Mantras
Mantras are a great way to focus the power of language in your life. The word "mantra" comes from Hinduism and literally means "sacred utterance." It has also evolved to mean a commonly repeated word or phrase. And in this usage, it can be synonymous with a proverb, moral, maxim, motto, or saying. But the great thing about a mantra is its ability to anchor you to a larger value. In our family, "Go with the Flow" is a particularly useful mantra. My kids and I talk about the meaning of this phrase, and come up with pictures in our minds of what it looks like to "Go with the Flow." It can be a feather floating in the wind, or a twig floating down a river, or a piece of seaweed swaying in the ocean currents. Some circumstances call for a fight. Sometimes, you have to marshal all your strength and battle to the end. But other times, swimming against the current is pointless. It wastes energy that could be more effectively directed somewhere else. So, when one of us is battling a strong current that could just as easily propel us peacefully along our path, it's time to repeat our mantra: "Go with the Flow." This not only gets us unstuck, but it reinforces a family value of flexibility. My mantras change, depending on the circumstances of my life, but I always choose them thoughtfully. Remember that negative language is just as powerful at anchoring beliefs, and the consequences are far reaching. In fact, the language we use literally shapes our experience of life!
My dad had many sayings that he was fond of repeating when I was a kid, such as, "you can't see the forest for the trees," which taught me to consider the big picture and not get lost in the details of whatever I was doing, and "don't look a gift horse in the mouth," which taught me to be unconditionally appreciative for whatever I was given. There are so many sources of wisdom that can anchor us to our values. All of the major religious traditions have wisdom literature. Folk wisdom, favorite quotes, and family sayings are also great sources. Alcoholics Anonymous and the other 12 Step Programs use slogans such as "One Day at a Time" and "Easy Does It" to help members stay focued on the difficult work of recovery. While it may appear cliche' on the surface, a mantra, carefully chosen and mindfully practiced, can be one of the easiest and most effective spiritual disciplines available to influence the course of your life for the better.
My dad had many sayings that he was fond of repeating when I was a kid, such as, "you can't see the forest for the trees," which taught me to consider the big picture and not get lost in the details of whatever I was doing, and "don't look a gift horse in the mouth," which taught me to be unconditionally appreciative for whatever I was given. There are so many sources of wisdom that can anchor us to our values. All of the major religious traditions have wisdom literature. Folk wisdom, favorite quotes, and family sayings are also great sources. Alcoholics Anonymous and the other 12 Step Programs use slogans such as "One Day at a Time" and "Easy Does It" to help members stay focued on the difficult work of recovery. While it may appear cliche' on the surface, a mantra, carefully chosen and mindfully practiced, can be one of the easiest and most effective spiritual disciplines available to influence the course of your life for the better.
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