Affirmations aren't just for hippies, they're for surviving your day

Let's talk about affirmations. For a long time, I thought they were for people who wore floaty fabrics and spoke about the "universe" a lot.

But turns out, they're actually one of the most powerful tools you have for building up your mental resilience and kicking stress to the curb.

Because let's be honest, we all have those moments. Whether it's a big, scary thing like a live webinar or an ongoing low-level panic about your to-do list, stress has a way of hijacking our brains and making us feel like we're not enough.

The truth is, your brain is wired to keep you safe. It's going to find the danger, and when you're stressed, that danger is often a story you're telling yourself about why you're going to fail. Affirmations are a way to literally rewire those anxious patterns.

Step 1: Meet Your Inner Critic First, we have to get to know the enemy. And the enemy isn't external; it's the voice in your head that whispers, "You're not ready" or "What if you freeze?". My own inner critic loves to tell me I'm too "fibbertijbet" to get anything done. So, before you do anything else, grab a notebook and write down every single negative thought that pops up when you think about your stressful situation. Don't hold back. Get it all out there. This is a crucial step to move away from those beliefs.

Step 2: Flip the Script Now, let's turn that list of self-sabotage into a roadmap for self-belief. For every negative statement, write a positive one that directly counters it. For example, if your inner critic says, "I'm not good enough to do this," your affirmation becomes, " I am capable. I am ready." You can make these affirmations even more powerful by tying them back to times you've succeeded, even if they were small wins.

Remember when you hit "publish" on that blog post you'd been rewriting 10 times? That was an act of courage. Remind yourself of that. If you're struggling to think of anything, phone a friend. They'll have a much clearer view of your strengths than you do.

Think of a few simple phrases to get you through, like: • "I'm feeling stressed, but I will be okay." • "I am doing this, and I will be so proud of myself when it's over." • "I am safe, and I can handle this."

Step 3: Be a Grown-Up About It This isn't magic. Affirmations are a tool, and they work best when you've done the work to back them up. If you're nervous about a presentation, don't just say, "I've got this." Prepare.

Go over every single slide and know your subject backwards and forwards.

If you're worried about going blank, have some notes ready.

And most importantly, remember that it's okay if things aren't perfect. I used to think if I made a mistake, it was the end of the world.

Now I know that a misstep doesn't define me, and it certainly doesn't mean I'm a failure. Perfectionism is just another form of procrastination.

Your goal isn't to be flawless, it's to take action and keep going. So, which part of this process do you need to focus on right now? Is it identifying the negative thoughts, or taking a small, practical step to prepare?