Hi, I’m Janice, and I’m the artist behind Hamletta Studios. I make playful, encouraging art to help you reconnect with your creativity and feel a little more at home in your own head.

When My Brain Wouldn’t Shut Up

Not too long ago, I felt like I was constantly fighting with myself in my own head. Every time I tried to make art, start a project, or just, like, exist—there it was. That voice. Telling me I wasn’t good enough. Telling me I’d mess it up. Telling me not to even try. What would people think of me??

It got to the point where I couldn’t enjoy doing the things I actually liked because that inner critic was so loud. And it sucked the absolute joy out of everything.

Eventually, I stumbled into affirmations. But not the corny kind. These were little reminders that actually helped me feel grounded, like I could breathe again. And they weren’t just cute quotes, they started shifting the way I thought.

Why Mindset Matters (Even If It Sounds Cliché)

Today, I want to talk about something that’s helped me more than I expected: having a positive mindset. I know that can sound a bit cliché, but for me, it’s less about being cheerful all the time and more about gently choosing to believe that things can get better. It’s noticing small good things when the big stuff feels heavy.

One tool I keep coming back to is affirmations. Short little phrases that I repeat to myself, write in journals, or stick on the wall. They remind me to be kinder to myself and to keep going, even when everything feels a little off.

So in this post, I’m sharing a bunch of my favorite quotes and affirmations. You can speak them out loud, keep them in your planner, or just use them as tiny nudges toward a more hopeful mindset. I hope they help you the way they’ve helped me.

What a Positive Mindset Actually Looks Like

Having a positive mindset doesn’t mean you’re happy all the time or that you magically stop having bad days. That’s not how it works. It just means you try to notice the good stuff, even when things feel kind of awful. It’s more about shifting the way you respond than pretending everything’s fine.

Honestly, it’s a practice. Some days I remember to do it. Some days I don’t. But when I do, it helps. Even just pausing and reminding myself that I’ve gotten through other hard things before can make things feel a little less impossible.

There’s actual research about all of this, but I’m not here to be a scientist. I just know that trying to stay hopeful has helped me feel a little steadier. And that’s enough for me to keep doing it.

Eventually, I found that the affirmations worked even better when I paired them with a quick journal prompt—something to slow my brain down and shift my focus. That turned into a little experiment I call the 7-Day Affirmation Challenge: one quote, one journal prompt, each day for a week. Just a small reset.

The 7-Day Mindset Reset (That Doesn’t Require Perfection)

You don’t need fancy supplies, perfect handwriting, or even a full hour of free time. This is for the tired, the trying, and the beautifully imperfect. Just one quote a day, a little reflection, and a sprinkle of creativity—whatever that looks like for you.

Use markers or sticky notes. Cut up magazines. Scribble. Collage. Reflect with your morning coffee or before bed. You get to make this yours.

🌸 Day 1: Be Kind to You

“The way you speak to yourself matters.”

Prompt: What have I been telling myself lately? Would I say that to a friend?

Try This: Write a kind reply to yourself. Turn it into a doodle, sticky note, or gentle visual reminder.

🌿 Day 2: Letting Go

“Today I will not stress over things I can't control.”

Prompt: What’s one thing I’m gripping way too hard right now? How would it feel to just... put it down?

Try This: Sketch what "letting go" looks like — scribble it out or draw an open hand.

🌸 Day 3: Tiny Steps

“Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.”

Prompt: What’s one tiny step I can take today toward something that matters to me?

Try This: Use arrows, paths, or stepping stones in your journal to visualize this little movement forward.

🌿 Day 4: Own Your Timing

“Don’t compare your life to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.”

Prompt: Where have I been comparing myself? How is that not helping me?

Try This: Draw your own sun + moon as a reminder your timing is divine. Bonus points for gold or silver!

🌸 Day 5: Lighten Your Load

“If today was heavy, put it down and let it go.”

Prompt: What’s been weighing on me? Is it mine to carry?

Try This: Create a “mental backpack” drawing — what’s inside that can be removed?

🌿 Day 6: Find Your Joy

“Happiness is a mood. Positivity is a mindset.”

Prompt: What helps me come back to myself on hard days?

Try This: Make a “mood lifter” page — collage, color, or list little things that help you reset.

🌸 Day 7: Protect Your Peace

“I prioritize my peace of mind.”

Prompt: What can I start (or stop) doing to protect my peace?

Try This: Draw a “peace bubble” filled with boundaries, rituals, or people who feel safe.

The Full List: 25 Affirmations That Actually Help

If you’re more of a “scroll and screenshot” person, I got you. After trying a bunch of cheesy ones that didn’t hit, these are the quotes that stuck with me—and actually helped me stop spiraling.

Breathe. You are strong. You got this. Take it day by day.

I prioritize my peace of mind.

Today I will not stress over things I can't control.

Today I accept and let go of the things that I can't control and focus my energy on the things that I can.

If today was heavy, put it down and let it go.

Staying positive doesn't mean you have to be happy all the time. It means that even on hard days you know there are better days to come.

I have what it takes.

The way you speak to yourself matters.

Don't give up because you had a hard day, forgive yourself and do better tomorrow.

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.

You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.

A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset.

Be the energy you want to attract.

Focus on the good and the good will multiply.

Happiness is a mood, positivity is a mindset.

When you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine.

Don’t stress. Do your best. Forget the rest.

Two things you are in total control of in life are your attitude and your effort.

Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end.

Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place.

We cannot always choose the music life plays, but we can choose how we dance to it.

When problems come into your life like nonstop rain, remember that your positive attitude will always be your umbrella.

Don’t compare your life to others. There’s no comparison between the sun and the moon. They shine when it’s their time.

Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and the way you make others feel is your trademark.

I would rather be "annoyingly" positive and optimistic than destructively negative and hateful.

Start Somewhere (Even If It’s Small)

Thanks for sticking with me through all these affirmations and thoughts. Building a positive mindset isn’t about being perfect — it’s about showing up for yourself, little by little.

You don’t have to be “healed” or have the perfect routine to start shifting how you speak to yourself. I sure didn’t.

This stuff isn’t magic—but it is powerful. One sentence, one journal page, one pause... it adds up.

And hey—if one of these quotes helped you today, I’d love to know. We’re all figuring it out together.