Affirmations: Reaffirming Oneself

Written by: James Olmos (Mental Health Therapist Trainee)

Affirmations are gifts filled with love. These gifts carry a lot of weight and can lift up a person's mental state of mind. The power of affirmations can lift up an individual in many ways. Examples may include complimenting them for their presence, wisdom, gratitude, or personal strengths. 

One of the most significant affirmations I received was someone simply saying, "You showed up." As someone who battles depression and anxiety, I know the overwhelming urge to expect the worst. Folx dealing with depression and anxiety frequently have to convince themselves to carry all the internal battles they are fighting and still show up. Showing up can be challenging for many people who have been hurt and acknowledging that can be therapeutic. It can be as simple as complimenting a person for their outward appearance or simply thanking them for being there. Validation in an affirming scenario is important because sometimes it is something we have only experienced in abusive and hurtful ways.

Another HUGE part of affirmation for oneself is learning how to say "No." It's okay to say no to things you do not have the energy or mental capacity to participate in. It's not easy, I know. But, nevertheless, it's not selfish. It is taking care of yourself first and attending to your own needs rather than the needs of others.

In sharing this short blog post, I hope to convey the importance of understanding if someone you know may not want to go out or participate in certain activities; that we can learn not be so hard on folx as we may not know what they are going through or understand their lived experience. 

In Lak’ech In Lak’ech, Tú eres mi otro yo, You are my other me.

Si te hago daño a ti, If I do harm to you,

Me hago daño a mi mismo, I do harm to myself.

Si te amo y respeto, If I love and respect you,

Me amo y respeto yo, I love and respect myself.

- ­ Luis Valdez