Some people aren’t into the idea of mantras. I get it. It sounds woo woo and unrealistic. What we need is action. Action brings change, not some flowery words on an instagram post...
And yet, so often, we find ourselves not taking action. Or even, reaching mid January and talking ourselves out of taking action because “It’s not working anyway.”
If you find yourself slacking off or not following through with those wonderful plans that you made, maybe it’s time to find something that will make the action taking a little easier.
Brace yourself, maybe we could use our brains to help us.
Enter the tool of the mantra. It’s like the cliff notes of deep thought work.
Now I am a big believer in examining your thoughts and evaluating how those are shaping your life but sometimes there is a quicker and easier way to GET THINGS DONE. Sometimes, in the moment, you can’t take 20 minutes to journal and meditate. You need something that is going to help you make a choice, that will spur continued action in real time.
This is what the mantra does. It’s a pre planned thought that you whip out whenever you need it. It’s something that you establish ahead of time for the times the obstacles to productivity arise. It’s like having jumper cables in your car or enrolling in AAA for when your battery dies. You only need to get stuck somewhere once (hopefully) before you buy the jumper cables and just leave them in the trunk for when you need them.
So of course different mantras serve different purposes. Here are the top 11 that can help you follow through on your goals.
1. I am doing this because I want to.
2. This is hard and I can do hard things.
3. “Everything is figureoutable.” Marie Forleo
4. The more I do things, the easier it will get.
5. “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” Voltaire
6. Choose your life, don’t settle for it.
7. Watch me.
8. I am totally reliable, a person who follows through. (Sometimes just telling ourselves this is enough.)
9. Done is better than none.
10. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Wayne Gretzky
(AKA: nothing ventured nothing gained)
11. No forward action is a waste of time. I bring myself wherever I go and these skills will help me.
Have you ever tried a mantra instead of jumping right into the pool of despair? The pool of “this is working” or “ I can’t do this!”
Maybe before beating ourselves up when our motivation wanes we can try and use our brains for us and not against us.
Pick a mantra.
Write it down (on your hand if necessary).
Practice it when the obstacles come up, which we know they will.
Take action even though you don’t feel like it.
Repeat.
I’m telling you, it sounds silly but it works. If you don’t like these, a quick google or pinterest search will provide a ton of other options. Or maybe you come up with your own.
And at the end of the day, it’s crucial to remember that most goals aren’t instantaneously attainable. I think Warren Buffet says it best, “No matter how great the talent or efforts, some things just take time. You can’t produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.”
More of the video type? Watch the YouTube version here.
Have a goal you are struggling with? Come on over to www.nursingbeyondthejob.com to schedule a free consult/brainstorming call.
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