Seeking out positive affirmations is an important self-care routine

The dread associated with widespread quarantine is valid and quite common for multiple reasons. One wonders if part of this fear is rooted in spending time with ourselves – who we might not know so well. Affirmations are truths we tell ourselves, sometimes unconsciously. Positive affirmations are truths that acknowledge our worth. The power of thinking patterns, negative or positive, is undeniable. Using the time in quarantine to establish a health relationship with oneself seems particularly healthy. Therapist Kristen Suleman suggests that our positive affirmations, perhaps pondered as we wake up or just before bed, should enforce value and not stifle the inevitable emotional ups and downs of life.^[1] The fix might seem simple but, the addition of daily positive affirmations is a powerful tool in stress-relief, experts claim. According to a 2013 study, positive affirmations not only reduce physiological stress but also allow for higher performance in problem-solving; a boost of confidence and perception of self-worth seems to have tangible benefits in daily life. The study suggests that especially in academic environments, affirmative self-talk leads to significant improvement.^[2] A 2016 study suggests that positive affirmations are particularly beneficial because they allow for the paving of new thought paths. A possible negative outcome does not seem as daunting because cognitively, one is able to understand the bigger picture. In a moment of social isolation, the available time to focus on establishing one’s personal value system seems valuable to us. External threats are no longer as dire because one trusts they are capable of handling the consequences. The study demonstrated that participants who were affirmed prior to allotted tasks had activated vital parts of their brain that the control group had not: They approached their assignment with higher involvement of “self-processing and valuation systems” and were able to process future outcomes based on their own principles. Less stress, more trust in oneself, and thus, significant clarity enhanced their performance and, subsequently, their lives.^[3]