Positive affirmations These are short, positive, empowering statements that make things happen. They are truisms about yourself or personal changes you’d like to make. To make them work, positive affirmations should be:

1. Rehearsed regularly 

2. Positively Framed in the present

3. Used in the first person — “I” statements

4. Focused on self improvement, rather than compared to others

5. Descriptive, action words that generate emotion and feeling

6. Accurate, realistic and achievable

7. Aimed at developing personal traits, eg concentration, self control, patience etc

8. Focused on eliciting specific behaviours, eg “I manage my time efficiently and effectively now”; “I’m fit and healthy and I really enjoy exercising on a daily basis”; “By setting regular goals and organizing my time I am becoming a more confident student”