31 Powerful Daily Affirmations For Ambition
Use these powerful daily affirmations for ambition when you need a little boost and reminder to keep going when times get hard.
As a Mindset and Productivity Coach for perfectionists, I know how important it is to reframe ambition from an all-or-nothing perspective to a consistent, mindful and healthy striving perspective.
These journal prompts focus on balance and achieving your goals with a growth mindset.
They link ambition with self-compassion, courage, overcoming limiting beliefs and developing a diligent work ethic.
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are simply positive statements that you say to yourself to help you shift your mindset and reinforce positive behaviours. They tend to be in first person and use the present tense (or sometimes, but not often, future tense) because the goal is to counter your negative self-talk with positive/realistic versions.
I used to hate affirmations and think they were fake pseudo-science however, when I hit a rough patch, I thought I’d give them a go because I had nothing to lose at that point and let me tell you, they changed my life. Making the choice to try it out without judgment helped me shift my mindset from someone who was a victim of hustle culture to someone who was the creator of my life and driver of my desired future.
3 benefits of affirmations
1. They can help you reduce your stress and anxiety levels
Studies have shown that using affirmations can help you lower your rumination on negative thoughts about yourself and think more optimistically/realistically about your situation resulting in lower stress levels
2. It can help you feel more motivated to achieve your goals
Instead of worrying about what you can’t do, affirmations help you put the spotlight on the things you can do and who you are right now. You don’t need to have all of the answers but you can take a small step forward towards you goals which will ultimately increase your chance of achieving them.
This article by Healthline sums it up really nicely “Regular repetition of affirming statements about yourself can encourage your brain to take these positive affirmations as fact. When you truly believe you can do something, your actions often follow”.
3. Affirmations can increase your resilience and problem-solving ability
These are necessary skills when it comes to fueling ambition and healthy striving (not perfectionism). You need to be able to think outside the box and work with the good and bad challenges that come your way especially if you have big goals. Studies have shown that affirmations ‘stimulate areas of the brain associated with reward and positive valuation’ and reinforce your self-worth and ability to overcome challenges.
You’re more likely to find creative solutions when you believe your goals are achievable and that you are capable of reaching them. If you have negative beliefs about yourself, you’re more likely to give up at the first hurdle and not even attempt to find a solution.
Daily affirmations
I have broken down these affirmations into 5 different categories to help you pick out the ones you need on any given day.
Getting into the mindset for success
- I know my priorities and I am focused on what genuinely matters to me without getting distracted by non-important things
- I am building a life that actually feels good and is centred around my wellbeing
- I don’t need a perfect plan. All I need to do is take one step forward today and that’s more than enough
- I’m letting go of things that don’t serve me so I can make room for the things that do
- I don’t need to do everything and not everything needs to be done by me. My energy goes into things that bring me closer to my goals so everything else can wait
- I’m in no rush because progress is happening at my own pace, and I trust that good things are coming
- Today, I’m choosing peace over pressure. What is for me, won’t miss me
Related post: 7 Ways To Develop A Values-Driven Mindset (+ 10 Characteristics)
Ambition with self-compassion
- I’m driven, but I don’t need to burn myself out to prove it. I’m allowed to pause and recharge
- I am an ambitious person who values working at a healthy pace so that I can consistently achieve my goals without burning out
- I can be proud of where I am and still work toward where I want to be. As Sophie Bush said ‘you can be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time’. I am both and that is okay.
- I don’t need to have it all figured out because I’m learning as I go, and that’s part of the process
- I can be kind to myself and still make progress. Being ambitious doesn’t mean I have to sacrifice my wellbeing. All-or-nothing thinking will leave me burnt out so I choose a different way
- I trust that I’m enough, even if I haven’t completed my to-do list. My worth isn’t tied to my productivity and it never will be
Related Post: What Is Mindful Productivity? The Cure For Hustle Culture
Courage to pursue your goals
- I’m choosing courage over comfort today because my goals are worth putting in the effort
- I don’t need to wait for the “perfect” time to start. I can make progress right now with what I have and take one tiny step forward
- I know that I’m strong enough to handle whatever comes my way. I’ve got this!
- I know I’m capable of doing hard things because I’ve done it before which means I can do it again
- I’m letting go of the fear of what others think. This journey is mine, and I’m showing up for myself because I believe that my dreams are worth pursuing
- I’m not afraid to take risks because I trust that every step I take brings me closer to living my ideal life.
