Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror and told yourself that you look good today? No? Well, you should! By taking time out of your day to remind yourself that you are strong, funny, smart - whatever it may be - can really lift our moods and reduce our stress! Today, we are going to take some time to think about the things that we would like to tell ourselves, especially in situations that we may feel sad, stressed, or just blah.
Let's take a look at some examples. For instance, your teacher has just told you that you have to stand in front of the class and present your class project that you have been working on all week. Yikes! Not everyone loves public speaking, right? But what can we do about it? Well, we know that we have to present to the class - something that is out of our control. So, what is within our control? We have the power to lift ourselves up and melt some stress away. To do this, we can remind ourselves or tell ourselves these mantras before we have to go up in front of the class:
I am strong.
I can do this.
I am confident.
I know my project well.
I like this class.
Hopefully you are starting to get a feel for what mantras are and how we can use them in our daily lives. Take a look at these other mantras:
I am kind.
I am caring.
I've got this.
Life is tough, but I am tougher.
I am enough.
I matter.
I look great today!
I choose happy.
I am worthy.
I am a good friend.
Mantras do not need to be a phrase, mantras can also be single words. For example:
Brave
Strong
Brilliant
Love
Unique
Take a look at these videos for more ideas about making your own mantras and how you can use them. When you are done, write down 5 mantras of your own. Then, practice saying them outloud to yourself. Next, say them to yourself (in your head) as you are out for a walk, laying in bed, etc. How does this make you feel? Write your answer down in a journal, notebook, or on a piece of paper.