Today, you’ll discover best codependency affirmations for recovering codependents and how to use affirmations in a way that will make affirmations work for you.
What Is Codependency?
Codependency is not an officially diagnosable condition.
It is not formally recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR)that psychologists use when making a diagnosis.
Codependency is lack of sense of self.
The codependent is out of touch with themselves, including their own feelings, thoughts, needs, and desires.
As a result, the codependent becomes overly focused on others and often finds themselves in codependent relationships.
Related: How To Overcome High Functioning Codependency?
Signs of Codependency
Common signs of codependency include:
- Dating an addict
- Going out of your way, even if it is majorly inconvenient for you, to help others
- Feeling responsible for other people’s actions and feelings
- Seeking to fix others
- Struggling to say no and set healthy emotional boundaries
- Putting other people’s needs and desires before yours
- Diminishing and dismissing your own feelings.
Related: Top 25 Tips On How To Set Boundaries In A Toxic Relationship? (+FREE Worksheets PDF)
What Are Affirmations?
An affirmation is a positive statement consciously chosen to either help eliminate something negative from your life or help create something positive in your life.
By using this tool, you’re saying to your subconscious mind, “I am aware that there is something I can do to change and I am taking responsibility to do that.”
Related: Top 30 Affirmations For Perfectionism (+FREE Worksheets)
Are Affirmations Effective?
Whether you know it or not, you’re using affirmations every moment: All of your self-talk and internal dialogue is a stream of affirmations.
Every complaint is an affirmation of something you don’t want in your life. Every time you feel like a victim, you’re affirming that you want to continue to feel like a victim.
Your thoughts in turn create your experiences. That is why you need to start paying attention to your thoughts so that you can begin to eliminate the ones creating experiences you do not want in your life.
It’s time for you to begin to consciously create your life in a way that supports you.
Related: Top 35 Boundaries Affirmations To Help You Become More Assertive
50 Codependency Affirmations For Recovering Codependents
1. I deserve a healthy and loving relationship.
2. I deserve to be loved and cared for
3. I deserve to be loved the way that I love others.
4. I deserve someone who treats me with compassion, kindness, and love.
5. I am capable of being in loving relationships.
6. Healthy relationships are possible for me!
Related: Codependency And Enmeshment: 9 Signs You May Be In An Enmeshed Relationship
7. My happiness is important.
8. I am responsible for my own happiness.
9. My happiness comes from within me.
10. I release taking responsibility for other people’s happiness and wellbeing.
11. I am worthy of love.
12. I am a valued person.
13. I respect myself and my boundaries.
14. I respect my feelings and honor them.
15. My needs are important.
16. It’s okay to think of myself first.
17. I deserve to be listened to and taken care of.
Related: Caregiving vs Caretaking (The Savior Complex)
18. I have a voice and I will speak up for myself.
19. I stand up for myself and others.
20. I let go of any fear that keeps me from having a voice.
21. I trust my intuition and make decisions that are best for me.
22. My opinions are valid.
23. I can say “NO.”
24. It is okay to set boundaries.
25. I choose to take care of myself.
26. It is okay if I make mistakes; I’m only human.
27. I am safe.
28. I am relaxed.
29. I am releasing all the tension from my body.
30. My mind is a safe place and I allow my thoughts to be.
31. My emotions are like a wave, they will come and go swiftly.
Related: Top 21 Codependency Journal Prompts
32. I forgive but I also learn the lessons that people have taught me.
33. I let go of the past and allow myself to move forward into a beautiful future.
34. No matter what happens, I will get through this. I am strong enough to do it.
35. There are good things waiting for me ahead.
36. Every day and in every way, I am getting better and better.
37. Every day I love myself more and more.
38. I release any beliefs that keep me from being authentic.
39. I am a good person.
40. I accept people for who they are.
41. I release control over anyone.
42. I am growing stronger and healthier as I continue to move forward in my life.
43. I am grateful for what I have and who I am.
Related: Codependency Quiz (+FREE Codependency Worksheets PDF)
44. I have the power to change my life for the better.
45. I have the power within myself to achieve anything that I desire!
46. Every day I am closer to being the person I want to be.
47. I move towards the highest version of myself.
48. I have the support of caring people.
49. I accept help and allow myself to receive love and compassion.
50. My life is precious and valuable, just as much as anyone else’s.
Read: Best 20 Must-Read Books On Codependency
How to Use Affirmations?
