As adults who are still trying to figure out our lives, many of us have sought out coping mechanisms for when things go wrong and it feels a bit like the end of the world.
Taking a deep breath, counting to ten, and repeating positive affirmations are all good ways to block out the negative thoughts and help us to respond rationally to a situation.
It’s unusual for little kids to even know about these coping mechanisms, let alone practice them themselves. That’s why one little girl has captured the internet’s hearts after a video emerged of her repeating positive affirmations to herself while sniffing back the tears.
Little Brilee Haderer has mastered what a lot of kids haven’t: she knows how to calm herself down when she’s upset.
For most children, even the smallest of things, like no playtime or an unexpected food on their dinner plate, can feel like the biggest deal. But thanks to Brilee’s mom, Shelbee, the little girl is able to recover from her minor breakdowns with the power of affirmations.
In the video, Brilee is crying after crushing her fingers in a door. She’s upset and in pain, but Shelbee is on hand to remind her that it isn’t the end of the world. She urges her daughter to take a deep breath, then another one. She asks,
“Are you okay?”
Brilee says yes, but adds,
“I hurt my hand.”
Shelbee instructs her daughter to take another deep breath, then asks her to repeat a few affirmations after her:
“I’m okay. I’m strong. I’m beautiful. I’m loved. I’m worthy.”
Brilee dutifully repeats her mom’s words – and the result is astonishing! No longer shaken up from the experience, Brilee looks completely calm and happy.
Before the video ends, she says,
“Thank you mom.”
And she holds out her hands for a cuddle.
Sheblee’s video is proof of the power of positive affirmations. Many of us don’t bother with them, thinking them a waste of time, but Brilee’s response to her mom’s affirmations show that right words at the right time can have an incredibly calming effect.
The situation with Brilee could have escalated much further. Brilee could have cried for a long time, replaying the experience in her head and feeling traumatized by the incident.
Instead, her mom helped her to forget about the incident and, instead, appreciate the good things in her life. Shelbee has taught her daughter to approach a small setback with a healthy mindset: it might be a minor roadblock, but it doesn’t change my amazing life. I will get over it.
There are many science proven benefits of positive affirmations, and experts encourage us to speak them daily, even in non-traumatic experiences. If you’re after a scientific definition of what exactly an affirmation is, Clinical Hypnotherapy says this:
“Affirmations are powerful, positive statements that aim to direct your conscious and subconscious mind, challenging previously held unhealthy and negative thinking patterns.”
Repeating affirmations can help to “transform your internal state on a deep and profound level”, and they’re powerful enough to help you get out of patterns of negative thinking.
If you’ve never practised speaking affirmations before, it’s never too late to start! Try a few of Shelbee’s affirmations: “I’m strong. I’m loved. I’m worthy.” Just like little Brilee, you might find that your mindset changes faster than you ever could have imagined.
You can watch the adorable video of Shelbee calming Brilee down just below.
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