Do you have a mantra(s)? Are you aware of what a mantra is? It’s a word or phrase, repeated over and over again, typically during mediation or when y
ou’re feeling unlike yourself. The idea behind this practice is to calm your mind and create happiness. Mantras can be traced back to over a few thousand years ago when they were introduced through prayer or hymns.
“’The word mantra is derived from the verb root, ‘man,’ which means ‘to think’ in Sanskrit, the liturgical language of Hinduism and Buddhism. The earliest mantras appeared 3,500 years ago and were repetitive prayers or hymns. By the time meditative yoga developed, in the last few centuries B.C.E., mantras were being used to calm and control the mind,’ says Rebecca Manring, associate professor of India studies and religious studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind.” – WSJ
Mantras are effective because they’re simple yet reassuring. Your mantra becomes a way to dismiss any doubts or negative thoughts, which allows you to focus on positive thoughts and feelings. The use of a mantra during stressful situations can create and strengthen new neural pathways in the brain that promote positivity and erase toxic thoughts.
An easy way to decide upon a mantra is to picture an older, wiser version of yourself. What would your older self advise? Incorporate that advice into a short, simple mantra that’s positive and will be a trigger when you’re feeling out of sorts. You can decide upon several mantras so they can be applied to different types of situations or thoughts. One mantra can be a helpful tool when, for example, you are stressing about your finances. Another might be applied when you catch yourself practicing a habit you want to break. Still another may help calm you when you are conflicted.
For example, if you habitually make impulsive purchases that you later often regret, you might repeat “patience” or “simplicity” to give yourself the strength to delay gratification. By contrast, if you deny yourself simple, affordable indulgences, “worthy” might be a useful mantra. Another example: does the volatility of the stock market create fear and stress? Try calming your brain with a mantra of, “I’m okay now.”
If you’re searching for happiness within, integrating the practice of repeating mantras may be an answer. A battle within oneself can be defeated with positive thinking – you can do it! (Hey, that’s not a bad mantra!)