Here are some suggestions to help your affirmation practice be as powerful as possible:
1. Affirm yourself while looking in the mirror.
Mirror work is a very powerful tool to help you absorb affirmations faster.
As children, we received most of our negative messages and believe from other people looking us straight in the eye. As adults, we most of us will look into the mirror and say something negative to ourselves.
Therefore, the quickest way to get results with affirmations is to look yourself straight in the eye and make a positive declaration about yourself.
Related: What Causes Codependency? Top 6 Reasons You May Be Codependent
2. Recite your favorite affirmations out loud to increase their power.
Hearing the words will reinforce the impression on your subconscious mind.
As you recite the affirmation, think carefully about its meaning. Do not merely say the words.
3. Write the affirmations down.
Writing down affirmations on a piece of paper or in your journal is another powerful way to turn your intentions into your reality—the more slow and deliberate you are, the better.
4. Use visualization
Visualize yourself having or doing or being what you want to attract into your life.
Fill in all the details. Live it as if it’s already happening. Notice what you feel, see, touch, hear.
Visualize other people’s reactions to your new reality.
Related: Best 10 Codependency Blogs (+FREE Resources on Codependency)
5. Recite affirmations as you are falling asleep.
Your mind is more receptive prior to sleep and the conscious mind is less able to reject affirmations. If you can memorize the affirmation, keep your eyes gently closed as you recite it.
6. Make affirmations a part of your daily routine.
- Start your day by reciting an affirmation as you go through your morning routine.
- Pick your favorite affirmation at the moment and meditate on it for a minute.
- Write affirmations down on a sticky note and post them around for gentle reminders.
- Set reminders on your phone to help revisit certain affirmations throughout the day.
Related: Top 20 Practical Ways to Overcome Toxic Perfectionism (& Get Things Done)
7. Tweak the affirmations so they work for you.
Try using phrases like “I am learning how to…” or “I am willing to…” to soften an affirmation and make it more accessible to you in any moment.
Do not weaken your affirmation by saying, “I wish” or “I hope.” State the affirmation as a decree.
8. Recite the affirmations with an open mind.
The more open your mind is as you absorb the healing energy of each affirmation, the better they will work for you.
Rather than judging the affirmations as wrong, or right, try to recite them with an attitude of curiosity. Notice how you feel as you recite them and afterwards, without judgment.
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9. Practice compassion and patience with yourself.
There is no “right” or “wrong” way to practice affirmations.
Focus on the affirmations that resonate with you and your situation, and periodically revisit ones that didn’t to see if anything has changed.
It’s okay if you missed a day here or there; you can always pick up where you left off anytime.
Here are some of the signs that these affirmations are already helping you:
- You start to feel a sense of relief.
- You become more aware of your thoughts.
- You judge your life experience less.
- You live with more gratitude and appreciation.
- Your perspective shifts to always benefit your mood.
Related: Best 18 Self Compassion Journal Prompts (+FREE Worksheets)
Conclusion
Codependency affirmations can be a powerful tool for individuals struggling with codependent behavior.
These affirmations are positive statements that can help reprogram the mind and shift one’s perspective towards healthier behaviors and relationships.
The benefits of using codependency affirmations are many.
They can help individuals break free from patterns of enabling, rescuing or controlling behaviors, reduce anxiety and stress associated with codependency, and enhance their overall well-being.
Affirmations can also promote a sense of empowerment and independence, enabling individuals to take more ownership over their relationships and reduce their dependence on others for validation or validation.
By repeating these affirmations regularly, one can begin to internalize them and build self-esteem, self-respect, and self-love.
Get Free Printable Blank Affirmation Card Templates PDF
References
- Portions of this article were adapted from the book 21 Days to Master Affirmations, © 2011 by Louise Hay. All rights reserved.
- Portions of this article were adapted from the book Affirmations for Happiness: 200 Positive Affirmations for a Joyful Mindset Every Day, © 2020 by Kelsey Aida Roualdes. All rights reserved.
- The Lived Experience of Codependency: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis | SpringerLink
- Codependency: An Empirical Study from a Systemic Perspective | SpringerLink
- Living with Addicted Men and Codependency: The Moderating Effect of Personality Traits – PMC (nih.gov)
- Measuring codependents’ close relationships: a preliminary study – PubMed (nih.gov)
- Co-Dependency | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)
- Codependency: What Are The Signs & How To Overcome It (positivepsychology.com)
- Codependent relationships: Symptoms, warning signs, and behavior (medicalnewstoday.com)
- Codependency of the Members of a Family of an Alcohol Addict – ScienceDirect
