WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA?

What’s your mantra?

A lot of people might say, “Mantras are just for those people who meditate and do all that stuff.” Well, no. Your mantra is what you repeat to yourself over and over. It doesn’t need to be said out loud. It doesn’t need to be planned. It doesn’t even need to be true.

Maybe you say things like: “I’m always going to be fat” or “People don’t like me” or “I’m shy” or “I’m bad at running” or “I hate this or that”.

When I began my journey to reclaim my fitness in July 2011, I was telling myself over and over, “I can’t do this anymore.” Luckily I recognized this self-sabotaging behavior. I immediately picked a mantra. I decided to tell myself, “I am strong.”

That’s it. Three words. Every time I got on the treadmill, I had to repeat my mantra over and over. Every time I attempted to lift weights or hold a yoga pose, I had to rely on my mantra to combat the negative chatter that wanted to take over my brain.

It worked. Now, at age 65 I am very strong and I know I will get even stronger with each passing year.

I still need my mantra. For example, cardio has always been boring and challenging for me. So when I do it, my mind wants to get into whine mode. But, if I repeat, “I am strong” over and over, it is a lot easier to pick my knees up higher when I run.

So what is your mantra? Is that mantra helping you be your best self? Or, should you change it?

It’s ok if it isn’t true today. Tell yourself that you are going to pretend that it’s true until it actually is true!

Again, what is your mantra?

“Progress always involves risk. You can’t steal second base and keep your foot on first.”

– Fredrick B. Wilcox