Positive affirmations are often referenced in circles of self-improvement, encouraging Pinterest boards, and health magazines, but they aren’t often discussed in the realm of positive psychology. Affirmations are just statements about oneself, but the public view is split on whether affirmations are good or not; some people view them only as wishful thinking, while others recite their affirmations daily like a spiritual mantra. The scientific view of positive affirmations, however, depends on which type you’re talking about; there are a couple of different theories about affirmations, and it turns out that we affirm ourselves in different ways.