You may have heard the word “affirmation” being tossed around in the past couple years, especially in places like yoga studios and wellness retreats. While the term may sound like a trendy catchphrase of the year, creating affirmations is actually a great way to work on improving your mental and physical wellbeing.

What exactly is an affirmation? Psychology Today states that affirmations are “used to reprogram the subconscious mind, to encourage us to believe certain things about ourselves or about the world and our place within it.” People craft affirmations to help remind themselves of their worth and to assist them with shifting their frame of mind.

Constructing an affirmation necessitates that we examine our own biases against ourselves. We must admit what parts of ourselves we need to work on, actively using language which is constructive for our end goal. For example, you may be feeling negative about your perceived lack of financial success in the world. You can work on creating an affirmation that helps you remember daily that you are more than your financial worth. You might remind yourself periodically, “I am worth more than my job,” or “My bank account does not define my self-worth or happiness.”

So how do you create your own positive affirmations? Consider some beliefs about yourself and the world around you that you would like to improve. Do you want to have a healthier self-image? Do you want to decrease your anxiety levels about work? Perhaps you want to feel comfortable unleashing your creative side to complete an art project you have been dreaming of for a long time.

Once you have identified the situation you would like to change for the better, create a couple of positive affirmation statements and write them down. Focus on using positive language. Instead of writing things like, “Don’t speak negatively about myself,” find a way to craft your affirmation in a positive light. You could write, “I am a valuable person and deserve respect.”

If you are used to surrounding yourself with negative emotions, it can seem uncomfortable to write your affirmations down. That is completely normal, and this situation gives you the chance to acknowledge the energy you have devoted in the past to establishing negative belief systems about yourself and your abilities.

Referring to your list of affirmations frequently keeps these statements fresh in your mind. Dedicate time in your day to acknowledging your affirmations. You can read them over as you drink your morning cup of coffee or just before bed as you are unwinding for the day. Keep in mind that affirmations can change over time.

Revisit your list often and determine if any changes need to be made. A few weeks or months down the line, even years, you may realize you carry your affirmation beliefs all the time and no longer need to actively work on them. New situations can unveil opportunities to create updated affirmations, so keep the possibility for change and continual improvement in mind.