The Power of Words: Why Sweet Lane Was Built on Affirmations

The Power of Words: Why Sweet Lane Was Built on Affirmations

By Jeanne, Co-Founder of Sweet Lane

At Sweet Lane, affirmations aren’t just words — they’re daily reminders of strength, confidence, and kindness.

I was fortunate to be raised in a home where my parents deeply believed in the power of words — and teaching me they can build me up or tear me down. I often heard, “Be a friend who adds and multiplies to people’s lives, not one who divides and subtracts.” We were also reminded of the old saying, “If you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.” In other words, if I chose to stay in a negative environment, it will eventually influence my thoughts and attitude. Self-kindness was taught that it matters, because whether I believed I could or couldn't — I was right...to choose my words carefully; because they would shape who I become. But even in a home filled with positivity, I struggled to practice self-kindness.

As I grew older — I became aware of my undiagnosed ADHD, especially as I walked alongside my own children's journeys — I began to learn more about why that was. Children (and adults) with ADHD often wrestle with self-criticism because their brains process feedback and mistakes differently. They have lower dopamine levels and differences in the prefrontal cortex, which impacts self-regulation and emotional control. 

To sum this up, it means they often:

• Notice their mistakes more intensely and have trouble letting them go.
  

• Internalize criticism, creating a cycle of “I messed up → something is wrong with me” instead of “It's ok that I made a mistake → I’ll try again.”

In short, ADHD brains can make it harder to filter out negative self-talk — which can make even the most capable, kind-hearted kids/adults feel like they’re constantly falling short.

When I began learning about this more deeply, I decided to be intentional about what messages my children — and I — heard every day. I wanted to gift them tools of self-awareness so they can practice self-compassion and to remind them:
1️⃣ We don’t use challenges as a crutch; we embrace them as part of how we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. There are no mistakes in His design.
2️⃣ A diagnosis is not a label — it’s an understanding.
3️⃣ Knowledge brings growth, and awareness brings empowerment.

Most importantly, we practice self-kindness. If we wouldn’t speak harshly to a friend, why do it to ourselves? It’s scientifically proven that the words we repeat become what we believe. That’s why our family always believes in first-person affirmations like I AM, I CAN, and I WILL.

 I have taped them to the kids' mirrors, on waterbottles, and even tuck them into lunch boxes. Over time, those small words because part of a daily mantra, it's not magic but it's habit and over time it can shape the way we see ourselves, it's called neuroplasticity ( proven here ) — that’s what inspired Sweet Lane. 

Fashion is fun, but when you pair it with affirmations, it becomes powerful. Our goal is for every design to carry a message that sticks long after you take it off.

Sweet Lane isn’t just about clothing — it’s about connection, creativity, and confidence. It’s our shared platform for creating, designing, and celebrating who we are — differences and all — because every story matters and has a beautiful purpose. 💕