The Journaling Muse – Issue #21 From Limiting Beliefs to Empowering Affirmations
A soft space to reflect, reconnect, and create with feeling.
Dear Reader,
I’ve been painting for over a decade—yet for years, I hesitated to call myself an artist.
Why?
Because deep down, I carried quiet but powerful beliefs about what it means to be one. Maybe you’ve felt this too—uncertain whether you’re “allowed” to claim a title, a dream, or a truth that feels real inside but fragile in the world outside.
Recently, I began exploring these beliefs through journaling and reflection inside my Mastermind group. As I wrote, old stories surfaced—about success, failure, identity, and worth. I was surprised to find how easily self-doubt hides beneath the surface of our everyday lives.
But then, something shifted.
With a little help (thank you, ChatGPT!), I began to gently reframe those limiting thoughts into affirmations—soft, supportive reminders of who I really am.
From Doubt to Trust
Old belief: “I’m not a real artist.” ​New truth: “I am an authentic artist, and my creativity matters.”
I recorded the affirmations in my own voice, added soft background music, and listened to them each morning and night.
At first, it felt awkward.
After a week, I resisted it. I didn’t want to listen anymore. So I paused—and that’s okay too.
Mindset work isn’t linear. It’s personal, surprising, and sometimes a little messy. But when I returned with kindness, something softened. The voice inside me grew a little lighter.
Why This Matters
Journaling reveals what’s hidden. Affirmations help us rewire the stories we tell ourselves. Pausing is part of the process—not a failure.
Each small act of reflection brings us closer to who we truly are.
Try This: Your Journal as a Mirror
Step 1: Identify a limiting belief.​ It might relate to your creativity, your work, relationships, parenting—any part of life where self-doubt lingers.
Step 2: Reframe it with kindness.​ Turn the belief into an empowering affirmation. (Or ask ChatGPT to help!) Example: “I never finish anything” → “I create at my own rhythm, and that’s enough.”
Step 3: Reflect on these prompts:
What am I afraid someone might think if I fully expressed myself?
Where in my life do I feel “not enough,” and where did that story begin?
What old belief have I outgrown, but still carry?
What would I try if I believed I couldn’t fail?
Who do I become if I let go of this belief?
Optional: Record your affirmations and listen to them daily for a few days. See what shifts.
Creative Practice
Collage as Reframing​ ​How it helps: Collage lets you deconstruct and reconstruct images and words—mirroring how we break down old beliefs and build new ones.
Try this:​ Cut out words or images from magazines that reflect your limiting belief. Then, layer over them with positive, affirming messages and visuals. Create a new story.
Doodle or Sketch Your Mantra​ ​How it helps: Doodling a mantra like “I am enough” can anchor the affirmation in your body and calm the nervous system.
Try this:​ Spend a few quiet minutes sketching or decorating one positive phrase a day. Let it become a meditation in motion.
Closing Words
Sometimes, showing up for yourself is the bravest thing you can do. Sometimes, rewriting your story begins with a single sentence.
Your creativity is real. Your voice matters. And you are more than enough.
Cheering on You, ​Beáta
PS: Let me know, how it works for you. I'm still listening to affirmations.
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No matter what you choose, I’m thankful our paths have touched. 🌿
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