## 46 what-if affirmations that open your mind to possibility ### For general well-being - What if I could loosen my expectations of how life “should” be? - What if life is not _supposed_ to be smooth and easy all the time? - What if I could focus more on what I want and less on what is getting in the way? - What if I focus on what feels meaningful and what lights me up? - What if I don't focus on unhelpful thoughts, feelings, or people? - What if I believe that I deserve compassion and love? - What if I can find the time to take care of myself in meaningful ways? - What if I could make today a better experience just by how I approach it? ### For self-acceptance - What if I am good enough, right now, without having to change anything? - What if I am not shameful? - What if I am not inferior to anyone? - What if I deserve as much respect as everyone else? - What if I decided to respect myself? - What if I am worthy of living my life as I want to, even if other people disapprove? - What if I could stop wondering what other people think of me? - What if I could stop focusing on my insecurities? - What if I could loosen my expectations of how I “should” be? - What if I stopped saying “should”? - What if I could see that I deserve to take up as much space as everyone else? - What if I started voicing my opinions, wants, and needs? - What if I realized that my inner critic is supposed to make me feel bad, _not_ tell me the truth about myself? - What if I only spoke to and about myself kindly, the way I talk to my friends? ### For perfectionism - What if I am fully acceptable as I am, without being perfect in any way? - What if I could let go of trying to have it all together? - What if I realized that no one actually has it all together? - What if life could feel richer if I stopped trying to be perfect? - What if my attempts at perfectionism are robbing me of the ability to be authentic? - What if others prefer imperfect people? ### For anxiety - What if I could look for the interesting bits in life instead of focusing on the potential problem areas? - What if I could be curious about any upcoming changes, and about life in general? - What if I could do what feels meaningful even though I also feel anxious? - What if I treated my anxiety like an annoying roommate – just because he’s talking doesn’t mean he’s saying anything true, helpful, or relevant? - What if my anxious thoughts are not accurate? - What if worrying is a waste of time? ### For depression - What if I deserve compassion for feeling this way? - What if I can offer myself compassion for having to feel this way? - What if I can do meaningful things even though it doesn't feel good or meaningful right now? - What if I can do a small thing today and recognize that as helpful? - What if my depressive thoughts are not accurate? - What if I am not the burden I think I am ### For body image - What if I could see that my body is not shameful — ever? - What if my weight is not an important part of who I am or how I live my life? - What if weight and health are not as related as I have been led to believe? - What if I stopped buying into the false news that my body is supposed to look a certain way? - What if I could choose to focus on more meaningful things than how my body looks? - What if I could respect my body for the fact that it single-handedly allows me to live?