20 self-love affirmations to silence your inner critic and grow in love

Whether it was the American poet and novelist Charles Bukowski who once said, “If you have the ability to love, love yourself first” or Queen B who said, “Your self-worth is determined by you”, the truth is that the journey of self-love and healing is hardly as easy as skimming through a quote by a celebrity, even though we sometimes, wish it were. But we’d like to offer you the next best thing: self-love affirmations. Self-love can be messy and can be replete with ups and downs, but it’s important to start somewhere and we believe affirmations are a great place to begin your journey of healing. 

We’ve all experienced that overpowering critical inner voice, often putting us down, judging, and criticising our ways. Saying affirmations or positive phrases can enable you to change your perspective towards yourself and help build your self-esteem. It’s like Oprah says, “Almost like giving yourself a verbal hug”. Through affirmations we can learn to speak to ourselves in a kinder and more compassionate manner. Saying affirmations help us grow into the person we want to become, create a more positive approach towards life, our work, and ourself. Yet, it is important to remember that affirmations work only if you do—simply saying it every day without putting in effort to change your ways will have little impact on your journey of self-love. We’d also recommend saying these before you start your day and creating them according to your own needs. 

Here’s a list of affirmations you can use to navigate your own journey of self-love and to silence your inner critic. 

I am manifesting my dream life. 

I am enough as I am.

Love doesn’t need me to be extraordinary. 

I am doing the best I can in this moment.

I am open to new experiences and opportunities that will help me grow. 

May the light within me shine through. 

The universe is working its magic in my favour. 

The universe loves me.

I am open to giving and receiving unconditional love. 

I am okay with my imperfections and I love every part of me. 

I am grateful for all that my body and mind does for me. 

I am a being of growth. 

I deserve to be treated with kindness, compassion, respect, and love.

I am attracting positive and healing energy only. 

I am exactly where I am supposed to be. 

I welcome abundance. 

I am never giving no matter how difficult life gets. 

I am loved and wanted. 

I am letting go of negativity and that, which no longer serves me. 

I am my own hero.