There’s a power and magic to whatever you’re thinking. Positive thinking plants the seed for positive life experiences.

But practicing new thoughts is one of the hardest things to do. Even "I am enough" (which you are) is hard enough sometimes.

Mantras can help you, especially in the beginning stages of starting something totally new.

A mantra is a word or phrase that’s used as an object of concentration. It’s a way to invite mindfulness and peace into your daily life. Mantras are commonly used as a focal point in meditation, but they can be used whenever.

How to use your mantra:

• As a checkpoint throughout the day, especially when you feel off-center. This practice only takes a minute. Inhale and think your mantra, then exhale and imagine the meaning of the mantra coming to life around you. Breathe that in while repeating the mantra again. Do this a few times.
• During meditation. Notice when your mind wanders, allow the thoughts to come and go, and return to repeating your mantra silently. It gives your mind something to focus on.
• As a journaling prompt. Start with the words and just keep writing without much second thought. This helps unfold the layers of what you’re feeling and experiencing.

Here are some powerful mantras to live by and soak in. Repeat these kind and positive messages to yourself as often as needed to invite more joy and calm into the present.

And if you need more support, get either of my books, Morning Affirmations or Sleep Affirmations, for hope and peace right when you need it.

One positive thought can change your whole day — when repeated, your entire life.

6 Mantras to Trigger Positive Thinking

1. This thought is a choice.

For when it feels like the world is controlling you, you have no say in your experiences, or you’re drowning in negativity.

It’s easy to let your experiences dictate how you feel, but the fact is that you get to choose how you experience life. You’re that powerful.

Once you come to a calm point where you can recognize that this thought is a choice (without judging yourself for choosing it) you can choose again. You can always do that.

2. Joy is right here.

For when you feel like joy is out of reach, tied to a big goal in the distant future, or dependent upon anyone or anything outside of yourself.

Good times and bad times aside, joy is here right now. In fact, it’s never been anywhere else but here. It’s an energy, a current flowing through your life.

Whatever feeling washes over you, let it happen. Surrender to your sadness or anger or whatever emotion is trying to come to the surface. Just know you don’t need to wallow there forever. It doesn’t define you.

It's a guide to help you get back home, to joy.

3. Learn by doing.

For times when perfectionism, fear of failure, doubt, or regret are threatening your peace.

This mantra helps form the habit of countering perfectionism by taking action with faith in yourself and the outcome.

When you take the power away from the word “failure,” it becomes open to interpretation. Trying, and sometimes failing, is the fastest way to learn. You don’t learn by wondering what would’ve happened; you learn by making something happen.

Think of your life experiences as experiments, stripped of any notion of “win” or “loss.” When you try an experiment, any outcome is considered a success. There’s no criticism with an experiment because you don’t need a victory. You just need an answer.

Mistakes are chances to learn something. Learning comes from doing.

4. This too shall pass.

For when you feel bruised, battered, heartbroken, lost, or stuck, or emotions are running high.

This mantra takes the permanence out of what’s happening. Everything changes, and whatever you’re experiencing in this moment won’t last forever. No negative emotion or situation is permanent, and remembering this creates space to see the light right here.

You have the courage to see this through.

Life doesn't have to be perfect to be a gift.

5. There’s enough for everyone.

For when you feel greed, envy, jealousy, or fear of loss creeping into your system.

This mantra encourages you to move into a place of abundance rather than scarcity. We all have gifts to share and stories to tell, and there’s room for all of them.

There’s enough of everything: enough potential, enough love, enough life, enough of everything you need.

6. Be easy.

For when you feel mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted.

Keep it simple. When you feel tired and stressed, boil it down to what really matters. Know what matters most and stop prioritizing the small things.

This mantra is a positive reminder that it’s okay and healthy to slow down and focus on your breathing, and on one thing at a time.

This mantra is also a reminder to be easy on yourself. Trust your inner wisdom to guide you to where you need to be, but keep the process of getting there simple. Don’t over-analyze everything. Keep it easy. Take it easy. Be easy.

. . .

Tell me:

Which of these mantras will you be using today, this week, this year?

Tell me in the comments. I read every single one, and I’d love to know!

With love,

Jen

P.S. For deeper support every day, get my book Morning Affirmations: 200 Phrases for an Intentional and Openhearted Start to Your Day. Or get my book Sleep Affirmations to help you think calm thoughts (instead of the ones that keep you up at night).