101 New Year Affirmations For Perfectionists Who Want To Change Their Life
It’s a brand new year!! So now is the perfect time to take a step towards your dream life by using these New Year Affirmations.
The New Year can be a really tricky time for perfectionists because we tend to set the bar ridiculously high which is why I thought I’d create these affirmations specifically designed for perfectionists.
You’re not going to go through cycles of procrastination and burnout this year. NOT ON MY WATCH. This year is all about consistency, self-care and mindful productivity.
Sustainable progress.
You’re going to do things differently this year because you KNOW in your heart the way you have been approaching New Year resolutions is not healthy.
This year things will be different.
What is perfectionism?
Despite what many people think, perfectionism isn’t a good thing. It’s not about being a high achiever with high standards.
It’s about having UNREALISTICALLY high standards for yourself (and sometimes others), while believing that your self-worth is tied to what you achieve.
It is exhausting and never-ending.
You’re constantly chasing the next goal and the next goal and the next goal, never feeling good enough because there is always something else you could be doing.
Your perfectionism might get you far in your career but at some point, you’re going to realise your idea of success is warped.
Related Post: 3 Types of Perfectionism – Which One Are You?
Signs you’re a perfectionist?
You might be a perfectionist if you recognise any of these traits:
- Constantly procrastinating because your tasks need to be done ‘just right’ or not at all
- Cycles of go-go-go and burnout
- Your self-worth is tied to your achievements. In simple terms, how you feel about yourself depends on what you’ve done or accomplished
- You have a harsh inner critic and are always pointing out flaws in yourself
- You might be judgemental of others for the choices they make
If any of this resonates with you, I recommend you check out my Perfectionism 101 page to find out more about the signs and causes of perfectionism.
Related Post: 13 Subtle Signs You’re A Perfectionist And Don’t Even Know It
Why are some people perfectionists?
Unsurprisingly, perfectionism isn’t something that appears out of nowhere. It is shaped by a variety of different influences in your life:
- Family: maybe you grew up in a household where success was highly valued, and you felt a lot of pressure to meet those expectations
- Society: everywhere we look, we’re told to do more, be more and achieve more. Especially nowadays with the rise of social media
- School system: achievements and grades often set the tone for how ‘worthy’ you were seen as a student
- Work: corporate environments often reward perfectionist tendencies—until burnout and have to take time off sick
Related Post: Where Does Perfectionism Come From?
Why affirmations are useful
Affirmations are really helpful when it comes to shifting your mindset away from perfectionism.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying affirmations will cure your perfectionism because 1. I’m not an idiot and 2. Perfectionism takes time to heal.
BUT I am saying, that affirmations are great for building self-compassion and learning how to be okay with imperfection (something that perfectionists struggle with). Affirmations help you reframe your thoughts, challenge your negative self-talk and help you create a more supportive mindset.
They’re not a cure, they are a tool.
And I say that as someone who used to think affirmations were complete airy fairy BS. I am a big convert because affirmations helped me so much in my healing journey. Read the rest of the article to find out how to use affirmations effectively so they aren’t just random words you’re saying out loud.
Self-Compassion Affirmations
- I’m doing the best I can, and that’s more than enough
- It’s okay to make mistakes—they’re how I grow
- I deserve to rest, without any guilt
- My worth is so much more than what I achieve
- I’m kind to myself, especially when things don’t go to plan
Self-Love Affirmations
- I deserve love, care, and respect, starting with myself
- I am worthy of the same love I show others
- I love myself, imperfections and all
- My happiness matters just as much as everyone else’s
- I am enough exactly as I am, right now
Related Post: The Ultimate 30 Day Self-Love Challenge (FREE Printable)
Values Affirmations
- I choose to live by my values, not by what others expect
- My actions reflect what’s truly important to me
- I protect my boundaries because they support what I value
- I’m all about progress, not perfection
- My values lead me to a life that feels meaningful
Goals Affirmations
- I set goals that align with what I truly want
- I approach my goals with patience and consistency
- Small steps create big results
- It’s okay to shift my goals as I grow
- Progress, not perfection, is what I aim for
Related Post: 5 Hassle-Free Steps To Setting Values-Driven Goals (+Free Workbook)
Mindful Productivity Affirmations
- I focus on what really matters to me
- My productivity doesn’t define my worth
- I can be both productive and balanced
- My energy is valuable, and I choose where it goes
- I let go of busyness and lean into work-life flow
Related Post: What Is Mindful Productivity? The Cure For Hustle Culture
Hope Affirmations
- I trust that everything will work out as it should
- Hope is always there, even when things feel hard
