Morning Affirmations for a Better Day: Science Backed and Faith Filled

Hello Friend!  It’s a new day.  Let’s Retrain Your Brain.

How does your day normally start?

Unfortunately, mine pretty much starts, most days, by waking up 30 minutes before my alarm goes off.  You know that perfect amount of time that is long enough to go back to sleep but too short that by the time you fall back to sleep you essentially will have 6 minutes of actual sleep before the alarm goes off?  So, most mornings, I read Reddit for those 30 minutes. Reddit is one of my favorite places these days.  I am subscribed to so many varying topics ranging from blogging to abandoned buildings.

I have recently had a dream that is revealing more peace in my life. It was about birds!
Read about it here: https://juliedigitalcreation.online/dreaming-about-birds-rest-trust-faith/

Something New: Christian Morning Affirmations For A Better Day

Lately, I’m doing something new. I have a new morning routine for emotional health.  I recently stumbled upon a Mel Robbins video she titled, “8 Things to Tell Yourself Every Morning”.  This was very intriguing to me.  I’ve been directing my focus on learning new methods in handling my emotions.  Mel Robbins has been a valuable resource.

Since learning about these 8 phrases, before my feet hit the floor, I’ve been saying the first 4 of the 8 to myself every morning.  I sometimes repeat them several times while I’m getting ready.  I have memorized the first 4 and I intend to do the same with the remaining 4.

I want to break her video down, and share my own thoughts and results with you, as this video was revolutionary for me and what I love most is that it’s based on science.  It’s based on the brain, and I love anything that involves the brain as a means of changing the way we handle day to day life.

One final thing before I get into the details, is to think of your brain as a computer. Your brain is not emotional. It has programs, it has firewalls, it has systems that are constantly working and here’s the amazing part, you can be the programmer to tell it to do new things!

Watch the full Mel Robbins video here: 
8 Things to Tell Yourself Every Morning

Ok, let’s do this!

#1 Morning Affirmation: Today is Going to Be a Great Day!

When was the last time you expected something good to happen?  Do you find yourself bracing for the worst?  Sadly, our brains are looking for reasons to be worried and we unfortunately, look past the good things and only see the “bad” things. This is why saying this and the others first thing in the morning is so important.

Additionally, this should be said if a lot is going on.  This should be said if you’re facing something hard, something stressful, or emotionally difficult.  Mel references Dr. Amen, a world-renowned expert on the brain, who has scanned nearly 300,000 brains.  Dr. Amen says this very phrase to himself, every day.  He states we have to program our brain.  It’s called, “directing your mind.”  It puts the brain in a positive state and it forces the brain to look for reasons for it to be a great day.

Scientific Breakdown

If you’re not directly programming your brain, it’s still being programmed.  The brain doesn’t care.  The brain just does what it’s used to, but we can change its direction.  Psychologists call this a form of positive expectancy.  When you expect a better day, your brain shifts its attention toward things that match that expectation.

Next, I want to focus on the next term, called Reticular Activating System (RAS).  This system acts like a filter in the brain.  When you say, “today will be great,” you are programming the filter to look for: good moments, solutions instead of problems, small graces or wins in the day.

Another important scientific element is something called Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Research.   Decades of research (Rosenthal effect) shows our expectations influence our behavior, which influences outcomes.   As a believer, I’m definitely not into anything mystical here, so this is not “manifesting magic”, you’re simply adjusting your internal direction.

Finally, there is something referred to as Cortisol vs Positive Framing.
If your first thoughts in the morning are negative that negativity spikes cortisol. A positive morning intention lowers it and boosts dopamine pathways tied to motivation.

Great news!  Saying, “today is going to be a great day” isn’t empty positivity.
It’s biological steering.

I don’t want to stop at saying, “today is going to be a great day”.
I want to speak what God says as well.

Psalm 118: 24 “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 5:3 “In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice.  In the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”

 

#2  Morning Affirmation: Something Cool (good) is Going to Happen to Me Today

Let’s flip the script!  Every day!  This statement is preparing your brain for an exciting adventure.  It leaves your mind to be open to an unexpected experience or event, it taps into anticipation.  When “cool” things happen, you’re going to notice them because you’ve programmed your brain to look for them. This is part of a skill to train the brain to have a good attitude.  Wake up, train yourself to have a good attitude for no reason at all.  Assume good things are going to happen.  You’ll see more good things and therefore experience good things.   This is a skill; you are capable of training yourself to walk out every day.

How Your Brain Responds – The Science

  1. Anticipatory Dopamine
When you expect something good, your brain releases dopamine before anything happens.
Dopamine increases: motivation, energy,hope, and concentration. It primes your brain to actually notice small, good things
you would have ignored.

2. Reward Prediction Circuitry
     I like this one, your brain likes surveying the world for “possible good”. When you say this  phrase, you wake up those
reward-seeking circuits.

3. Interrupting “Threat Forecasting”
    Most people wake up scanning for: what could go wrong, what might hurt, what might disappoint.  This is a learned mental          habit that you can change!  Replacing it with something good
rewires the default threat forecast and builds emotional resilience.

4.  Small-Joy Psychology
     Studies show people who look for even tiny “good moments” experience lower stress and well-being.  You are training your         brain to look for grace, connection or opportunity.

Scriptures for a Better Day:

Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you…plans for a hope and a future.”
Psalm 27:13 “I remain confident in this.  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of  the living.”

I will talk about the next 6 phrases in future posts.  I don’t want to overwhelm you.  As I was writing this and re-reading the science, it is so exciting to me!  It’s exciting that we are not a slave to our emotions and our habits, and ways of thinking that are not good for us!  How do we get into these habits?  It is encouraging and inspiring that we can change the way we think and possibly, most likely change the course of our days, for GOOD!

Application and Closing Encouragement

I want to end with some suggestions on how you can apply these every day:

• Say them before you check your phone
• Pray/say them while you make coffee
• Write them on a small card on your night stand, or the sink
• Repeat them even if you don’t “feel” them

Lastly, practice:

• Looking for one good thing every day
• Expect God’s goodness in ordinary places
• Keep a list of small daily gifts

Your brain will be primed to notice small, good things you would have ignored and help rebuild hope without forcing big dramatic positivity.

Mel Robbin’s Affirmations part 2 is here:
https://juliedigitalcreation.online/morning-affirmations-for-a-better-day/

FAQ

Do morning affirmations really work?
Yes. Studies show morning affirmations influence dopamine, stress levels, and the way your brain filters experiences throughout the day.

Can Christians use morning affirmations?
Yes. Speaking truth and setting your mind on hope aligns with scripture and supports emotional and spiritual health.

How long does it take for morning affirmations to make a difference?
Most people notice a shift within a few days, but consistent practice over weeks creates deeper mindset changes.

Thank you for your time!  My prayer always, is that this enriched your life in some way
Until next time.
Lost.Loved.Found. xoxoxoxo

Dr. Daniel Amen, a leading brain health researcher
https://www.amenclinics.com/

Mel Robbins
www.melrobbins.com