A conversation with author Tronda Giles on self-authored affirmations, emotional accountability, forgiveness, and how rewriting your inner dialogue can transform personal growth.
What if the affirmations you repeat every day were written in your own voice instead of borrowed from someone else?
Author Tronda Giles is inviting readers to rethink the way affirmations are traditionally used. Her new book, Affirmations For You By You, challenges the common habit of repeating generic motivational phrases and instead encourages people to create affirmations rooted in their own experiences, emotions, and inner dialogue.
Rather than presenting affirmations as something to copy and paste into daily routines, Giles reframes them as intentional conversations with oneself. Through reflective prompts and guided exercises, her book helps readers craft personal affirmations that reflect their goals, struggles, and the growth they want to see in their lives.
At its core, the message is simple but powerful: the words that influence your life the most should be the ones you truly believe.
Why Self-Authored Affirmations Matter
For Giles, the shift toward personalized affirmations began with a simple realization. Healing and transformation require more than repeating words that don’t feel authentic.
Your new book Affirmations For You By You challenges the idea of borrowed affirmations.
What inspired you to shift the conversation toward self-authored healing?
Tronda: “Because self authored healing/ self authored affirmations help you rearrange the inner
conversation. When you have to sit in your own way of thinking you began to learn how
create what you really want.”
You’ve said that generic affirmations often fail. Why do you believe personalized language is
more powerful in shaping real behavioral change?
T: “Generic affirmations are great, but when you create your own affirmations you have to
think about the world and use words that come from the way you think and feel regarding
the subject you want to focus on. Personalized language in your affirmations create more
credibility.”
Many women struggle with internal dialogue that doesn’t match their external success. How
does rewriting our inner conversations impact both personal confidence and professional
outcomes?
T: “Rewriting the inner conversation helps you with the external reality you want, giving you
confidence and the knowing that you are the creator.”
Forgiveness as a Tool for Growth
Another important theme in Giles’ work is forgiveness, which she describes not as a moral obligation but as a practical choice for personal progress.
“I see forgiveness as a practical tool for growth,” she explains. “Holding on to unforgiveness keeps a past hurt alive and allows it to occupy emotional space that could be used for healing.”
Forgiveness, in this context, does not mean excusing or forgetting what happened. Instead, it means choosing to release the emotional weight attached to the experience.
When someone carries resentment or unresolved pain, that emotional energy can block new growth. Letting go creates space for something different to take root.
“What happened in the past can’t be changed,” Giles says. “But how we choose to feel emotionally can change. When you release the weight, you make room for healing.”
That emotional release also allows affirmations to work more effectively. With less emotional resistance, individuals are more open to the mindset shifts they’re trying to create.
Practicing Emotional Accountability
Emotional accountability can feel intimidating. How do you encourage readers to confront
their emotions without shame or self-judgment?
T: “Emotional accountability starts when the reader feels ready, when they are ready for a
change. Shame is typically felt when the person has not acknowledged the emotion. Self
judgment, when it comes to any emotion, is typically felt because of shame. Once a person
starts using affirmations that they have created, there they will find the power in their own
words. There they will find strength and realize it was always within them.”
In your work, affirmations are described as intentional conversations with oneself. What
does a healthy internal conversation actually sound like?
T: ” If you are creating an affirmation on your own or using Affirmations for You By
You, you are already having that conversation. You are thinking about the words you’d like to
use to create the perfect affirmations for whatever it is you are wanting to
manifest or demonstrate.”
Starting the Journey Toward Personal Growth
For women who feel successful on the outside but disconnected internally, Giles encourages starting with something simple: consistency.
Like any personal practice, growth requires repetition and belief.
“When I was on my journey to becoming a millionaire, I stayed consistent in my thoughts,” she says. “Even when I was homeless for the third time, I still saw myself as successful.”
That clarity of vision helped her maintain focus through difficult seasons.
Her advice for readers beginning their own journey is straightforward:
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Start small and define the change you want to see.
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Create affirmations that reflect your personal goals.
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Stay consistent in your thoughts and intentions.
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Trust that your growth is unfolding in the right direction.
“Know without a doubt that your success is yours to create,” Giles says. “Follow your understanding and love yourself for being exactly who you are.”
Connect With Tronda Giles
Readers interested in learning more about Affirmations For You By You can connect with Tronda Giles on Instagram at @mrs.ghi or find her book available on Amazon.
Her work continues to spark conversations around self-authored healing, emotional accountability, and the power of intentional personal growth.
Because sometimes the most powerful affirmation isn’t the one you repeat.
It’s the one you write for yourself.
