Almost Affirmations: Because "I Love My Body" Feels Like a Lie

by Annalise John, LCSW

Let’s be real: sometimes affirmations feel like trying to wear someone else’s skin.

Scratchy. Ill-fitting. Kinda fake.
Like standing in front of the mirror whispering “I love my body” when you’ve spent years treating it like a battlefield.

That’s where almost affirmations come in.

This might sting, but hear me out: if affirmations feel cringe, it’s not because you're broken. It’s because they’re skipping a step.

They’re skipping you — the real you, the one in the messy middle.
The you who wants to feel better, but doesn’t want to gaslight yourself to get there.

What Are Almost Affirmations?

Almost affirmations are like soft landings for hard truths.
They're not about bypassing pain with pretty words — they’re about building a bridge between where you are and where you want to be.

Because the affirmation “I am radiant and whole” won’t hit right when your inner critic is still screaming about your thighs.

But this might:

“I am open to spending less time hating my body.”

Or:

“It’s possible that one day, I won’t feel so at war with myself.”

See the shift?

It’s subtle. But it’s honest.
And honesty is what makes healing stick.

Why Traditional Affirmations Can Feel Inauthentic

If you’ve ever tried to force an affirmation and felt like a fraud, you’re not alone.
The brain isn’t just listening — it’s fact-checking.

And when there’s too much distance between the affirmation and your current belief system, your nervous system throws up a “this is BS” flag. Cue discomfort. Cue shame. Cue quitting.

That’s why authentic affirmations — the kind that match your nervous system, not your Pinterest board — matter.

They work with your brain, not against it.
They’re affirmations with dust on their boots and dirt under their nails.

Examples of Almost Affirmations for Body Acceptance

Let’s swap out the spiritual bypass for soul-deep honesty:

❌ “I love my body.”
✅ “I’m learning to treat my body with less resentment.”

❌ “I am confident in my skin.”
✅ “It’s safe to experiment with not picking myself apart today.”

❌ “I am beautiful just as I am.”
✅ “I’m curious what it would feel like to see myself with softer eyes.”

Small shift. Big magic.
These statements aren’t sugarcoating — they’re scaffold-building.

How I Use This in Therapy

When clients tell me they feel like affirmations are BS, I don’t try to convince them otherwise.
I ask them what almost feels true.

Because almost is a place. A powerful one.
It’s where the old story starts unraveling, and a new one begins whispering.

We work with the nervous system, not against it.
We find words that feel like a nervous system exhale, not a performance.

Try This: Write Your Own Almost Affirmation

Think of a thought that’s been haunting you.
Now try this formula:

“I’m open to…”
“It’s possible that…”
“I’m learning how to…”
“I’m experimenting with…”
“What if I could…”

It should feel like a sigh of relief, not a fake Instagram quote.

Final Thought (Mic-Drop Moment)

Healing isn’t always “I am love and light.”
Sometimes it’s “I’m not sure I hate myself today, and that’s enough.”

Burn the rulebook.
Feel it to free it.
And if the affirmation doesn’t fit — write your own damn spell.

Which one of these almost affirmations landed for you?
Drop it in the comments, or better yet — write your own and tag me. Let’s build bridges, not bypasses.

Want more dream decoding, nervous system wisdom, and permission slips for your healing? Follow along @rivercourse_counseling