The Voice in Your Head—Why Affirmations Matter

I remember the first time I realized how much power my inner voice had. It was one of those days where everything felt just slightly off: I had overbooked my calendar, a client cancelled at the last minute, and my child was home sick with a stomach bug. I caught myself muttering, "I can't do this. I'm falling apart."

But then I paused. Because right there, in the middle of that mental spiral, I heard another voice—the one I’ve been cultivating through years of personal work and healing. It said: Actually, you’re handling a lot. You're stretched, not broken.

That tiny inner voice was the result of years of quietly feeding my spirit affirmations. Not the fluffy, superficial kind. Real, hard-earned, rooted-in-truth declarations I had spoken, written, and lived into being. And that’s what we’re talking about today.

Why Affirmations Work (Yes, There’s Science)

Affirmations are more than feel-good Instagram quotes. They influence how we interpret the world and ourselves. Research shows that self-affirmation practices activate areas of the brain associated with self-related processing and positive valuation (Cascio et al., 2016). They literally rewire our thinking over time—helping us resist stress, build confidence, and stay anchored when life throws curveballs.

As Black women, we’re often surrounded by external and internalized messages that challenge our worth. Affirmations serve as spiritual armor. They help counter the steady drumbeat of societal negativity with a rhythmic, soulful declaration of truth: I am enough. I am growing. I deserve peace.

Try This: Feeding Your Inner Voice

1. Catch Your Critic

Notice your self-talk this week. Do you hear things like, "I should be doing more," or "I never get it right"? These are clues. Write down your top 3 most frequent negative phrases.

2. Name the Voice

One trick I teach clients: personify that critical voice. Call it something silly like "Nervous Nellie" or something that softens its grip. This helps you recognize when it's not your true self talking.

3. Start a Positivity Log

Each evening, jot down one thing you did well that day—no matter how small. This trains your brain to look for evidence of your strength, not just your flaws.

Affirmations aren’t magic spells. They’re sacred reminders. And when practiced with intention, they become a form of energetic hygiene—clearing the inner clutter so Spirit can speak more clearly. The voice in your head shapes your life. Let’s make sure it’s speaking truth, not fear.

Want to go deeper? This blog series is inspired by Cultivating Inner Peace—and I’m building a companion workbook to guide your practice. Stay tuned.

References

Cascio, C. N., O'Donnell, M. B., Tinney, F. J., Lieberman, M. D., Taylor, S. E., Strecher, V. J., & Falk, E. B. (2016). Self-affirmation activates brain systems associated with self-related processing and reward and is reinforced by future orientation. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11(4), 621–629.