Welcome back, my magical friends! This week’s first topic is a bit less lighthearted than the last, but still super fun, I promise! We’re covering one of my favorite ways to get and stay motivated: personal mantras. There are so many different ways that life can get tough. You might be doing your best, but not every issue is instantly fixable. Sometimes you need a super accessible reminder that will keep you focused on your goals and prevent you from losing that inner fire you need to stay passionate. That’s where a personal mantra comes in! Read on for what a personal mantra is, why it will help you, and how to use it to get the most out of your life!

(According to the dictionary, a mantra is “a word, sound, or statement repeated to aid concentration in meditation.”)

Okay, without making this ALL about me, I have to say that this topic feels SUPER personal. I have been through some seriously messed up moments. There have been times when I felt like giving up, but my mantra kept me going. I know I’m not alone. Almost everyone has had moments like this. Everyone comes from a different set of circumstances, and everyone has a different way of coping. I know what it’s like to feel hopeless, to feel a loss of inspiration, to not even know what is worth striving for.

I’m here to give you a friendly reminder: DON’T GIVE UP! Don’t surrender to whatever it is that is haunting you. Remember something I tell myself and others constantly: You are not what you have been through, you are what you choose to become.

Ultimately, you are the only one who can save yourself from less than ideal circumstances. Sometimes these circumstances can’t be instantly fixed. You may be facing a difficult road ahead full of challenges you must tackle before life can get easier. So be a friend to yourself! Talk to yourself like you would to your best friend. Instead of feeling lost, create a personal mantra to remind you of your purpose and keep you connected to why you are pursuing your goals.

Choose your mantra!
Above are a few of my favorite mantras I use to keep myself motivated. One of the best and easiest methods of coming up with the perfect personal mantra is Cafe Gratitude’s. Start with “I am…” and finish the sentence with what it is you are trying to focus on. For example, after going through a gnarly breakup recently, I wanted to remind myself that I create an abundance of love in my life. My mantra became, “I am love,” which really helped me focus on being my own source of love instead of needing it from outside sources.

So ask yourself: What kind of person do you want to be? What qualities in yourself do you want to share with the world? What do you want to create or increase in your life? What motivates you? Why do you love what you love? What do you want to attract?

One funny thing about mantras: I have heard a lot of people say that you should keep it positive, Law of Attraction style. And while I think this is largely true, one of my most motivating personal mantras that really kept me pushing through even when I was exhausted was, “I’m not a weak little bitch!” At the time I was heavily involved with school, working, and on a super intense workout schedule on top of an annoying commute. I was also dealing with a long-term relationship that was clearly crumbling. There were so many moments where I wanted to break down, but thinking of those words made me smile and feel strong. It didn’t feel negative to me at all because I thought it was funny. But just remember that a good mantra should give you a gentle nudge, not make you beat yourself up. I was delighted to hear Ronda Rousey tells herself something similar: “I’m not a do-nothing bitch.” We’re all kick-ass bitches here, ok? So hype yourself up like one!

Write it down and put it somewhere you’ll see it!
Jot it down on a cute little note! I have this adorable unicorn I use to display my mantra. I see it every time I walk out the door of my room, so it is the last thing I see as I leave my house and the message I carry out into the world. You can stick it on your wall, frame it, stick it to your mirror, sneak it in your wallet, tattoo it backwards on your forehead so you see it in your selfies… You get the idea! (Okay, really think the last suggestion through first though.) One of my favorite yogis on One O Eight says, “tattoo it on your mind,” and I love that! (It’s a bit less of a commitment than the forehead tattoo I suppose.) The more you see it, the more it will stick in your mind. It will become a part of your life and the way you think about your life.

Play with your mantra!
If you believe in the Law of Attraction, you believe that you create what you speak and think. So the more ways you implement your mantra, the more it will become real for you. Here are a few ways to play!

Place your mantra under a candle. Visualize the candle’s flame infusing your words with fiery, passionate energy. You can also try placing the mantra under a crystal overnight to charge it with your intentions. When you carry and hold the crystal, it will remind you of the mantra you paired it with. These practices are especially great for the night of the new moon, a time that is perfect for manifesting your desires.

Another fun way to explore your personal mantra and “tattoo” it in your thoughts is to pick an image that represents it to you. I love using tarot or oracle cards for this, but you can choose a photo or piece of art that resonates with you as well. The affirmation cards above are from Marylou Falstreau’s Affirmation Card Deck. They’re girl-power focused affirmative statements that can create a mantra for you.

Look through the cards and pick the one that represents your situation the best. Place it where you’ll see it often. Seeing it out of the corner of your eye is going to subliminally program your mind to think about it, reinforcing your mantra in your mind.

There are HUNDREDS of decks to choose from, so you are bound to find one that resonates with you. Another super girl-power-as-fuck deck I love is pictured above – it’s called Love Your Inner Goddess Cards: An Oracle to Express your Divine Feminine Spirit. If you’re looking for something more generally whimsical, I keep seeing Affirmators! 50 Affirmation Cards to Help You Help Yourself – without the Self-Helpy-Ness! everywhere, and it has a unicorn on the front, so you know it’s going to be good.

Whenever you think of it, repeat your mantra to yourself. Find a certain time to repeat it — perhaps during yoga, or while tying your shoes, or right before you fall asleep. Tattoo it in your thoughts.

Remember, the whole point of all this is to remind yourself of your purpose so you can stay on the right path. Think of your mantra as lighting up your lantern so you don’t get lost on the road. You’re going to be seeing the light in no time.