You Are What You Say You Are: The Power of Affirmations

I’m lying on the lounge with Teddy and his bestie Ollie, thinking about what to write for this blog, and I was trying to come up with an example to start with.

And then I hear myself say – “Get up and write it, you lazy so and so…”

And here’s where it starts.

Let’s put this into perspective — today I have:

• Woken up and taken the dogs for a walk
• Met a friend for coffee at the markets
• Had a hit at the driving range and breakfast with friends
• Folded towels at work for tomorrow
• Done a load of washing
• Watched two (maybe three!) episodes of The Good Witch
• Vacuumed the house and washed the floors.

It’s 2pm and it's Sunday.

And this is where I laugh at myself — case and point!

🧠 The Voice in Your Head

We all have a voice in our head — the one that narrates our day, questions our choices, and sometimes whispers words that hold us back.
That voice can be kind and encouraging, or it can be critical and fearful.

And the truth is… we become what we repeatedly tell ourselves we are.

If your “I Am” statements sound like I am not ready, I am too tired, I’m too busy, or I am not enough, your brain and body start to believe it. The brain doesn’t know the difference between fact and fiction — when you tell it something enough times, it accepts it as true.

Sometimes these statements are ones we’ve given ourselves in moments of self-judgement, and sometimes they’re ones we’ve received from others.

This is such an important piece of understanding that I even added a little section in the Motivation Station of the NFP Planner to remind you:

You are what you say you are.

As Brené Brown so beautifully puts it:  “Talk to yourself like you would to someone you love.”

🐺 The Tale of the Two Wolves

There’s a well-known American Indian story about an old Cherokee teaching his grandson about life.

He tells the boy,

“A battle is going on inside each of us.”

“It is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One represents anger, envy, greed, resentment, and fear.
The other stands for love, joy, peace, kindness, and hope.”

The boy thinks for a moment and asks, “Which wolf wins?”

The old man smiles and replies, “The one you feed.”

Every thought we repeat is a seed — or, in this case, a meal.
When we feed the fearful wolf, it grows louder and more dominant.
When we feed the hopeful one, we begin to feel lighter, clearer, more at peace.

✏️ Redirecting Your “I Am” Statements

The NFP Planner was designed not just to help us manage our time, but to help us redirect our focus — and our self-talk.

Each time we sit down with our planner, we have the opportunity to reset the narrative:

• I am focused.
• I am a good parent
• I am financially wise
• I am enough
• I am a good friend

These aren’t just affirmations — they’re small recalibrations that help you shift from fear to possibility. 

They help you feed the wolf that brings peace, courage, and confidence.

🌸 Through Reflection Comes Change

Using your planner to capture your thoughts isn’t about being perfect or productive; it’s about creating awareness.

Awareness of how you speak to yourself, what you prioritise, and what you believe you’re capable of.  Each page becomes a quiet conversation with yourself — an opportunity to listen, soften, and redirect your energy.

So, I now invite you to pay attention to your inner voice and what you are saying “I Am.”

Reprogram your thoughts with affirmations on your mirror or tucked into the corners of your day — gentle reminders to feed yourself the right words.
Words of strength.
Words of courage.
Words of peace.

And if you’d like a practical tool to support that reflection, the NFP Planner is the perfect place to begin. You can explore it here 👉 NFP Planner

Click the I AM STATEMENTS link for a video from the NFP Planner video series about this section in the planner. Click here:  I AM STATEMENTS