Hey savvy leaders. Welcome to episode 83!

Today our focus is on mantras. Specifically how to craft your very own powerful, results-producing mantra. 

You can find the full transcript of this episode at crazybigdreams.biz/83. 

Mantra has two different meanings really so let’s first break that down. And then I’ll share how to go about crafting your very own powerful mantra. 

There’s an original meaning for mantra that dates quite a ways back and there’s a more modern meaning. 

Mantras originated in Hinduism and Buddhism. In this context, it’s a word or simply just a sound repeated over and over to help concentrate and stay focused during meditation. 

As a trained yoga teacher I use phrases during the end of a yoga session during final relaxation to help students stay in the present moment to bring them back to the here and now especially if their mind is racing. 

The more modern meaning of a mantra is basically a word or phrase that’s repeated often or that expresses someone’s basic beliefs. 

A mantra can be used to help change the pathways in our brains to help us adopt beliefs that serve us better than maybe what we’ve been conditioned to believe. 

Undesirable beliefs can come from different sources. Maybe what we heard from caregivers that raised us or people that had an impression on us growing up, including but not limited to our parents, or maybe we heard things from a partner or friend in our past, or present. 

Beliefs can also come from stories we have told ourselves over time. 

Regardless of where these beliefs originated or are rooted, you have the power to change them. 

One of the most powerful tools you can use is a mantra. 

We can literally change the pathways in our brains to adopt a new belief. There are several things we can do to grow and develop our brains. Learning a new skill, taking naps, exercising, and of course, mantras. 

If you geek out on the science behind all of this, like me, go ahead and research neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. 

Basically, know that mantras are powerful! 

So, how do you craft a personal mantra that’s powerful, personalized, and produces results?

I’ll break it down into three simple steps. 

Step one: become aware and simply notice when a negative thought pops into your mind. It can be about anything. But typically, if we’re critical of ourselves, if we’re doubtful in any way, if we’re unsure, feeling discouraged, or fearful, we’ll have a certain way we’re speaking to ourselves. 

Maybe not out loud. Maybe just in thought. Even so. It’s not serving us.

Make note of these words. Take a moment to write them down. Which is a great way to stop the replay of words that tend to get stuck on repeat. Write them down. 

This leads you to step two: flip your words so they reflect the opposite.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you have a pretty lofty goal you’re working on and you’re feeling discouraged. Totally normal. Right? Let’s be intentional about crafting your mantra though. 

You catch yourself with the thought “I’m so discouraged I’ll never hit this goal.” 

 
You can't stop here. Got to crazybigdreams.biz/83 to flip this and grab my 3 simple steps to craft your own personalized & powerful mantra.