Change Your Life With Mantras And Affirmations

We live in difficult and uncertain times, and happiness often seems elusive. It is possible, however, through training your mind, to ‘flip a switch’ to activate feelings of joy and happiness with just a few words. This is known as affirmations and mantras.

The two concepts are somewhat similar or related. Mantras are short words or phrases used in meditation in order to create focus, peace and calm, as in the practice of Zen. Affirmations are positive statements of intention that are repeated frequently to create new neural pathways, thought patterns and energy frequencies.

It’s easy to incorporate these two techniques into your daily spiritual practice.

Mantras

If you already meditate, you may choose a traditional mantra, such as Ananda (the Sanskrit word for bliss) or Ohm (the primordial, sacred sound of all creation). You could also choose another mantra that has special meaning for you, or even create your own.

As you engage in meditation, pay special attention to your breath as you focus on you mantra, either spoken aloud, or silently in your mind. Let all negativity go as you exhale. Repeat this process for 10 to 20 minutes each day, preferably in the same place, without any outside distractions. This way your mind begins to associate your mantra with feelings of calm and serenity.

Mantras can help you circle back to the simplistic approach to life and focus on those things that inspire you and truly make you happy ~ Tris Thorp

Affirmations

Affirmations are a more modern take on the mantra concept. Have you ever heard that you’ll start to believe something if you hear it often enough? Well, that’s the idea. You can create as many or as few as you like;. Write them down on Post-it® notes, and place them on the bathroom mirror, in your journal, or wherever you will see them throughout the day.

If you’re struggling with creativity, for example, your affirmation might be, “I am an imaginative, creative person with much to share with the world.” Or, “I create many things which are beautiful.” It’s best to start with just one or two, and just use those as you begin this as a new practice.

Affirmations remind me of the famous opening scene of the television show, The Simpsons, with Bart Simpson writing a phrase over and over on the blackboard. It’s the same principle, but affirmations are meant to be fun and inspiring, not a punishment! It helps to condition the mind to believe what you’re repeatedly telling it, and by changing your thoughts and beliefs, you shift or raise your energy vibration to manifest your affirmations.

Affirmations can be a powerful tool to help you change your mood, state of mind, and manifest the change you desire in your life ~ Ronald Alexander

Some people, once they find an affirmation or mantra that really works for them, even get a tattoo of the words or symbol – although this is taking it to a whole different level! Others. who are more visually-minded, like to create a vision board of various affirmations they like. It all depends on what works best for you.

Affirmations and mantras can be combined once you become more comfortable with them. Perhaps it could be said that mantras are a focal point for meditation, sort of a lightning rod, while affirmations are the creation of new pathways in the mind, in order to shift your energy frequency. If you’ve been struggling, especially right in these trying times, try adopting these two techniques into your daily spiritual practice, and become an even better version of yourself.