Everything starts with our thoughts.
It fuels our words, our actions, our character, and at times how we physically and mentally treat ourselves.
With life’s distractions literally at our fingertips all day, our thoughts toward ourselves can be influenced by what we see by others or even what we see and hear in the news.
And to quote Buddha, “What we think, we become.”
So, let’s take control of our thoughts to become what we think. And that is where the power of mantras come into play.
What Is a Mantra?
Mantras are a repeated word or phrase that can be well-known or unique to you, practiced either silently or aloud. They have the power to initiate motivation and positivity into your mind, which then can translate into how you think and act in the world.
The beauty is that a personal mantra is customizable and can be tapped into at any time or anywhere to calm anxiety, stress or invocate a feeling of peace.
And it’s done simply by telling the mind what to think.
Mantra is broken down into two parts, “Man” which translates to the mind, and “Tra” which means to transport or vehicle. Or in other words, a mantra is a vehicle of the mind to guide it toward a chosen feeling.
And mantras have been proven to work! In a study by Brain and Behavior, they found mantras to effectively calm the mind that triggers it to wander, it quiets internal thoughts, and helps to release emotion.
Finding Your Mantra
Whether you start your day with a mantra or repeat it during a stressful moment, choosing your mantra should be a word or phrase that speaks to you and resonates on a deeper level. Because if it doesn’t, your mind won’t take it seriously!
Your mantra can be anything that inspires you or makes you feel a certain way. Remember, it’s customizable to just you. To help you get started, here are 8 mantras for you to try on.
1. I am enough, I am strong, I am capable
If your current journey in life has self-doubt creeping in, this one is for you. Use this mantra to let go of approval from others with whatever you’ve set out to do and trust that you are on the right path. Not everyone will understand your own personal motivation for taking life on the way you are, but you know deep down that you can and will conquer your goals.
2. All the power I need is in me.
You are in control of yourself, and not others. To let go of stress and anxiety or worrying, this mantra will help to let go of what is out of your hands. Your thoughts control your way of being, tap into your own power to fuel you and take control of what you can, yourself.
3. I am responsible for my own happiness.
This one personally speaks to me as I have a history of not taking action for what I want for me. Similar to how we are in control of ourselves, we are in control of our own happiness, and not anyone else. If you want to see change, take it upon yourself to act. Be responsible for yourself and your own happiness.
4. I am healthy inside and out.
If your intention is to live a healthier lifestyle, I highly recommend taking this one on. But cultivating healthy and positive thoughts, we will have a healthy mind. We then will start to see life choice pop up that affect our health physically, such as eating cleaner foods and prioritizing exercise. Be healthy on the inside and out for true overall wellness.
5. Hari Om
Sanskrit for to “release suffering”, Hari Om is a powerful mantra to use to relieve emotional stress or obstacle that is in your way and then connect to the universal energy, which is Om, to thn let your obstacle be in the past. Is there something that is holding you down? Use Hari Om to let it be in the past and move onward.
6. My strength is that I am myself
If your mind wanders to comparison while on social media or you find yourself wishing to be another way then this mantra will serve you well. We all have something to share in our own unique way, and our mindset will be different than others around us. And that is a good thing! Just think if we all were the same physically or thought the same way, our world would not be what it is today. Embrace you, and build upon it to move you forward.
7. Om, Shanti – invites peace and calm
One of the most classically known mantras in the yoga community, Om, Shanti invites peace and calm to the mind and those around us. Om (or AUM) is the vibrational sound of the universe and Shanti means “peace.” If you find your heart rate rising during a stressful time, or see others worrying, use Om, Shanti to calm everything down and invite peace to you and the space around you.
8. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu
One of my favorites, this mantra translates to meaning, “may all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may my thoughts, words, and actions somehow contribute to their happiness and to their freedom.” What better way than to vibrate on high vibes than to call for everyone, even those we have a conflict with, to be at their highest self. I personally say this mantra to myself after saying “namaste” and bowing at the end of yoga. It is my own well-wishes for my fellow yogi’s to be happy.
How To Apply Mantras To Your Life
Similar to that a mantra can be unique to you, how you apply the mantra is the same way.
Traditionally, mantras are repeated silently during meditation, or through the use of mala beads. If this speaks to you, try it on the next time you sit in silence and breathe. To go a layer deeper, you can even match your mantra with your breath cycle to create a seamless rhythm.
For example:
- Inhale: I am enough
- Hold breath: I am strong
- Exhale: I am capable
Or simply:
- Inhale, exhale out your mantra
Other options include to speak them aloud to yourself, even when you’re getting ready in the morning or write them down in a journal. I encourage you to try out a few different methods to see what sticks the best for you. Remember, you can always repeat your mantra in your own head at any time, especially when you feel stress building up within you at work, in traffic, or in a personal conversation.
Whatever mantra you choose, let it be something that speaks to you in your current moment, and this may mean you have more than one mantra you use depending on the day. Repeating these influential words to yourself will shift your entire outlook on life.
Our thoughts fuel our words, our actions, our character, and how we treat ourselves. So, make your thoughts strong and meaningful. Repeat it, believe it, and live it.
“What we think, we become.” – Buddha
