11 Whitman-Inspired Positive Self-Affirmations

In his poem “Song of Myself,” Whitman beautifully celebrates the self, and many of his notions would be an amazing addition to one’s daily self-affirmations.

Perla Kantarjian – August 6th, 2021

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Whether or not you’re versant in the spiritual mien of TikTok or Instagram and co., you’ve gotta have heard about or come across the word “affirmations,” and how it has grown to be one of the most earmarked and à la mode motifs of 2021 spiritual psychology.

By definition, to affirm something is to assert it as valid, or claim it as true. So, an affirmation is a statement doing just exactly that through firmly declaring a positive thought and cognitively embracing it as a truth. Having been carefully constructed to have the most positive impact on the self, namely, the subconscious mind, affirmations incorporate thoughts in the present tense that shape or describe one’s reality as they wish it to be.

As with all practices, positive affirmations are believed to work best when merged into routine, and many resort to a plethora of ways to reap the finest benefits of this spiritual-psychological exercise, such as through penning the self-affirmations down, singing them, or reciting them first thing upon waking.

Nevertheless, the power and practice of positive affirmations is not a twenty-first century discovery. According to Psychology Today, self-affirmations were first popularized in the 1920s and have since been trumpeted by coaches and self-help gurus around the world.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892), American poet, essayist, and journalist, was a strong advocate of individuality and transcendentalist notions and a prolific producer of spiritual wisdom who doubtlessly was well-aware of the power of words upon the mind.

In his poem “Song of Myself,” published in his poetic collection Leaves of Grass, Whitman beautifully meditates on and celebrates the self, and poetically ponders the mysticality behind experiencing earthen life.

While perusing and melting into the poem’s verses, we noticed that many of Whitman’s notions would be an amazing addition to one’s daily self-affirmations. And so, we prepared a list of 11 Whitman-inspired Positive Self-Affirmations:

1. Clear and sweet is my soul, and clear and sweet is all that is not my soul.
2. Welcome is every organ and attribute of me.
3. I celebrate myself.
4. I am satisfied, I see, dance, laugh, sing.
5. I believe in you, my soul.
6. Seeing, hearing, and feeling are miracles, and each part and tag of me is a miracle.
7. Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am touched from.
8. I dote on myself, there is that lot of me, and all so luscious, each moment and whatever happens thrills me with joy.
9. That I eat and drink is a spectacle enough for the great authors and schools.
10. I find I have distanced what is behind me for good reasons, and call any thing close again when I desire it.
11. I am afoot with my vision.