Why an Affirmation Can Help to Change Your Mindset

From Affirmations to Activations

Affirmations aren’t always the first step. I’ve described them as whipped cream on garbage when I’m trying to layer something cute over an issue I haven’t faced. For me, a positive phrase is more useful when I’m also willing to be honest about what’s underneath it.

That doesn’t mean I have to resolve every doubt before I begin. It means I can use affirmations alongside reflection and practical action, rather than asking the words alone to do all the work. Another practice I enjoy? Activations.

I first discovered this idea through fellow Canadian Mimi Bouchard’s book Activate Your Future Self. It’s a regular read for me, a reset button for my mindset. I also use the Activations app, with motivational audio and music that I listen to while journaling, visualizing, winding down, or even cleaning the house. It’s become one of my favourite before-bed and first-thing-in-the-morning practices.

Mindset touches so many areas of entrepreneurship, and affirmations are one way I explore the story I tell myself. If this resonates, you might also enjoy How to Identify a Limiting Belief, How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome, Building Confidence, and Affirmations for Self-Worth. Each explores a different angle of reflecting on your inner dialogue as a founder.

Affirmations as Intentional Thinking

I remember coming across a line from Brooke Castillo that stopped me in my tracks: “You get to choose your thoughts. So why would you choose to think anything that’s not in your favor?”

That hit me because it connects with how I use affirmations. I’m not pretending everything is perfect or forcing myself to believe words that feel untrue. I’m asking whether there’s a more balanced, supportive way to talk to myself.

For me, affirmations became less about “positive thinking” and more about intentional thinking. When I write them in my journal or listen to Activations, I’m making time to notice my self-talk and practise a different response.

Turning Affirmations Into Daily Practice

I find affirmations more useful when I give them a place in my routine. Writing, reflecting, and choosing a small action help me connect the words with what’s actually happening in my day.

That’s why I think of affirmations less as “positive phrases” and more as practices. They’re reminders I can return to when imposter syndrome or self-doubt gets loud, without expecting every difficult thought to disappear.

Here are three ways I bring that practice into my day:

1. Journal Your Affirmations

Write down an affirmation that feels honest enough to work with, then add a real example. If “I’m completely confident” feels too far away, try “I’m learning to trust myself.” What decision did you make today that supports that? The affirmation is an intention; the example is evidence you can revisit.

2. Pair the Words With a Pause

Take a quiet moment to imagine how you’d like to respond to a situation, then choose one small action that fits. For me, visualization is a way to explore possibilities, not a promise that imagining an outcome makes it happen.

3. Explore Guided Audio if You Enjoy It

I enjoy guided audio such as Mimi Bouchard’s Activations app. Listening gives me a prompt to pause and reconnect with my intentions. You might prefer silence, a written reflection, or your own words. Choose a practice that feels supportive rather than another task to get right.

The Space Between Saying and Believing

I remember reading Jen Sincero’s You Are a Badass at Making Money and resonating with her affirmation: “I love money and money loves me.” I’ll admit, I’ve still got subconscious work to do before I can fully embody that. But even acknowledging the gap is part of the growth.

That’s the thing about affirmations: they’re not magic spells. For me, they’re reminders and starting points for reflection. I can notice where the words don’t yet feel true, get curious about why, and choose what I want to practise next.

Expanding Your Mindset, One Reflection at a Time

Confidence, clarity, and resilience are things I keep practising, not a finish line I’ve crossed. Journaling gives me somewhere to do that honestly.

For me, journaling has been more than a habit; it’s been a mirror. I can write down the mindset I’m working towards, then look back at the choices, lessons, and wins along the way. Those examples remind me I’ve already handled more than I sometimes give myself credit for.

That’s why we created the Female Founders Journal: to give you a space to capture reflections, wins, and visions in one place. You can explore the Female Founders Journal Deluxe Bundle when you’re ready to make that space part of your own routine.

Want a little nudge to 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. Start with one reflection and give yourself credit for showing up.

Your next chapter doesn’t need perfect words, just a place to begin.