Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan opened up about a practice that helps him stay aligned mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Appearing on the Think Right podcast, Dhawan revealed how writing affirmations in his journal has become a key part of his day.
Stating that he has been journaling regularly, when asked what he has been writing in his journal, Dhawan said in Hindi, “These days, I’m in a very good phase of my life, where I’m going through a transition. My cricket career has been really good, and I’m grateful for how well it turned out. Now, going forward, see I am a big thinker, I like to think big, I like to make it big as well.”
He added, “Abhi main bas yahi likhta hoon ki (Currently, I have been writing that) I am very successful, I am very wealthy, very healthy. Spiritually, I am going high vibration and bhagwan mujhe koi si bhi career mein daale, chahe woh entertainment ho, business ho, XYZ… kuch bhi ho (Whichever career God places me in – whether it’s entertainment, business, XYZ… whatever it may be), toh I see myself being very successful. And I know that whatever nature brings my way will be right for me. So now, I’m surrendering to it, and it will come on its own.”
Dhawan also admitted that he sometimes has doubts, mentioning, “Mereko yeh nahi pata ki kya aa raha hai. But kabhi-kabhi bechaini bhi hoti hai, aise nahi ki kabhi nahi hoti hai. But phir mein uss affirmation ko lata hoon, aur haan, (I don’t know what’s coming my way. And yes, sometimes I do feel restless, it’s not like I never do. But then I bring myself back to that affirmation, and yeah) I’m enjoying my off time here.” He added, “I’ve realised how important it is to enjoy the present moment. It all comes down to your daily habits, your routines. Because your routines are what shape your future.”
His words shed light on how the power of repetition and intention-setting through journaling might help shape one’s mindset and possibly influence real-world outcomes.
How repeated self-affirmations like these influence a person’s mental state or performance in life
Counselling psychologist Athul Raj tells indianexpress.com, “Affirmations like these aren’t about magical thinking. They’re a conscious attempt to speak to the self differently.”
When Dhawan writes “I am powerful” or “I am successful,” he’s choosing to offer himself a counter-narrative. Raj says it’s not about pretending — it’s about putting intention behind the voice that gets the mic inside his head. “Repeating those words doesn’t instantly change belief, but they create space for a different kind of self-talk over time. Something steadier. Less reactive.”
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“Neuroscience simply supports this: repetition forms familiarity. Familiar thoughts become easier to access. And when those thoughts carry strength instead of doubt, they can shift emotional tone, even under pressure,” mentions the expert.
That said, he stresses that affirmations aren’t a fix. They don’t bypass fear or erase difficulty. But they do offer structure–especially when everything else feels unpredictable. For high-performers, routines like this can become a quiet form of anchoring, not just to success, but to self.
“What matters most is the language, feeling real. Affirmations that sound like slogans won’t land. But if the words carry emotional weight–if they reflect something the person wants to move toward–then over time, they start shaping how one feels, acts, and responds. Not as a cure. As a shift,” Raj concludes.
