What an affirmation is and how it works

An affirmation or a mantra is a phrase or saying that you can repeat, time and time again, to reassure yourself, bolster yourself, or find assistance. The translation of the word mantra is “mind-tool,” or a phrase that we use to help strengthen our minds when we are struggling.

I use mantras and affirmations to reassure myself when I am scared. I also use them to call forth the kind of person I want to be, or the kind of behavior I want to generate. By telling myself a story in my mind, I activate processes that help me dig into my inner strength, find peace, generate calm, and activate my attention. We can help ourselves in tough times by activating the power of a mantra.

What's in this book

There are five main chapters filled with affirmations for you to borrow, edit, and use as much as you want in your own life. The book follows the path of parenting—from pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, to welcoming yourself as a new mother—and there are mantras within each section for you.

While I’ve loosely arranged the mantras by where you might be in your parenting journey, I also find that many of them work time and time again, and you can adapt and customize them to your own journey. In each chapter, you’ll find a mantra or phrase that you can use, like “Be the buffalo!” or “I am capable, calm, and wise,” along with a story about where it came from, and suggested variations or adjustments in phrasing.

Come, meet many of the women who shared their stories and affirmations with me, and join me in making your own. May your pregnancy and birth be what you want and what you need, and may you call forth all the strength and courage you need along the journey.