For a while last year, I was overwhelmed by stress from both my life and my work. I found myself constantly wrestling with low self-esteem, self-doubt, and anxiety—I was just mentally drained every day. At my wife's encouragement, I started seeing a therapist.

She used hypnotherapy and taught me meditation, but what I found most helpful was the deck of positive affirmation cards she gave me. She laid out a simple daily practice for me:

• Every morning, draw a card, repeat the words to myself, and snap a picture of it with my phone.
• Throughout the day, act on the card's prompt—this could mean doing one small thing, making a small decision, reinforcing a belief, or just taking a moment to reflect.
• Journal about my actions or any insights I had.
• Share the card and my feelings with friends or family.

After a few months of this consistent practice, I gradually rebuilt my confidence and learned how to better manage my negative emotions.

Because carrying physical cards around was inconvenient, I had the idea to develop an app myself. And that’s how StrongMe was born.

Of course, StrongMe isn't just for people who are going through a hard time. My therapist later told me that, in fact, everyone should use positive affirmations. She called them one of the best tools out there for practicing mental self-care.