Using Simple Mantras for Mental Health!

Have you ever replayed an unpleasant situation in your head? When we do this, we can be reliving the story over and over. It’s like watching a bad movie multiple times. When we do that, the emotions we originally experienced are experienced all over again! It strengthens our neural pathways about the unpleasant experience and it becomes easier to keep thinking about it!

Instead, we can intentionally use mantras to change our neural pathways to focus on things we really want to be thinking about. A mantra is something that we repeat over and over. A mantra can be a phrase like, “I can face my fears and accomplish this.” or “I listen to my inner voice and make right choices” Sometimes it can be just a word like “peace.” Research shows how mantras can improve mental health!

There are some really simple mantras you can use to improve your mood. Watch this video for one example!

Tip: Think of something you would like for yourself and develop a word or a phrase to repeat. You may try something like, “I am peaceful despite my circumstances.” or “I release what I don’t need.” You can even shorten it and use your breath like inhaling “peace” and exhaling “release” and saying it silently to yourself when you are in a stressful situation. Watch how your thoughts will start changing!

Hope this is helpful! Want more? We provide workshops focusing on coping skills. Contact us today to see how we can help!

Photo Credit: Saiisha, Belief.net