Energy is “the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.” Simply put, it’s what we use each day not only to accomplish physical tasks, but mental and emotional ones as well. The world today seems to be in turmoil, with wars being waged, inflation on the rise, and a potential recession on the horizon. It’s exhausting. It’s overwhelming. And it’s terrifying.
That’s why it’s so important to protect our energy. It’s easy to do that physically – a proper diet and keeping active can keep us feeling better. But mentally and emotionally? That can be a bit trickier. It’s easy to get drained and start to feel the negative effects of the world around us weighing on our minds. But with a little effort each day, we can protect that energy too. And the best place to start is by going through a list of affirmations that keep us feeling positive and motivated to do our best each day.
Here are some examples, though coming up with some that fit your personal situation can be beneficial and empowering.
9 Affirmations to Protect Your Energy
1. I am in charge of my feelings. I dictate how I feel each day.
2. I am safe. I am supported. I am protected.
3. This is my moment – I am in control and take ownership of my situation.
4. I will not allow my energy to be drained by the world around me.
5. I am moving forward; I am not stuck, and I am in control of my own destiny.
6. I believe in myself. I trust myself. I can do it.
7. Good things are going to happen to me today.
8. I am who I should be, and I like myself for who I am. I am not perfect, and that is OK.
9. I will make a difference today in the world around me.
Personal Affirmation
While these affirmations are a good starting point for living a healthier, more optimistic life, let me tell you about the affirmation that changed my life. Several years back, I was stuck in a job that I really didn’t enjoy. Every day I tried to find a way out of it, and I tried to stay positive, but, as with most things, it began to seem hopeless as time passed.
One day I read a quote that stuck with me, and it was moving enough to me that I wrote it down on a post-it note and stuck it in my daily planner (I’m old school and like to see my calendar on actual paper). Most days, I would look at that saying, and it would motivate me to make a change. It wasn’t a mind-blowing thought or a giant epiphany – it was simply advice that I needed to hear. It was
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”
See? Simple. Nothing fancy about that, right? But for me, it was quite affecting. Roughly a year after writing it down on that post-it (I transfer it to my new planner each year), I was sitting at the same desk, still stuck in my same job, and it dawned on me. If the me from a year ago had been proactive and made a change, where could I be today?
Get Motivated!
The thought that past me hadn’t done anything and, thus, present me was still stuck sounds a bit dramatic. But it’s true. Without action, there is no change. And without change, well, your energy can start to fade and wane. I began to plan more actively for how I could make the change that Future Me would benefit from. She didn’t want to sit in that same cubicle staring at that same wall and feeling her energy drain each day. She deserved better.
And then, one day, something just clicked. My energy changed to optimistic. Yes, my plan would work. Yes, I could make the change I had been waiting for. I could succeed if I really tried. I knew it would be hard; I knew there was a chance for failure, but I was willing to take that risk.
Present Day
Here I sit, just over 3 years after my a-ha-click moment. I’m in a new job – one that I love – and am so very thankful to the me that was brave enough to take the plunge. Don’t get me wrong – it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. After all, I started my own business right before the world went into a pandemic. I had to scrimp and save and beg and plead during a rough year, but I don’t regret it. For me, the good days have far outweighed the bad. My energy on a daily basis is much more positive than it was just a few short years ago, and my daily affirmations have helped to keep that optimism.
I still have the same affirmation, but it’s helpful for areas of my life outside of my career. For the past few months, I’ve been using it as part of my workout motivation so that summer me can feel more confident at the beach. I’ve been using it to tuck away money so future me can take a trip somewhere and not have any debt because of it. I’ve been living a healthier life so older me will have better health.
Do you have an affirmation? What is it, and how has it helped you? Email me at editor@primewomen.com and tell me about it.
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