Hey savvy leaders. Welcome to episode 83!
Today our focus is on mantras. Specifically how to craft your very own powerful, results-producing mantra.
Mantra has two different meanings really so let’s first break that down. And then I’ll share how to go about crafting your very own powerful mantra.
There’s an original meaning for mantra that dates quite a ways back and there’s a more modern meaning.
Mantras originated in Hinduism and Buddhism. In this context, it’s a word or simply just a sound repeated over and over to help concentrate and stay focused during meditation.
As a trained yoga teacher I use phrases during the end of a yoga session during final relaxation to help students stay in the present moment to bring them back to the here and now especially if their mind is racing.
The more modern meaning of a mantra is basically a word or phrase that’s repeated often or that expresses someone’s basic beliefs.
A mantra can be used to help change the pathways in our brains to help us adopt beliefs that serve us better than maybe what we’ve been conditioned to believe.
Undesirable beliefs can come from different sources. Maybe what we heard from caregivers that raised us or people that had an impression on us growing up, including but not limited to our parents, or maybe we heard things from a partner or friend in our past, or present.
Beliefs can also come from stories we have told ourselves over time.
Regardless of where these beliefs originated or are rooted, you have the power to change them.
One of the most powerful tools you can use is a mantra.
We can literally change the pathways in our brains to adopt a new belief. There are several things we can do to grow and develop our brains. Learning a new skill, taking naps, exercising, and of course, mantras.
If you geek out on the science behind all of this, like me, go ahead and research neuroplasticity and neurogenesis.
Basically, know that mantras are powerful!
So, how do you craft a personal mantra that’s powerful, personalized, and produces results?
I’ll break it down into three simple steps.
Step one: become aware and simply notice when a negative thought pops into your mind. It can be about anything. But typically, if we’re critical of ourselves, if we’re doubtful in any way, if we’re unsure, feeling discouraged, or fearful, we’ll have a certain way we’re speaking to ourselves.
Maybe not out loud. Maybe just in thought. Even so. It’s not serving us.
Make note of these words. Take a moment to write them down. Which is a great way to stop the replay of words that tend to get stuck on repeat. Write them down.
This leads you to step two: flip your words so they reflect the opposite.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a pretty lofty goal you’re working on and you’re feeling discouraged. Totally normal. Right? Let’s be intentional about crafting your mantra though.
You catch yourself with the thought “I’m so discouraged I’ll never hit this goal.”
It may just be a whisper of a thought. A mumble that crosses your mind in a fleeting moment. But do you hear how you can adopt it as truth if you repeat it? It’s what you’re telling yourself. And it’s impactful.
So let’s flip it. Let’s make it into a positive, powerful, personalized mantra.
I’m going to ask you a couple of questions and pause. I want you to come up with an answer that resonates with you. I’ll offer some. But what you come up with is what makes this personal and what will resonate with you.
Write down your response if you’re not driving and if you’re in a position to write.
What’s the opposite of discouraged for you? If you’re not discouraged, you’re….
Ok. Got it? Write down a couple of words if more than one is coming to you.
Now I want you to write down your goal. The goal when you said I’m so discouraged I’ll never hit this goal….what is the goal? Write that down.
Ok, let me give you a few examples so you can hear this come together.
A few words that are the opposite of discouraged:
Unstoppable, on fire, encouraged, optimistic, amazing. Really, in this case, any positive word that describes you or how you want to feel.
Some examples of a goal:
Make 5 million dollars
Double the size of my team
Build 10 new top leaders
You get the idea. Insert your goal. Here’s what we end up with.
I am unstoppable I made 5+ million dollars.
I am on fire I doubled the size of my team.
I am encouraged and developed 10+ new top leaders.
This is how it becomes personal. You have to start with thoughts that are not serving you.
Then you flip it into a positive mantra using your own language. Using words that resonate with you is really important.
A special warning: there are lots of quotes, book titles, and memes out there that are catchy. And some may be timely and resonate for a bit. But the most powerful, personalized, result-producing mantra starts and ends with you. It will be one you craft and create on your own based on what you’re telling yourself that does not serve you. And then flipping it.
The third and final step once you have your new, individualized mantra is to repeat, repeat, repeat. Write it out, make it your password, put it on your bathroom mirror, in your car, and everywhere you’ll see it. Repeat repeat repeat.
And now you have the formula, the antidote for any thought or belief that’s not serving you.
I can’t wait to hear what you come up with! Click over to Instagram @yourcrazybigdreams and share your new, powerful, personalized, results-producing mantra! It’s so powerful!
The best is yet to come, friend! Always.
