Affirmations VS Self-Inquiry

[Recursoinominado]

Does affirmations ("i am confident") are opposite to Self-inquiry?

I don't consider myself self-realized, but i guess i had a few big insights and came close to it.

I still repeat affirmations but they do feel silly when contrasted with Self-knowledge.

Are affirmations a contradiction? Are they still worth it to a serious seeker?

PS: i have been experimenting with "WE are" affirmations and they feel better to me but i never saw anyone talking about "we" affirmations.

[YogiCosmos]

Affirmations identify the individual with the ego as separate. “I am” this or “I am that.” It could be useful to break out of the mind, but it could also be a double edged sword.

[vladorion]

You don't remove deep unconscious beliefs through affirmations.

But you could use statements like "I am ..." to trigger what it is in your body/mind that doesn't agree with the statement. Then inquire into that.

For example, you say "I am confident" and then look where in your body there's some sort of resistance/tension/uncomfortable sensations and hold that in awareness, see what other thoughts and sensations come up and hold them in awareness one by one until they dissolve. Repeat that until nothing comes up.