Do Positive Affirmations Really Work? Our Story of Finding Magic in Words
When I first started playing with our positive affirmation cards, my eldest son was still very little. We’d been using them for almost two years — during morning playtime, while creating stories, or simply keeping them nearby in our room. He even had his favorites. Sometimes we turned them into games, like using the cards as parking spots for toy cars.
But honestly? There were days when I thought it was all in vain.
He wasn’t speaking much yet. We had moved a lot, changed languages around us, and he took his time forming sentences — even in our mother tongue. I remember feeling a bit discouraged, wondering if any of this truly made a difference.
Until one evening.
He had a high fever — his first since we moved to Belgium. I was exhausted, scared, and completely overwhelmed. We didn’t have a trusted pediatrician yet, and everything felt unfamiliar. I was panicking inside.
And then, out of nowhere, my son hugged me tightly and whispered:
“Everything will be ok. I am healthy, mama.”
It was his first positive affirmation.
At the perfect moment.
Not rehearsed. Not prompted.
Just coming straight from his heart.
Out of all the things he could have said, he chose the words that could help him the most.
That’s when I realized — even when it seems like they’re not listening, our children are absorbing everything.
How We Use Affirmations Now
Since that day, affirmations have become part of our family’s rhythm. We use them in different moments — to start the day, to calm down, or simply to reconnect when emotions run high.
Some of the phrases we repeat often are:
I am enough.
I am loved.
I am a beautiful human being.
I am strong.
I am calm.
I trust myself.
And we have special ones for specific moments — the ones that life throws at us when we least expect it:
All my emotions are ok to be felt.
I know sometimes it’s hard, but I can always talk to mom.
Speaking a different language only means I am smart and educated.
Over time, these words have become part of our emotional vocabulary. I see how much easier it is for my kids to name what they feel, to be kind to themselves, and to believe they can handle difficult moments.
My Secret Power
Somewhere along the way, affirmations became my secret power too.
I stayed home with my kids, started my business, and completely changed my career path — a full 360°. And there were many moments when I had to remind myself:
“I am doing it. Right now.”
Because affirmations aren’t just for children — they’re for us too.
They remind us to pause, to breathe, and to trust that we are enough, even when life feels uncertain.
How to Start Using Affirmations with Your Child
If you’re just starting, don’t worry about doing it “right.”
Place your cards somewhere visible — on a mirror, the fridge, or by your child’s bed. Read one each morning or before bedtime. Make it a game, a story, or a part of your routine.
The goal isn’t to memorize the words — it’s to feel them.
Because one day, when they need it most, your child might whisper those words back — and you’ll know it was never in vain.
From one mother to another,
Maria
