Years ago, I received some great advice from my college track coach. She told me I needed to create a mantra. Not a sit in silence and mediate for hours on end mantra, but a short affirmation to tell myself when I was feeling tired or defeated or unsure that I could make it through the next set of practice runs. We came up with something – 4 words – that I would mumble to myself as I walked up to the line to start another rep. Sometimes she would yell it at me in solidarity. Sometimes she yelled it at me when she knew I was wavering in belief. Either way, she constantly reminded me that I was capable of more and she became a voice in my head that I carry with me even today.
Sometimes the biggest hurdles we face are the ones we create in our own minds. Arming yourself with a mantra, a key word, something that you can say to yourself to quiet self-doubt, is our best defense. So here are a few tips for creating a go to, super powered mantra:
· Make it short. It should be something you can easily remember, and you can say to yourself when time is limited.
· Make it positive. That’s the whole point of this exercise.
· Put it in active voice. No passive voice weak mantras please!
· Find one or two people that you trust to share it with, but don’t tell everyone on social media. Your mantra should be personal. It is what you are going to use to battle self-doubt. Don’t share that power with anybody and everybody.
· Make it specific to the situation at hand or make it more universal. It’s your choice. Personally, I like the more universal approach, and the new year is a great time to set goals and a mantra to fuel your progress.
· Believe it. Even if you don’t right away, or you falter sometimes, you need to say it enough that it becomes the truth.
Ready, set, go! 2020 awaits!
-Dominique
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