It’s simple human nature for negative thoughts and self doubt to flood our minds on a daily basis. Counselors often look for ways to counteract these thoughts and boost student confidence. Positive affirmations are just one easy way to infuse positivity in our classrooms. In fact, self esteem lifting activities are one of my most requested school counselor resources. Positivity helps students make good decisions, deal with stressful situations, and promote health and wellness. Not to mention, it makes room for the developing mind to see the bright side and find confidence within themselves when stress and anxiety seem to take over. In this article, you’ll find 100 positive affirmations that you can pass along to your students, or incorporate into your lesson plans.
How to Use Positive Affirmations for Students
If you work with a younger population of non readers, you can teach them to memorize some of the following affirmations, perhaps once a week, until they nail it. Help them by reading through some of them, being careful to not overwhelm them with too many at once. Watch your students to see which affirmations light them up, then, teach them the phrase they connect with.
Bring some smooth stones to class, for example, and ask students to memorize their favorite affirmation, then choose their favorite stone. Tell your students to carry their stones with them and hold it while repeating their favorite affirmation. Giving them something physical to hold creates an action to connect with the affirmation, thus making it more tangible (and grounding).
On the other hand, if you’re working with a population of students that can read the affirmations on their own, encourage students to read the words both out loud and to themselves (whichever they feel most comfortable doing). Then, ask them to identify which of the positive affirmations speaks to them directly. You can have them paint their own rock with their favorite sayings or choose another creative way to make a keepsake out of these words.
Tip: The affirmations must be relatable for the person reading or reciting them, otherwise, they may have little impact. So never push a certain affirmation on a student in which it does not resonate.
With that, let’s dive into some confidence-boosting positive affirmations for students (and adults!)
100 Positive Affirmations for Students and Staff
I deserve happiness.
I’m worthy of love.
I can choose positive thoughts.
I appreciate each moment without judgment.
I will succeed in life.
I am full of talents.
I will have a fresh start each day.
I can learn from my mistakes.
I trust my gut.
I have an opinion that matters.
I feel joy from simple things.
I am enough.
I have the power to change what doesn’t work for me.
I can find ways to laugh every day.
I have what it takes to be successful.
I respect myself and others.
I can hold my head high when speaking to others.
I find joy within.
I say no without feeling guilty.
I am a good person, even when I have to say no.
I love myself unconditionally.
I forgive myself and others.
I am kind and grateful.
I accept compliments from others.
I try again when I fail.
I never give up.
I accept myself and others.
I am helpful.
I nourish my body with healthy food.
I take care of my body with regular exercise.
I accept the shape of my body.
I allow myself to rest without feeling guilty.
I try new things.
I know that others love me.
I have a lot to give.
I can ignore negative thoughts and focus on the positive.
I am caring.
I am filled with potential.
I protect my emotional, physical, and spiritual wellness.
I control my reactions and the words I choose.
I control who can be my friend.
I control my focus.
I can accept when things don’t go my way.
I can navigate change.
I compromise with others without losing my integrity.
I can find healing energy with deep breathing.
I visualize my success before it happens.
I appreciate the little things in life.
I feel a deep connection to the world.
I choose peace and serenity.
I can respond to hate with love.
I choose happiness.
I am unique and celebrate diversity.
I listen actively to others and respond with care.
I have support from others.
I give more than I take.
I can create beautiful things to share with the world.
I have unique ideas to share.
I filter my thoughts and words with care.
I am not my thoughts.
I have tools within to regulate my emotions.
I focus on my own growth instead of comparing it to others.
I can use grounding techniques when I’m overwhelmed.
I am not defined by others.
I can find sunshine in any situation.
I can do difficult things with extra effort.
I challenge myself to try new things.
I accept my weaknesses and focus on my strengths.
I am a work in progress.
I give to others without neglecting myself.
I learn from criticism without getting angry.
I will never apologize for who I am.
I push myself out of my comfort zone.
I allow myself to express every emotion.
I am not responsible for the mistakes of others.
I compliment others when they do well.
I don’t have room for jealousy.
I feel uplifted by lifting others.
I can set boundaries with others to protect my peace.
I can let go of people who make me feel bad about myself.
I am confident.
I avoid drama and rumors for my own health.
I have the freedom of choice each day.
I look for the good in others and myself.
I take responsibility for my actions without blaming others.
I have goals and an action plan.
I have goals that reflect my desires and beliefs.
I respect the boundaries of others.
I have self-esteem that is not influenced by the opinions of others.
I am kind to others even if they don’t deserve it.
I hold myself accountable for self-care.
I give grace to myself and others.
I accept my emotions without judgment.
I practice self-reflection to become my best self.
I am open to new opinions and ideas from others.
I am at peace with who I am.
I have the power to create happiness around me.
I stand up for my beliefs.
I know my wants and needs and communicate them to others.
I make an impact on the world.
Make Affirmations Readily Available
As an educator, it’s important to make an impact during the school day. So, to get affirmations in front of your students, consider printing out affirmations and posting them in high-traffic areas. Unhelpful thoughts come easy, so it’s important to be intentional about having positive words around the school for them to read. You can also post them in the lounge for students. Grab the faculty affirmations here.
You can also offer printouts of these affirmations or make an activity out of them. For example, students can read through the list and clip their favorites and keep them in their pockets so they can refer to them the moment self-doubt begins to bubble up. The key is to help students make a habit out of positive thinking on a regular basis.
Want more confidence boosting activities? Check out some of my favorites.