I’ve been part of a women’s mastermind group for nine years. We meet weekly on a phone call for an hour to listen to and encourage each other. We have supported each other through cancer, abuse, divorce, marriage, births, and multiple international moves. One of my favorite practices we have often done together is to set intentions and affirmations for ourselves.
Our weekly intentions are short phrases that we workshop together for verbal punch and ease of memory. One of our favorites is, “I easily, gracefully, and peacefully navigate the transitions in my life.” They can be about tackling particular projects or building habits, like “I enjoy writing every day” or “I am a linguist who improves my language skills daily” or “I nourish my body with food.” Sometimes we have set annual intentions as well, such as “I fully accept my worth and value,” as a topic to focus on all year long.
One of our Mastermind retreats last year
We have a regular declaration that one of us reads at the start of each call about the kind of group culture we are building, including commitments like:
“I willingly enter the group from a place of humility, understanding that I truly have more insight to gain than I possess.”
“I am honored to be a part of this group and treat the individuals and the information they share with the utmost respect, confidentiality, and integrity.”
“I commit to vulnerability, helping foster this safe environment of total freedom of thought and word.”
And we discuss the affirmations we repeat to ourselves to foster compassion and love for ourselves, like “All parts of me are welcome.”
Changing the way I talk to and about myself has improved my connection with my body and helped me get to know myself and value myself. (Trauma therapy has also helped immensely.)
So today I want to offer to you some of the affirmations my mastermind group and I have said over the years, hoping they help you make your internal voice more gentle.
Consider saying them out loud. If there are any you particularly like, write them on a note and stick it somewhere you can see it. Repeat it every time you see it. Or even put random appointments in your calendar on your phone with the affirmation in the appointment spot so it pops up to remind you.
As you say them to yourself, note which ones cause you to feel reactive or resistant. Are there any you can’t say? Those will probably be good clues about burdens some of the parts of you are carrying. Which ones challenge painful beliefs you hold about yourself?
Affirmations
I like myself right now
I like who I am becoming
God delights in me
My emotions are valid
All my parts are good and welcome
There is nothing wrong with me
I am not broken
I easily, gracefully, and peacefully navigate the transitions in my life
My words and life have meaning and value
I'm peacefully present in each moment of my day
I easily connect with people near and far
My sense of belonging is joyfully established
I energetically move from frozen to flow
And I’ll conclude with The Body Song that I sing to myself and have taught my kids:
What affirmations would you like to speak to yourself this week? And which ones make you feel resistance?