There’s value in patting yourself (and your friends) on the back. Positive affirmations are short statements that can help brighten your outlook on the world when you say them to yourself regularly—like every morning when you first wake up—or write them down in a journal before you go to sleep each night.
While affirmations are no substitute for professional help (such as therapy) when you're experiencing anxiety or depression, those who swear by the power of uplifting language do find that daily affirmations increase their self-esteem and improves their mental wellness overall. In short: If you're looking to form better mental health habits, this is a great—and free—place to start.
What's more, positive affirmations may help boost your overall health, too. Studies support the idea that the words we choose matter: Powerful short quotes—or mantras, if you will—can help you combat stress and increase the neural pathways in your brain. Other research suggests that saying or writing them down may foster a deeper sense of belonging in school for students, leading to improved grades. Really, everyone from kids and teens to men and women can benefit.
And while you can certainly dream up your own uniquely inspiring phrases to say every day, our list of hopeful quotes include the wise words of beloved authors such as Toni Morrison, Elizabeth Gilbert, Maya Angelou, and of course, Oprah. So, before those negative thoughts creep in, consider giving one of these 40 positive affirmations a try.
1
Louise Hay
"I am in the right place at the right time, doing the right thing," late self-help author and positive affirmations queen Louise Hay wrote in her book You Can Heal Your Life.
2
Thích Nhất Hạnh
These grounding words come from Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thích Nhất Hạnh's book Stepping into Freedom: An Introduction to Buddhist Monastic Training: "Conscious breathing is my anchor."
3
Ram Dass
Ram Dass, an American spiritual teacher, psychologist, and author, wrote "You are loved just for being who you are, just for existing" in his book Be Love Now.
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4
Oprah
"The chance to love and be loved exists no matter where you are," Oprah wrote in the February 2004 issue of O, the Oprah Magazine.
5
Brené Brown
Author, academic and vulnerability expert Brené Brown shared this sentiment in her 2013 bestseller Daring Greatly.
6
Yrsa Daley-Ward
"Make way for the unprecedented and watch your reality rearrange yourself," poet Yrsa Daley-Ward wrote in this inspirational Instagram post.
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7
Heather Havrilesky
Until April 2021, Heather Havrilesky was also known as "Polly," doling out wisdom in The Cut's "Ask Polly" advice column. "Open your heart and drink in the glorious day" comes from her advice book How to Be a Person in the World.
8
Michelle Obama
"Am I good enough? Yes I am," wrote former First Lady Michelle Obama in her New York Times bestselling memoir Becoming.
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10
Audre Lord
“I am deliberate and afraid of nothing," wrote the prominent American poet and activist in The Collected Poems of Audre Lorde.
11
Tim Storey
"Your life is about to be incredible," Storey told Oprah during a 2018 SuperSoul Conversations interview.
12
Fred Rogers
"Who you are inside is what helps you make and do everything in life," wrote the beloved PBS series host in his book The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember.
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13
Glenn Close
"Your perspective is unique. It’s important and it counts,” said the Emmy, Tony and Golden Globe award-winning actress in her 2019 William & Mary commencement speech.
14
Ernest Hemingway
"Every day above earth is a good day," Hemingway wrote in The Old Man and the Sea.
15
Maya Angelou
"Nothing can dim the light that shines from within," the revered author and poet said.
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16
Eleanor Roosevelt
"You must do the things you think you cannot do," Roosevelt said, according to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
18
Oprah
In the March 2010 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine, Lady O wrote, “Good riddance to decisions that don't support self-care, self-value, and self-worth."
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19
Muhammad Ali
The late American boxing champion posted this sentiment on Twitter, echoing the iconic words Ali delivered before his 1964 world title fight against Sonny Liston. "I am the greatest. I said that even before I knew I was."
20
Jenny Han
“I say looking on the bright side of life never killed anybody," wrote the New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I've Loved Before, which inspired the popular Netflix movie.
Jonathan Borge
Senior Editor
As the Senior Editor of OprahMag.com, I'm a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing our entertainment coverage (we cover TV shows like The Politician and Big Brother, movies such as J.Lo's Hustlers and Lena Waithe's Queen and Slim), features, news items, and— as her number one fan—all of Lady Gaga's whereabouts. I proudly edit Coming Out, a series where LGBTQ+ change-makers reflect on self-acceptance. And I edit our Weird or Wellness series, which I highly recommend you read on the weekend. Prior to O, I began my career in the fashion department at Marie Claire, and eventually moved on to InStyle, where I dabbled in social media and covered events such as the Grammys, Toronto International Film Festival, and New York Fashion Week. A native of Miami, I received my journalism degree from the University of Miami. One time, Rosario Dawson complimented my hair and asked to touch it. I let her.
