I look around my house and see handwritten notes from my kids for each holiday or for Mother’s Day. They say things like “you are the best mom.” or “I love how you cook chicken for us”, “I love when you take us to the park”. When I see these notes, I am filled with a warm and loving feeling that reminds me of our love for one another. Think about the last time someone sent you a note or a letter, how did you feel? Think about the last time you saw a text that popped up that said, I appreciate you or “you did an awesome job.”
Oxford Languages Dictionary defines the word affirmation as “the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed. Emotional support or encouragement. Dictionary.com defines an affirmation as the assertion that something exists or is true.
Words of affirmations are one of Gary Chapman’s 5 love languages. Dr. Chapman is a psychologist-anthropologist who describes love languages as the way someone gives and receives love. According to research, words of affirmation are the most common love language, beating quality time and acts of service. Words of affirmation revolve around verbal expression. When we express them, we are telling someone what they mean to us or what we appreciate about them. We can do this with our family members, our friends, our partners, and our coworkers.
Words of affirmation can improve our communication and our connection with others. They can be spoken or written. If you’re not so good at saying them verbally, you can always write it in a letter, on a sticky note or in a text message.
Using words of affirmation with your partner can look like:
I love you
You make me laugh
I have so much fun with you
You are a good dad / mom
I’m so glad that you’re in my life
I appreciate the changes that you’re making
I see that you’re trying, and I appreciate that
Words of affirmation to a friend might sound like:
Thanks for meeting me. I had such a good time.
I appreciate you. You have been so supportive
I am so glad you’re in my life
Thank you for listening
You’re so fun to be around
I love our time together
Words of affirmation to a boss or employee might sound like:
I appreciate my job here
Thank you for the support
Grateful for this opportunity
We are so happy to have you
You’re doing an awesome job
Modern Therapy and Wellness is a group therapy practice in the Greater New Orleans area. We provide in person services in the New Orleans area and virtual services anywhere in Louisiana. Here at MTW, we believe that all people can use therapy. We believe that therapy should be warm yet direct. We believe that people can unlearn and relearn., We believe that emotional health is just as important as physical health. We love our clients. We have therapists who focus on the following areas: relationships, chronic illness, LGBTQ concerns, addiction, eating disorders, couple’s intensive sessions, trauma, brainspotting, EMDR, anxiety, and grief. Email us for a free phone consultation at: info@moderntherapyandwellness.com