- I’m capable of creating the life I want
- I look forward to new opportunities this year
- Each day is a new chance filled with possibilities
Courage Affirmations
- I have the courage to face new challenges head-on
- I step outside my comfort zone with confidence
- Fear doesn’t get to decide for me
- I trust myself to handle whatever comes my way
- Every small act of bravery gets me closer to where I want to be
Resilience Affirmations
- I bounce back stronger from setbacks
- I am resilient and can adapt to anything
- Challenges are my stepping stones for growth
- My inner strength is bigger than any obstacle
- I keep going, even when things get tough
Imperfection Affirmations
- I embrace my imperfections—they’re part of who I am
- I am beautifully imperfect, just like everyone else
- Imperfection makes life more interesting and real
- I let go of the need to be perfect in every situation
- Flaws are part of being human, and I’m cool with that
Forgiveness Affirmations
- I forgive myself for past mistakes
- I let go of the guilt and shame I’ve been holding onto
- I release resentment and open my heart to forgiveness
- Forgiving myself helps me move forward
- I offer myself the same grace I’d give to someone I love
Trial and Error Affirmations
- I learn through trial and error, and that’s okay
- It’s fine to experiment and tweak things as I go
- Every misstep is a lesson that helps me grow
- I’m not defined by my mistakes but by my persistence
- I trust the process of learning through doing
Discipline Affirmations
- I have the discipline to go after what I want
- I show up for myself, even on the tough days
- Consistency and patience bring the results I’m after
- I honour my commitments to myself
- My self-discipline creates freedom in my life
Abundance Mindset Affirmations
- I attract abundance in every part of my life
- There’s more than enough for me and everyone else
- I see opportunities for growth and success everywhere
- My abundance mindset brings peace and fulfilment
- Good things are always flowing into my life
Growth Mindset Affirmations
- I’m always learning and growing
- My potential is limitless, and I embrace challenges
- I welcome growth in every area of my life
- Every experience makes me a better version of myself
- Mistakes are just opportunities for me to learn and improve
Related Post: 123 Affirmations For Growth Mindset and Success
Boundaries Affirmations
- I respect my boundaries and honour my needs
- Setting boundaries protects my energy
- I can say no without guilt or fear
- Boundaries help me find balance and self-care
- I let go of people-pleasing and focus on what’s best for me
Letting Go Affirmations
- I release what no longer serves me
- Letting go of perfection helps me live authentically
- I trust the process and let go of control
- It’s okay to let go of unrealistic expectations
- I don’t have to be everything to everyone
Mindfulness Affirmations
- I live in the present and embrace what is
- I notice my thoughts without judging them
- I breathe deeply and let go of my perfectionist tendencies
- Being present matters more than being perfect
- I release future worries and focus on now
Related Post: 5 ridiculously simple ways to practise mindfulness and calm your mind
Gratitude Affirmations
- I am grateful for every bit of progress, no matter how small
- I appreciate the simple joys in life
- Gratitude shows me the abundance in every situation
- I focus on what I have, not what I lack
- I’m thankful for the lessons my imperfections have taught me
Rest and Recovery Affirmations
- Rest is productive and necessary for my wellbeing
- I give myself permission to recharge without feeling guilty
- My body and mind deserve rest and care
- I find the right balance between work and rest
- Slowing down helps me reconnect with what matters most
Confidence Affirmations
- I am confident in my abilities, even when things aren’t perfect
- I believe in my potential to succeed
- Confidence comes from within, not from others
- I know I’m capable of achieving my goals
- My self-worth has nothing to do with being perfect
Patience Affirmations
- I am patient with myself and my progress
- Great things take time, and I allow myself space to grow
- I trust the timing of my life and don’t need to rush
- I enjoy the journey and trust the process
- I like taking my time to work on things
How to use affirmations effectively
To truly make affirmations work for you, it’s important to:
- Repeat them daily: try to be consistent with saying your affirmations out loud daily.
- Feel the words: don’t just repeat them mechanically, actively FEEL the words
- Visualise: picture yourself as the person who lives according to these affirmations
- Use them in moments of stress: when you feel your perfectionism getting triggered, use these affirmations
- Personalise them: take the ones that resonate the most and tweak them to reflect your personal challenges and goals
What affirmations are you going to use this New Year?
What are your top affirmations from this list? Remember you don’t need to use all the affirmations and you can amend them so that they fit your individual needs.
These affirmations are designed to help you and act as a guide so that you can start the new year in the right headspace.
I encourage you to write down your favourites and put them somewhere visible, maybe in your values vision board so that you can see them throughout the year.
You got this!
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