Affirmations are short, positive statements that can be repeated mentally or out loud in order to shift one’s focus.

When you are ruminating over something that happened or something that may happen in the future, repeating an affirmation is a way to bring you into the present moment and out of that toxic thought process.

I like to have a few go-to affirmations to repeat during difficult times that are short and simple but POWERFUL!

Here are my top affirmations for a happy, healthy life:

1. I can do hard things

This mantra is inspired by the words of Glennon Doyle Melton. I love that it doesn’t sugarcoat life’s hardships – it acknowledges that they exist – but reminds us that we can get through them!

When I’m facing something difficult, I like to remind myself that I can do it, even if it is tough. I am strong, resilient, and even when I feel uncomfortable, I can make it through.

Discomfort is not going to hurt me. It may not feel desirable, but it will not last. It is there to help me grow.

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2. I trust myself

Self-doubt. That little monster in your mind that tells you you can’t do it. The one that keeps you from believing in your own abilities. The one that makes you sell yourself short. We all deal with that little monster!

But, as stated above, we can do hard things. We are capable of so much more than we know. We just have to trust in our abilities, talents, and skills.

In moments of self-doubt, I sometimes I look back at things I’ve done in the past and say “how the heck did I ever do that!?” But I did!

And so when I start to feel like I can’t do something that’s coming up in the future, I tell myself that one day, I’ll be looking back on that event and saying the same thing!

Having a chronic illness that causes wavering and unpredictable energy levels, trusting myself, my body, and my abilities is that much harder. But as I have healed (read about what healing with a chronic illness means to me here), I have learned how much my body can handle and how far I can push myself.

I’ve realized that I can often do more than I give myself credit for!

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3. I trust the timing of my life.

Sometimes it feels like life is moving way too slowly…Especially when we’re waiting for something to happen!

Whether that’s a graduation, getting a new job, finding a significant other, etc. we often want things RIGHT NOW (which is partially human nature, and partially the instant gratification society we live in).

As hard as it can be, I try to trust that things are happening in divine timing. If something I want isn’t happening right now, it’s because it’s not meant for me right now.

A personal example – college felt like it took forever for me (in reality, it took 6 years to graduate). Due to health issues, I kept having to take time off or take a reduced course load, therefore lengthening the amount of time I spent in school.

I kept wishing that things would move faster, that I would graduate sooner, etc. But it turns out that everything happens in divine timing! If I hadn’t graduated when I did, I probably never would have spent the summer on Nantucket or gotten the job I have now.

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4. All I need to know is revealed to me in perfect timing.

This one is a bit more heady, but very powerful.

I often find myself questioning WHY something happened or why things went the way they did. I want to find a clear root cause. I want to know exactly what lesson I’m supposed to learn from a hardship.

But oftentimes, we don’t receive clarity for years to come. In the meantime, we must trust that we will receive the clarity, learn the lesson, and gain the knowledge exactly when we are supposed to.

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5. What’s meant for me will not miss me.

This one is actually an excerpt from a quote by Al-Shafi’i. I find it incredibly comforting to bask in the knowledge that the things that are meant to happen to me, the people I am meant to meet, the lessons I am meant to learn – they will not miss me. They will occur exactly when and how they are supposed to.

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6. I am enough. I have enough. I do enough.

Society is all about more.

It tells you that if you’re not busy, you’re wrong. Nothing you do is ever enough. No matter how high you climb, there’s still further you can move up the ladder.

It tells you that more is always better. More money, more followers, more gadgets, more, more, more .

This type of thinking socializes us into having a scarcity mindset. It makes us believe that we aren’t doing enough and we don’t have enough, and therefore, we ourselves aren’t enough!

But in reality, we’re all doing out best everyday. And your “best” may change day to day, but your best is ALWAYS enough.

When I’m feeling inadequate – I remind myself that I am enough.

When I’m feeling like I need more/new stuff in order to “keep up” – I remind myself that I have enough.

When I’m feeling like I should be doing more/I’m being lazy by resting – I remind myself that I do enough.

But I also like putting the three together for a powerful trilogy to remind me of my adequacy!

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7. My best is enough.

Yup, another affirmation about “enoughness.”

This one is to remind you that as long as you’re doing your best, that’s enough.

You can’t compare what you do to what anyone else does, because we all have different “bests.” We all face different struggles during different seasons of this life, and only you can know if you’re really doing your best. No one else can be the judge of that!

This one also comes with the caveat that your “best” will change day to day. Some days your best might look like just getting out of bed. Others it may look like taking on the world!

But always know that if you’re trying your best, that’s enough.

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8. I am safe and supported.

Whenever I’m feeling anxious or nervous about something, I remind myself that I am safe and supported. I have a home, a job, great family and friends, etc. Whatever your support system looks like, it is there to catch you when you fall.

Despite my problems, hardships, and any obstacles I face, I always have those blessings to fall back on. I do not have to navigate life alone! I am safe and supported.

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9. I am safe in this body.

This is one that I specifically use when I’m feeling panicky and experiencing physical manifestations of anxiety (such as a racing heart, shallow breathing, feeling hot, etc.).

When you have a panic attack, your body enters fight-or-flight mode because it falsely believes you are unsafe. It induces all sorts of uncomfortable symptoms because it is gearing you up to be able to run away from the danger or fight it off.

But even if anxiety is making your body feel turbulent and unstable, it doesn’t mean that you are unsafe! So I try to remember that despite how awful it may feel sometimes, I am safe in my body.

(Read more: “5 Ways to Deal With Panic Attacks“).

This body-focused affirmation could also be helpful for someone dealing with body image issues or an eating disorder. These issues often make your body feel like an unsafe place to live, and remembering that you are safe in your shell is so important.

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10. I am the architect of my own life.

I figured I’d end on a universally beneficial affirmation. Everyone can benefit from a reminder that they are the architect of their own lives.

Your life is in your hands. What you decide to do with it is up to you!

*Side note: we are all dealt different hands in this life and have to deal with varying hardships. Additionally, there are systems in place in our society that grant privilege to certain groups of people and oppress others. The “isms” that these systems create (racism, sexism, ableism, etc.) make it more difficult to be in control of your life. This affirmation is not meant to overlook or discount any of these systems of privilege, but rather to simply inspire one to take their life into their own hands.

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These are 10 affirmations that really resonate and work for me and my specific issues and insecurities. I hope that they will help you as well, but if one or more does not resonate, please feel free to come up with your own and adopt them into your life!

If you have any favorite affirmations, make sure to let me know in the comments below: