WHAT THEY ARE
Mantras are simply things you can repeat over and over to become centered, peaceful, powerful or whatever you desire as a way of being or thinking.
Most people have mantras such as “I’m no good”, “I’m not good enough”, “when I achieve such and such, I’ll be ok”, “there’s danger ahead”, etc. Obviously, those produce effects, but effects that are not desirable.
So, using mantras is a practice that can produce very good effects for you. There also excellent for focused meditations or even just for repeating out loud, probably in front of a mirror and loudly with great certainty (or with softness and kindness, as you prefer).
EXAMPLES:
Main ones:
Life is good.
I like myself.
Peace
I know I can take care of myself.
There are millions of things to be grateful for.
Things are never really so bad.
Zen koan: I’m ok not knowing now.
Derived:
Something along the idea of: I have enough knowledge to be safe and take care of myself. Sure I could be better off, but that’s always true. And it is always true that I could appreciate what I have now. There will be millions of things I don’t know and that is perfectly ok!
I am perfectly ok and know enough.
I know enough to create a good (great) life.
USE FOR SITUATIONS OR FEELINGS:
Tense:
I am cool, calm and collected.
Unsettled:
I am OK.
Fearful:
The truth is that I will survive (I am surviving).
I am not in danger. Is this really danger to me?
Feel unhappy:
There is no point in being unhappy right now. I choose to be happy.
I can choose to be happy right now.
Life is just fine.
This is just part of life and life overall is just fine.
MY LIST OF MANTRAS AND “UTILITY” THOUGHTS
“Utility” thoughts are those you can bring in and use when needed to offset or eliminate some negative thinking effects. Probably no more than 10. And 2 or 3 might be sufficient.
Date last updated:
Main ones:
When life seems tough:
When I feel down on myself:
When I feel afraid:
When I feel unhappy:
When I feel tense:
When I feel unsettled:
