundle when you’d like to make reflection a regular part of your day.

Want a little company as you begin? Get my 5-Day Confidence Prompts sent to your inbox, my treat! Bring your pen, your honesty, and a little curiosity about what else might be true. You don’t need to force a breakthrough. Give yourself a moment to recognise what’s working and make room for a little more self-belief.

I know how easy it is to get lost in the swirl of ideas, doubts, and deadlines. Your journal can be somewhere to pause without needing to perform confidence. Start where you are, one reflection at a time.