Do you begin your days with positive affirmations or are you skeptical of their efficacy? Even if you have your doubts, I think these 5 affirmations will help brighten your mornings and boost your confidence. Give them a try!

I think it’s safe to say that we all have an inner critic.

That nagging, dehumanizing, and hateful voice that makes itself known when we’re feeling our most vulnerable.

As somebody whose self-deprecating humor is as familiar to me as my blue eyes or fair skin, I know my inner critic all too well.

She likes to point out my flaws and inadequacies, telling me I’m selfish, unkind, or incapable of doing the things I hope to achieve.

For a while she nitpicked my body, persuading me to equate my worthiness with my thinness and fitness.

And now, she tries to convince me that I am the sum of my imperfections—that all of the mistakes I make as a mother, wife, daughter, friend, and employee define my value as a human being.

The thing is, though, I know I can’t give my inner critic power. And I must show myself the same compassion I would show a friend or family member.

Sometimes it’s difficult, but I’ve found that using positive affirmations and evaluating my critical thoughts as if I were actually speaking to another person helps.

Sure, I still struggle, but habits take time to form, right? I’m sharing a few positive affirmations that have resonated with me recently.