As a child I was criticized constantly. Criticism became my inner voice. My firstborn is autistic and even though he doesn't speak fluently yet; he is constantly saying affirmations. When something hurts his feelings or he falls he says, "It's ok." I do fill in the blank affirmations with him. When I say "J is ________." He fills in the blank with "a nice boy" or "a smart boy." My son only has a few words and he uses them to affirm himself.