Power. It’s a quality we all know, as perhaps even aspire to, ourselves.

It’s great to feel powerful. Power is confidence, personified. Power means control. It means energy. It means that you are a winner! 

And more so – power is magnetic. It draws people to us.

Being able to harness our own personal power, at any time, is an invaluable life skill.

Today, we’re going to talk about “power phrases” – how to use them, and how to create your own to be able to re-center and summon your own personal power.

What is a “Power Phrase”?

A “power phrase” is a short, three-word phrase that you can anchor on and repeat to yourself both throughout the day and in times of stress and nervousness. It’s a form of affirmation in that it allows us to vocalize and manifest qualities that are important to us, and that we want to internalize.

Why Use Power Phrases

Power phrases are great for so many reasons. They remind you of your goals, and your aspirations. They recenter you when you’re feeling “off” or unfocused. And perhaps the greatest benefit of power phrases is that they increase your self-esteem.

As humans, our concept of self-esteem has to do a lot with our sense of self: who we are, what makes us unique, what makes us feel like the most powerful, best versions of ourselves. When we create a power phrase, it allows us to instantly connect with that version of ourselves where we feel in control, authentic, and powerful. Repeating our power phrase, either in our minds or out loud, increases our self-esteem and our self-concept.

How to Create Your Power Phrase

To create your own power phrase – spend some time thinking about words and qualities that are important to you. I find that adjectives work best: adjectives that describe you in your ideal state: the person you want to be, and the woman you are more than capable of becoming!

A great way to discern your power phrase adjectives – think about your goals. Are there specific attributes that you need to develop to accomplish those goals? What character traits will serve you along the way to your journey?

Find three words that work for you. Or at least three to start with to create your first power phrase. It can change over time if it’s not working for you, or you can have more than one for various scenarios and needs. The important thing is to get started.

Write down your power phrase – in your journal, on a note in your phone, on a post it note at your desk – and commit it to memory.

How to Use Your Power Phrase

Now the fun part – find a place in your daily routine where you can practice saying your power phrase out loud to yourself.

A great suggestion a friend of mine shared was every time you use the restroom – after you finishing washing your hands, say your power phrase out loud in front of the mirror. If you’re in a public bathroom, maybe check for strangers first…. (Or don’t! OWN IT!)

Saying these words out loud gives them power. Saying these words out loud gives YOU power. Try it for a week, and see how you feel. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Power phrases also work well for mental repetition. I use mine often during meditation or during yoga. As someone who struggles to truly “quiet the mind” (I’m working on it!), I find it’s helpful to have a centering, anchoring phrase that I can repeat mentally over and over again.

My favorite power phrase at the moment is”

“Beautiful, powerful, capable.”

Spend some time thinking about your power phrase – and share it in the comments if you’re feeling brave!