Related Post: 5 Hassle-Free Steps To Setting Values-Driven Goals (+Free Workbook)
Overcoming limiting beliefs
- I’m done letting old beliefs hold me back. I’m not going to let old stories about who I am and what I’m capable of keep me stuck in the past. I am ready to create a new story
- I am more than capable. PERIODT
- I let go of the need to be perfect. I know that growth is messy and uncomfortable and I’m okay with that
- I don’t need anyone’s approval to chase my dreams. I believe in my own potential and that is enough
- My past does not define my future. I choose to believe in my worth and my values today. I will take one baby step in a new direction today
- I’m learning to trust my own journey and take 100% responsibility for my life. I am not a victim, I am the creator of my ideal life
Related Post: STOP Saying These 7 Toxic Perfectionist Phrases To Be Successful
Developing a diligent work ethic
- I’m committed to showing up for my goals consistently even when things feel hard and self-doubt kicks in. I am worth overcoming these challenges
- My work ethic is rooted in purpose, not pressure. I’m here to create something meaningful and not just keep myself busy for the sake of it
- I don’t need to do it all at once. I understand that taking intentional and consistent action over a longer period of time will help me achieve my goals without burning out
- I’m building habits that support my goals and I focus on the effort I put in rather than achieving certain milestones by a specific date
- I show up for myself because I know that my dreams are worth putting in the work and effort. I know that I am responsible for my own success.
- I understand that showing up is 80% of success and that I will get even better every time I show up because I focused on progress and not perfection
Related Post: 8 Ways To Become A More Diligent Person (Daily Diligence Challenge)
How to Integrate These Affirmations into Your Daily Routine
If you’re new to using affirmations then I recommend that you start small by picking 1 affirmation from the list that stands out to you.
Then every morning, repeat the affirmation. It’s as simple as that. You can write it on a Post-it note, make it a screensaver/wallpaper or even print it out and add it to your vision board. Whatever you do, try to make sure it is somewhere you will see it every day.
To make it even easier, you could pair it with a task you are already doing (aka habit stacking) so that it automatically becomes part of your routine without you even having to think about it.
For example, put it on a post-it note on the bathroom mirror so that you are reminded to say it before or after you finish brushing your teeth.
How to Make Affirmations for Your Specific Goals
Maybe you don’t want to use the affirmations in this list and that’s okay. My goal here is to help you become the best version of yourself and that might require you to amend these affirmations or create some brand new ones tailored to your specific goals.
Here is how you do it:
- Think about your core values and the traits of the ideal version of yourself. E.g. are they kind, thoughtful, creative, driven, or mindful? Do they go through cycles of go-go-go and burnout (I hope not) or do they take consistent action to achieve their goals? Have a think about it and mae sure it is clear in your mind (you can download a free workbook to help you with that)
- Be really specific and create believable and realistic statements that the ideal version of yourself would say on a daily basis. For example, what type of thoughts do they have (e.g. I am driven and I will achieve my goals today). Write it in a way that feels authentic to you and still motivates you to take a step forward
- Try to focus the affirmation around habits or actions that can be repeated daily instead of big events or outcomes. You want to focus on the effort
- Use present tense when writing your affirmation because the goal is to switch your mindset from thinking ‘One day I’ll be that ambitious person’ to ‘Today, I am that ambitious person’
Top Tips for Success
- Start small and be consistent
- Believe the words you are saying. YOU are ambitious
- Make an effort to visualise yourself achieving your goals and really hold on to the feeling
- Celebrate every single win you have, no matter how small you think it is because it will reinforce the habit and you have evidence of the effort you’re taking paying off.
What affirmations are you going to use to keep your ambition?
So what affirmations from this list are you going to use to help you stay ambitious and actually achieve your goals? Maybe you’ll use all of them or maybe you’ll focus on the affirmation around developing a diligent work ethic.
Use whatever affirmations you need to use in order to help you become the ideal version of yourself and live your best life.
Don’t worry if it feels a little silly at first, who cares? Seriously at the end of the day, this is your life and studies have shown that affirmations do actually work. I am a living testament to that and besides, you have nothing to lose so why not give these an honest go and watch how your mindset will shift?
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