Find Your Mantra {28 Daily Mantras} Introduction (Series begins February 1)

Find your mantra, a powerful spiritual truth focused on one small but important truth at a time.

When You Need a Mind Shift

I was struggling with my attitude toward my friend. I knew the attitude I wanted to have.

But it was not the attitude I did have.

The clock was ticking. I was about to be thrown into a situation with her that required the better attitude, not the lesser.

I wanted to rise to the occasion.

I talked to God about it. I talked with other friends about it.

And from their guidance I collected a few nuggets of truth mantras to have on hand for praying in the heat of the moment.

• Sympathize with the hurt
• Ask more questions
• Love matters most
• Make the memories good

Because they were short and few, I could remember and use them. They reminded me to be curious instead of judgmental, to find similarities instead of differences, and to focus on love instead of nitpicking.

They spotlighted who I wanted to be, how I wanted to live my core values.

And they helped me better love my friend in the particular situation we entered.

A Cliché or a Tool?

What is a mantra? There are two basic definitions:

1) a sound or word repeated by someone who is praying or meditating
2) a word or phrase repeated often that expresses someone’s basic beliefs

While the first type of mantra has value (scientists say rhythmic chanting of even an unknown word can enhance mental health), the mantras I’ve chosen are not foreign words to be chanted over and over while meditating (although I’m not knocking that).

In this series, I’ll only focus on the second type: statements repeated frequently to express belief.

We hear short, memorable statements and Bible verses used as mantras all the time:

• Be the change.
• Let it go.
• All things work for good.
• Be still and know.
• Live, laugh, love.

Even when they’re true (not all mantras are true, such as, bigger is better), do we use them for good?

How many of these sayings become just another cliché to us instead of a nugget of wisdom from God to guide our day?

One Mantra at a Time

I’ve discovered I can keep active only a few essential mantras at a time. Different seasons require different affirmations of specific truths.

Beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2022, I’ll share 28 of my favorite truth mantras, one each day.

If one of the mantras resonates with where you are right now, keep it around awhile. If not, read it for the day then move on.

These little statements aren’t meant to replace longer passages of truth that we study or memorize in context (my latest favorite chapter to memorize is here…download the free resources.)

But even short mantras are valuable. They are powerful spiritual sayings focusing us on one small but important truth at a time.

And by doing that, they can help us better love God, love others, and love ourselves.

Because sometimes God uses small things to make big change. (That counts as a mantra, too.)

I’ll start February 1 with my all-time most useful mantra, and end on February 28 with my favorite mantra that calms my anxiety.

The Table of Contents for all posts is here.

If you want to see all 28 daily mantras, subscribe to receive the posts as email. (If you’re already a blog subscriber, do nothing.)

Do you have a favorite saying or scripture that you repeat to yourself as a mantra or prayer? Share in the comments.

If you want to participate in the #Write28Days challenge every February, visit Anita here for details.

Previous Series:

• “I just can’t see it!” How to Uncover Hidden Biases
• 20 Ways to Practice the Enneagram
• 28 Days of Practicing Hope

• ← Share Four Somethings—January 2022
• What If Your Word of the Year Isn’t Working? →