I’ve been thinking about affirmations, mantras, anything we say to ourselves that make us strong in our faith. The science shows affirmations are a powerful way to center and refocus ourselves and our thinking. I agree, and I’ve played around with a few different variations with mixed success. Some suggestions below for your perusal, and happy mantra-ing!
1. Get personal.
After reading the “Jesus Creed” I found a prayer the author really liked; a Hebrew prayer he thought connected the person more deeply to the wholeness of being. It was a beautiful prayer, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember it. I had a saved bookmark on my phone and read it every time I got ready to pray. Needless to say, I should have realized this prayer wasn’t necessarily connecting with me. You must feel a relationship to the words, they must resonate so strongly that memorization isn’t a stumbling block. Needless to say, I used the prayer as a mantra a few times before moving on.
A better approach? Get out a piece of paper and write the first five things that come to you–don’t stop to fix grammar, just free-associate words and phrases that feel good. From there, see if you can cross-reference a bible verse or do some google-age to see if you hone your list to a tight three. Maybe your mantra is something your Godmother or Grandmother liked to say. It doesn’t have to be a “prayer” it doesn’t even have to have the word “God” in it. But it must remind you of the unique path God brought you into this world to walk. It should connect you with your purpose in life. Sounds heady, almost impossible, if you think about it too much. But like most things, the more you have fun with it, the more you’ll learn about what truly connects you to the words.
2. Test it out.
Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed (moms, closets and bathrooms are great for this). Read each mantra out loud, slowly and carefully. Feel the sensations running through your body as you repeat the words. If you did your homework, you should feel a reaction. You may surprise yourself by which mantras you end up responding to, but try not to judge yourself. God doesn’t grade on a curve, and he certainly doesn’t award brownie points for more “correct” mantras. There is simply no such thing. Take the pressure off yourself and feel which mantras are hitting the mark. You should be able to memorize them by this stage, with references only when you need a prompt. Which takes us to the next section.
3. Find the right vehicle.
For mantras to work, you have to remember to use them, no? So find a time where you will be prompted. A few ideas to get you going:
-Waking up/going to sleep
-Leaving the house/coming home
-Before/after mealtimes
-Before driving your car
-Setting a timer on your phone/watch
I use different mantras at alternating times throughout the day. My favorite references include: waking/going to bed, and coming home. I also have an old school watch that beeps on the hour. I find these references work well for me, and remind myself of all the blessings I have in my life.
So what are my mantras? Some are personal, but others I’m happy to share. A few hit list below.
“Who are you, Lord? And what am I to do?”
“I am beautifully and wonderfully made.”
“Every word from your mouth should be a gift”
The Lord’s Prayer (sung)
Do you have a favorite mantra? Tell me in the comments.
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