p.s. put yourself first by Hasini

11.23.24

Dear diary,

I feel as if everytime life gets good, I mentally get worse. I traded my vaseline for lipstick, bike rides for a 10 pm curfew, and Minecraft YouTube videos for self-help advice. Everything around me is changing but me. I feel like my 11:11 wishes have failed me. 

Yours truly,

Hasini (p.s. lmk if I’m overthinking again lol)  

What is the Law of Attraction?

Think of it this way: like attracts like, good thoughts attract good experiences, and bad thoughts attract negativity. 

Goals? Chaos? Opportunities? Whatever you wish for, the universe delivers. The amount of energy you invest is the amount you gain. 

After past stagnant years, I turned to the only thing in my life that remains constant: the way I think. If you are surrounded by change but the only thing unwilling to change is you, how do you move forward? Like money, confidence is dependent on how much you invest; you reap what you sow—at least that’s what I was told. 

Is it just a myth?

No, it isn’t. Neurobiology backs this up:

• Dopamine: It’s a neurotransmitter that controls your reward system. When you succeed, dopamine surges, reinforcing neural pathways that lead to success. Confidence creates more confidence.
• Serotonin: It’s a chemical substance that regulates mood and sleep. When levels are low, due to emotional instability and stress, an increase of sensitivity arises that amplifies negative emotions and insecurity.

What this means for you:

Without proper investment in mental well-being, serotonin decreases, amplifying negative emotions. When prioritizing yourself, dopamine rises, strengthening positive behaviors that are likely to be repeated.

The Law of Attraction isn’t magic—it’s chemistry.

Confidence, in my humble opinion, is incredibly hard to build. “Fake it till you make it” sounds promising, but living it is harder than it looks. Somedays, it feels as if I’m rehearsing lines that feel foreign to me.

As Eleanor Roosevelt reminds us, “No one can make you feel inferior without you.” 

The only person who is in control of your feelings, your responses, and your growth is you. Not me, not your mom, not even a random internet prophet who predicts your future. Believing in yourself isn’t a gift you receive, it’s in the character you build. 

How do you build confidence?

No shade if you’ve searched this up once or twice. Or maybe you’re like me with a trillion searches. One common theme among the searches was the act of rehearsing affirmations. As stated by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “Self-affirmations are acts that affirm one’s self-worth, often by having individuals reflect on core values, which may give individuals a broader view of the self. This in turn can allow individuals to move beyond specific threats to self-integrity or self-competence” (Cascio et al., 2015). 

Although self-affirmations may seem cheesy, they work. Why? It’s because they shift your brain’s focus from insecurity to identity. Instead of obsessing over what you lack, you remind yourself of what you already have.

So, I have a challenge for you… write these manifestation affirmations on your mirror and repeat them every morning for a month. Do not lie. You can’t build anything on a half-empty promise. 

I am enough just as I am.

I release worry and trust the process.

I am creating the life of my dreams. 

I am worthy of happiness.

Think of it like planting a seed. Each time you repeat an affirmation, you’re watering that seed with attention and energy. Over time, those seeds grow into stronger neural pathways—your brain rewires itself to believe the words you’re saying.

Don’t believe me? Michelle Obama uses affirmations often, reminding herself of who she strives to be. She claims that self-affirmations create a confident mindset acting as a self-care tool when dealing with the stresses and pressure of life. 

Repeated actions strengthen neural pathways through a process called neuroplasticity, meaning consistency doesn’t just build habits. It has the capacity to rewire your brain to process challenges more efficiently.

Thought leader Craig Groeschel reminds us of what’s true: “Successful people do consistently what others do occasionally.” 

Confidence is built on consistency. 

Over repeating affirmations day after day, month after month, I began to notice even the subtlest changes in my life. My perspective expanded and empathy became second nature. Treating myself with respect allowed me to understand others and the power of controlling your emotions. 

This is a path only you can walk. Self-help videos, podcasts, and inspiring books can spark ideas, but they can’t take the steps for you. Growth is in the action. It’s in the first steps you take to better yourself and every footprint you leave behind as proof of your effort.

11.20.25 

Dear diary, 

I am confident in the way I think, act, and perform. I suppose I had been chasing it all to realize it’s been there all along, guiding me in every step. If that’s true, then every affirmation, every footprint, every small act of self-respect is proof that I’m already becoming the person I once wished to be.

Yours truly, 

Hasini (p.s. I’m still learning one step at a time)