7 Affirmations for Public Health Professionals

Part of every public health curriculum is a mandatory health communication course, where we learn best practices for communicating with the public and with other stakeholders. But you know what we don’t often learn in school, how to talk to ourselves.

Negative self-talk is a real issue among professionals in every field, but particularly for us. Sometimes it can be hard to see or feel the impact of our work. Sometimes we give so much of ourselves to our work, that we don’t leave much room for anything else. Sometimes it’s hard to stay the course in our careers when our work goes unrecognized and underpaid.
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Here are affirmations that you can add to your routine to speak positivity into your day, reinforce the value of your work, and promote work-life balance.

1. My work is important, my impact is real, and my purpose is fulfilled.
2. I disrupt disparities, champion equity, and promote health in my community.
3. I am on the right career path for me.
4. I will create time for rest, relaxation, and restoration.

You can also use these customizable affirmations to speak specifically to the type of public health work that you do.

1. I embrace my ability to [verb] [a health or social issue or topic] in my community.
   1. Example: improve access to healthy foods
   2. Example: increase the use of helmets
2. My work positively impacts [an intended population or short or long-term health outcome].
   1. Example: black birthing people in my community
   2. Example: STI testing rates
3. I [verb] public health [noun] that [aim or purpose].
   1. Example: create, campaigns, engage my community
   2. Example: develop, programs, save lives

By: Monique Thornton, MPH