By Chaplain Intern Elyse Cooke

“This is a wonderful day, I have never seen this one before.”- Maya Angelou

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. One of the ways in which you can work on your mental health is through the power of meditation with affirmations. An affirmation is really anything you say or think. A lot of what we normally say and think is quite negative, and it doesn’t always bring us peace. We can meditate to let go of the negative thoughts and allow space for peace. By meditating with affirmations, we keep ourselves present and grounded with simple, yet poignant phrases.

Here are some tips to get started with affirmation practice:

Always start an affirmation with positive words such as:

I can_____.

I am____.

I do____.

I have____.

Say your affirmation over and over when you think of it.

Say an affirmation when you are having a lot of unhappy or negative thoughts.

Look in a mirror and say your positive affirmations out loud.

Write your affirmations down in a notebook or journal.

Make a sign with your positive affirmation and hang it where you can see it daily.

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Here are some affirmations to get you started.

Find a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Begin breathing in and out slowly, counting up to three as you inhale and down from three as you exhale. In between breaths, repeat the following affirmations, pausing and repeating each one:

I am in this world for a purpose.

I am unique in many ways.

I can do hard things.

I am loved.