The book ‘Badass Affirmations’ shows how to tap the wisdom and power of ‘wild women’

By Apoorva Gairola

Delusion is a lie that tells the truth – I heard these words in a movie and the embedded paradox found a home in my mind. On one hand, delusions pave the way to psychopathology but, on the other, they affirm our belief in positive imagined scenarios, and increase our self-efficacy.

Self-affirmations allow the visualisation of imagined scenarios that you would like to turn into a reality. In fact, they motivate you and bring about actual behaviour change in pursuit of the future imagined scenarios.

This effective intervention can be put to use in addressing the issue of the “confidence gap” that women experience in personal and professional domains of life. After all, it takes much to shake off the centuries and millennia of conditioning “to be seen but not heard, to serve but not be served.”

Women’s studies scholar Becca Anderson tells us how in her book Badass Affirmations: The Wit and Wisdom of Wild Women (Embassy Books, INR 395).

Affirmations are positive statements that affirm one’s self-worth and core values. They are spoken out loud to oneself every day or even several times a day, in order to bring about a desired change in mindset and self-perception.

It’s important to note that not all affirmations are applicable to everyone. Only the ones that absolutely align with your goals and values are the ones that you should employ in order to bring about a gradual change in the way you think.

Research has proven that affirmations stimulate the brain’s capacity for imagination, help with more efficient emotion regulation, have the capacity to broaden one’s perspective, can reduce stress and increase mental and physical wellbeing, improve performance and reduce defensiveness in the face of threat and change.

When being a badass is good, why does the term include bad? When concocted, badass was meant as an insult. A bad person who also happened to be an ass or a fool was referred to as a badass. Then came slang where bad means good. So, over time, a term that originated in the mid-1900s to ridicule a bully evolved into one that commends formidable strength, often of the fairer sex.

A total of six chapters address different areas of concern in women’s lives and how self-affirming can bring about a positive change. The areas include self-confidence, romantic love, the subject of beauty, women at the workplace, family and building resilience. There are periodic affirmation prompts spread throughout the book.

Every chapter includes profiles of visionary women and several uplifting quotes by them. These are women from all over the world with very different life and career trajectories — from Gloria Steinem to Aretha Franklin to Malala Yousafzai. Yet, what brings them together is the fact that they all faced immense personal challenges and yet rose to distinction on the basis of their merit and mettle.

“They’re wave-makers, tradition-breakers, and world shakers,” writes Anderson. At the end of the book is an interactive section where the reader can begin using the content of the book in the form of thought exercises through journal prompts.

The purpose of the book is to remind women of the strength they possess. It is not to be read just once and left on a shelf for eternity but is meant to be engaged with on a daily basis. Every day, pick up the book and open to a random quote that would guide you through your day. As is with affirmations, repetition is of the essence. Reading a few motivating quotes and affirmations a day is “like getting a booster shot in word form.”

The book itself should be kept in a place where you can see and read it daily. Affirmations should be written down and kept in places that you access regularly, so you look at them and, in doing so, repetition ensues. Write them in your journal, on sticky notes to post on your mirror, desk, computer screen, fridge and wherever else you are likely to see them every day. 

For writing your own affirmations, which are in addition to the ones that are included in the book, the author has included some guidelines like the use of strong language that would push you to bring about the required behavioural changes. In this way, affirmations have proven to be an effective way of carefully crafting yourself into a version of you that you seek to be.

The text is very easy to read and follow, and the profiles of women who have left their impact in the world are no doubt inspirational for people of all ages. If you are into affirmations or even a bit curious about them, you would benefit from the read.

Apoorva Gairola is a psychology professional and freelance journalist who is passionate about mental health, women’s and gender issues.