We are the stories we tell ourselves, the thoughts we repeat and constantly think. Talking to ourselves with words that portrays off confidence, self love and trust will allow us to feel into that and feel more confidence, and truly start to believe it (which you should anyway because you’re a boss babe!). But if we constantly talk to ourselves with negative thoughts, for example saying we’re rubbish, ugly, not worthy, fat, etc then we will start to believe that and feel horrible all the time which in turn will change the way we feel about ourselves, and the way we treat others.

A way to overcome this, very easy, way of thinking is by starting your day with positive Morning Mantras, for me personally I know the HUGE difference in saying gratitude every morning, and looking into the mirror and repeating a mantra to myself. Your mindset instantly changes, and over a course of a few weeks, months and then years it will become second nature to speak to yourself that way and believe how truly wonderful you are. Here are a few Mantra options, feel free to switch out words to make them feel more personalised to your goals!

“Affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you change your mood, state of mind, and manifest the change you desire in your life. An affirmation can work because it has the ability to program your mind into believing the stated concept.”

- Ronald Alexander Ph.D, Psychology Today

5 Steps to Make Affirmations More Effective and Powerful

Step 1: Make a list of what you've always thought of as your negative qualities. Include any criticisms others have made of you that you've been holding onto—whether it's something your siblings, parents, or peers used to say about you when you were a child, or what your boss told you in your last annual review. Don't judge if they're accurate, and remember we all have flaws. This is one of the beauties of being human. Simply make a note of them and look for a common theme, such as "I'm unworthy." This will be a great place to start making a shift in your life. When you write out the recurring belief, notice if you are holding on to it anywhere in your body? For example, do you feel tightness or dread in your heart or stomach? Ask yourself if this unwholesome concept is helpful or productive in your life—if not, what would be?

Step 2: Now write an affirmation on the positive aspect of your self-judgment. You may want to use a thesaurus to find more powerful words to beef up your statement. For example, instead of saying, "I'm worthy," you could say, "I'm remarkable and cherished." After you have written your affirmation, ask a close friend to read it to see if they have any suggestions for how to make it stronger.

Step 3: Speak the affirmation out loud for about five minutes three times a day, morning, midday, and evening. An ideal time to do this is when you're putting on your makeup or shaving so that you can look at yourself in the mirror as you repeat the positive statement. Another option that helps to reinforce the new belief and would be easy to do at work is to write out the affirmation several times in a notebook. Notice over time as you write it if your style of writing changes. This could be a clue as to how your mind perceives the new concept. I call this exercise using the mindfulness journal to forward the agenda of the positive affirmation.

Step 4: Anchor the affirmation in your body as you are repeating it by placing your hand on the area that felt uncomfortable when you wrote out the negative belief in Step 1. Also, "breathe" into the affirmation while you are saying or writing it. As you reprogram your mind, you want to move from the concept of the affirmation to a real, positive embodiment of the quality you seek.

Step 5: Get a friend or coach to repeat your affirmation to you. As they are saying, for example, "You are remarkable and cherished," identify this statement as "good mothering" or "good fathering" messages. If you don't have someone whom you feel comfortable asking, then use your reflection in the mirror as the person who is reinforcing the healthy message.

- Ronald Alexander Ph.D, Psychology Today

- Morning Mantras -

I am Grateful

I am grateful. I am grateful. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful to be here. I am grateful for my talents. I am grateful for my dreams. I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for my friends…

I am Beautiful

I am beautiful. I am pure. I am kind. I am real. I am lovable. I am loving. I am beautiful. I am a gift.

I am Powerful

I am powerful. I am capable. I am in control.

I am Becoming

I am becoming. I am becoming who I want to be. I am becoming all that I dream. I am becoming what I deserve to be. I am becoming what I want to be.

Check out this article for health & wellbeing experts favourite mantras to repeat first thing in the morning