Self-affirming is more than self-care

As the days go by, we hear the saying more: “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.”

The practice of self affirming proves this saying according to psychologist Lauren Alexander, who goes more into depth about how positive affirmations can help you believe in yourself and what you’re capable of.

19 year old Unna Burns has used self affirmations herself to recover from a severe head injury that happened to her when she was 16 years old. 

Leading up to her sophomore year of high school, Unna attended her friend Jordan’s birthday party on August 16, 2016 just outside of Chicago, Illinois. After the cops were called and the group of teens panicked and fled, Unna tripped and fell down the train tracks in town resulting in multiple skull fractures and internal bleeding.

The traumatic incident caused not only physical harm to Unna, but mental harm to her along with her family. 

“Honestly what has helped me the most healing wise has been all the self prophecies I’ve practiced and all the mindfulness therapy practice I’ve gone through.”

Dr. Alexander emphasizes the fact that affirming for positivity can help eliminate self-doubt or negativity- which in Unna’s case was highly expected when it comes to returning to sports or schooling. 

“I was told to write everything I want to accomplish with my head and my healing on post-it notes and post them all throughout my room so that everyday I could look at them and remind myself and my body what I needed to heal”

Journaling and practicing affirmations are practices we see on social media daily, from influencers or celebrities we look up to. People highlight these habits as a way to take care of themselves or disconnect from the harsh reality of society.

To be honest, it’s one of Gen Z’s most beneficial habits considering the majority of the jobs and pastimes that exist today take place on a screen. 

“To this day I think that’s what healed me the most.”

Research suggests that self-affirming is a way to broaden perspective and lessen the amount of negative emotions, and Unna proves it.

Whether the doubt or negativity be as severe or physical as a head injury, or just a minor doubt in your head, the simple practice can be applied.