Trying to affirm what I was most self-conscious about never really worked for me. However, realizing and affirming my personal attributes that I felt good about did because it helped me to realize my positive qualities (often internal ones not visible to the naked eye) far outweigh the qualities that I have less confidence about for whatever reason. That ability to affirm my positive qualities has provided me a bit of armour against the idiots of the world that I certainly needed.

So, can you affirm what you DO know are your strengths? Your intelligence, your capacity for empathy, your talents, etc. What goes on your positive list?