Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, pain, inflammation, and organ damage. Coping with lupus can be challenging, but there are many things you can do to help manage your symptoms and stay strong. I personally have Lupus, and I understand the struggles we go through on a daily basis. Many of these challenges are sometimes out of our control, or may come out of no where, leaving us feeling hopeless, or misunderstood.
One helpful tool that has helped me a lot has been positive affirmations. I love using affirmations to help me to remind me that I am greater than this autoimmune disease. What are affirmations? Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat to yourself on a regular basis. They can help to change your negative self-talk and replace it with more positive thoughts. This can lead to improved mood, increased self-confidence, and a stronger sense of well-being. Here are 10 affirmations that can help you on your Lupus Journey:
- I am strong and capable of managing my lupus with grace and resilience.
- I am worthy of love, care, and support, regardless of my health condition.
- My lupus does not define me, and I am more than my illness.
- I choose to focus on the positive aspects of my life and find joy in every day.
- I am surrounded by a community of people who understand and support me.
- I am grateful for my body and all that it can do, even with lupus.
- I trust in my ability to make the best decisions for my health and well-being.
- I release any negative thoughts or beliefs about my lupus & choose to embrace positivity.
- I am a warrior, and I will not let lupus defeat me.
- I am constantly improving and growing, and I believe in my ability to thrive despite lupus.
Now you’re probably thinking, okay, these affirmations are great. But what can I do with them? I often hear people saying that affirmations don’t work. However, affirmations aren’t supposed to work overnight. They work over time, just as you learn a new instrument, you have to practice everyday. Affirmations work in the same way, they take repetition. From first hand experience, I know how hard it is to use affirmations when you have lupus, and you feel sad, lost and no energy. But affirmations were a way for me to pull myself out of those dark times. And I continually have to practice them because it’s a skill just like anything else. It’s important to find ways that you find are helpful when using affirmations. Here are a 5 ways you can learn to use affirmations:
- Write them down, and have them posted up where you can see them daily. Put them on your computer wallpaper, or have little post-it notes around the house.
- Journal and write down your affirmations every day. I really prefer doing this, because it makes it more active.
- Record yourself saying these affirmations, and playing it in the background while you work, study or sleep. It becomes your own little affirmation mix tape.
- Do mirror work. Repeat these affirmations to yourself in front of a mirror. I used to actually write them on my mirror with erasable markers.
- Make affirmation cards with your affirmations! It can be fun to shuffle through them, or pick an affirmation for the day. I love love affirmation cards!!
Affirmations aren’t a cure all, but sometimes we just need to take a moment to flip our thoughts. Even if we don’t always “believe” that these affirmations are true, over time when repeated, they become a part of our subconscious and conscious mind. When things get tough repeating these affirmations can help you to stay positive and motivated. They can also help to reduce stress and anxiety, and improve your overall mood. Remember, you are not alone. There are many people who understand what you are going through and who can offer support. Using positive affirmations is just one of many ways that can help lupus warriors stay strong. Other helpful strategies include: getting regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, managing stress, connecting with loved ones, and seeking professional help when needed. From one warrior to another, we got this, and no matter how challenging things are we will overcome them.
