Self-Esteem and the Impact of Positive Affirmations
How’s your self-esteem? Not in a prideful way, in an honoring way? After all, you are made in the image and likeness of God. (*By the way, you’ll want to read to the end to see exactly how to use the Word of God to remind you of this–your Scripture affirmations.) I firmly believe that the words you speak and the thoughts you think about yourself build your self-esteem and set the tone for the life you want to live. They can be the foundation you build a life you love, or they can keep you stuck and apathetic to your own life. The thoughts you think and the words you speak to yourself become your affirmations and represent the truths you declare about yourself daily.
What Is Your Truth?
What is your truth? An infamous question mirroring Pilate’s question to our Lord in the Bible. I mentioned affirmations above, so what is an affirmation? An affirmation is defined as a statement that affirms something as true. Therefore, our daily affirmations are the defined truths we recognize about ourselves. The question is: What do you tell yourself about yourself daily?
And self-esteem can be defined as “a person’s overall sense of self-worth or personal value.” Using that definition, the question is, how do you evaluate your self-worth or personal value? Is it based on your possessions, relationships, or appearance? The car you drive, the school your children attend, the neighborhood you live in, your hobbies, or even the clothes you wear? The truth is, building your self-worth on any one of those listed above, is like building a house on sand.
The truth is, the stability you’re seeking can only be found by building your identity and your self-esteem on something, or Someone immovable and unchangeable. The Word of God states your true foundation is in Jesus Christ, Ephesians 2:19-20, “So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.”
The Importance of a Solid Foundation
Recent studies in psychology stress the impact positive affirmations can have on our mental and emotional health. Published research in the Psychological Science journal states affirmations can enhance well-being by reducing stress and fostering resilience. What would your life look like if you believed you weren’t stressed and you were resilient? I love it when science catches up with the Word! Pair this scientific information with the truth of Scripture stating you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and you have the beginnings of some powerful Scriptural affirmations!
When you affirm your value and worth based on God’s truth as opposed to societal standards, you build a sturdy foundation for your self-esteem. Instead of asking, “What do I have?” you can begin asking “Who does God say I am?”
Writing Your Daily Affirmations
I love using the Scriptures to compose my daily affirmations:
- I am loved unconditionally. (Romans 5:8)
- I am created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:27)
- I am chosen and called for a purpose. (1 Peter 2:9)
- I am worthy of grace and forgiveness. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
A Call to Action
As you begin your journey learning who you are in Christ, remember, this isn’t hard! It’s just new! I would love to come alongside you as your guide; someone who has already done the work and is living the results. You are ready for one-on-one Christian Life Coaching sessions with me! Let’s do the work to uncover the truths that define you and practice daily affirmations rooted in God’s Word.
I promise that once you stop listening to the noise of the world, trying to tell you who you are, and you begin to embrace your identity in Christ, you will begin to see your life differently!
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