When you’re not feeling well, whether it’s physical, mental or both, it can be hard to stay hopeful. Pain, fatigue and chronic symptoms can take a toll and even small tasks can feel overwhelming. On top of that, your mind often goes into overdrive, replaying worries or imagining the worst. I know this all too well and it’s exhausting. But this is where affirmations can help you to believe in your body’s natural ability to heal.
Why Affirmations Matter When You’re Unwell
Affirmations don’t mean that you pretend that everything is fine and ignore the 3D. It means offering yourself comfort and a sense of steadiness, and opening yourself up to the hope, the belief that things will be ok for you, even if life looks a bit differently for now. They give your mind something gentle to hold onto, a way to practice self kindness instead of spiralling deeper into fear or frustration.
From a psychological perspective, one of the most common (and draining) habits we fall into during difficult periods in our lives, including illness is rumination. Repetitive, negative thoughts about our symptoms, what might be wrong or whether we’ll ever feel better. Hey, it’s understandable. When you feel down, your brain wants answers.
But, ruminating, repeatedly focusing on worries, symptoms or worst-case scenarios has been linked to higher levels of stress and worse physical health outcomes over time (Brosschot, Gerin and Thayer, 2006).
Affirmations are a tool that can help you to to interrupt that cycle. They’re not a cure but they can shift your focus, calm your nervous system and help you feel more optimistic in your day-to-day experience. That’s powerful in itself.
A Quick Note Before We Begin
These affirmations aren’t medical advice. They don’t replace proper care, tests or treatment. But from a psychological and more holistic perspective, how you talk to yourself matters.
In fact, research consistently shows that belief, especially the belief that something will help, can play a huge role in how we feel and how we heal. The placebo effect is one of the most studied examples of this as it showcases just how deeply the brain and body are connected. When people believe a treatment will work, even if it’s inactive, they can experience actual improvements in pain, fatigue and mood.
Studies have shown that placebos can activate the brain’s natural pain-relief pathways, calm the nervous system, and even affect things like heart rate and inflammation (Wager and Atlas, 2018). All of this shows just how powerful our thoughts and expectations can be. Which in turn
30 Affirmations for Healing
These affirmations are written to support you whether you’re dealing with chronic illness, recovering from something or even if your body could do with a little self belief and loving kindness right now.
Read through and pick out which ones resonate most with you. You absolutely do not have to use all of them. The ones that feel true enough are often the most helpful.
- My body is healing and I feel better every day.
- Every cell in my body is filled with health and vitality.
- Healing energy flows through me.
- My body is healthy and strong.
- I trust my body’s ability to heal.
- Healing takes time and that’s okay.
- I choose to focus on what supports my well being today.
- I believe that I have the strength to overcome any health challenges.
- I release the need to control every outcome.
- My body knows how to heal itself.
- I am safe in this moment.
- I trust my body to communicate what it needs.
- Rest is productive.
- I am grateful for the strength my body has shown.
- I love myself and my body.
- My mind and body are in perfect harmony as I heal.
- My body deserves my patience.
- I offer myself encouragement instead of criticism.
- I listen to my body without fear.
- I am grateful for the healing that is happening in my body right now.
- I am becoming stronger and healthier with each passing day.
- My body is restoring balance.
- My immune system is powerful and protects me.
- I hold space for hope, even when things feel uncertain.
- I nourish my body with love and care.
- My body is restoring itself to full health with each moment.
- I release all stress and allow my body to heal.
- I am worthy of good health and happiness.
- My body is capable of amazing healing.
- I have chosen the path of healing and that decision brings me peace.
How to Use These Affirmations
You don’t need to say all 20 every day. Just choose one or two that fits your mood. Repeat them to yourself first thing in the morning or in the mirror or whisper them to yourself in before you go to sleep. Try to choose the one that resonates most with you and return to it when your mind starts spiralling, maybe even write them in a notebook or journal. You could put your favourites somewhere you’ll see them often, like your phone background or a post-it note on your mirror.
If you don’t believe them right away, that’s okay. Think of it as planting a seed. You might not see much at first but with gentle repetition, you’re giving your mind a chance to grow something new, bit by bit, in its own time.
A Few Extra Gentle Practices (Optional)
If you’d like to pair your affirmations with some small, supportive gestures or techniques, here are a few ideas. These don’t take much energy and there’s no pressure to do any of them at all if you don’t want to. But as someone who has been in the trenches of chronic illness, knowing some of these techniques would have been handy at the time to prevent the spiralling.
- Place a hand on your heart while you say or read an affirmation. That simple touch and feeling of warmth can feel grounding and reassuring.
- Take three slow breaths, in and out. It’s a tiny pause that tells your body, “I’m safe right now.” In fact there are plenty of different breathing techniques out there which can help in various situations. It’s worth trying some out and seeing what works for you.
- Notice where there are no sensations. It could be a fingertip, your elbow, your breath. Focusing there even briefly can shift your attention away from the areas of pain or discomfort.
- Look out the window and find something steady, like a tree, a cloud, or even the sky. Let your eyes rest there for a moment.
- Sip water slowly and say something kind to yourself while you do. You could even imbue the water with healing energy by saying something like, “Every sip fills me with healing energy.” Speak it with intention as your words carry power and when you pair them with belief, they can create real magic.
- Write one affirmation down and tuck it into your pocket, journal or pillowcase. You might not need it now but it’ll be there when you do. You could even hide some affirmations down on scraps of paper and hide them around your house. You’ll find them when you need them 💛
Keep Going
No matter where you are on your healing journey, remember this: healing is possible. Affirmations are more than just words they’re a way to nurture the belief that your body can heal, that your mind can support you through it and that every tiny baby step matters.
Negative self talk and rumination, on the other hand, can create mental blocks that hold you back from this process. By speaking kindly to yourself and reinforcing the belief in your ability to heal, you’re actively participating in your recovery. Keep believing in your body’s strength, trust the process, and remember that healing is within your power 💛
References
Brosschot, J.F., Gerin, W. and Thayer, J.F. (2006) ‘The perseverative cognition hypothesis: A review of worry, prolonged stress-related physiological activation, and health’, Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60(2), pp. 113–124.
Wager, T.D. and Atlas, L.Y. (2018) ‘The neuroscience of placebo effects: connecting context, learning and health’, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(7), pp. 404–418.
