How to Use a Mantra to Boost Your Mental Health

We've all had the experience of responding to the things someone else said to us. Soon we are saying those things to ourselves. As a child I was told I was ugly and stupid on a regular basis. It didn't take long for me to start believing those comments and saying them to myself. In fact, I not only said those things, but soon I couldn't even look in a mirror. All because someone was twisted enough to tell me those things and I was uneducated enough to believe them. The fact is that I actually have a very high I.Q. and I am a woman who is as attractive as any other woman my age.

By the same token, a positive expression can have the same effect. That's the purpose of a mantra. If you notice, when you say things to yourself out loud, pretty soon you think those statements. Not too long after that, those statements don't even come to mind in full form, but more as a fleeting thought or affirmation. A mantra is a positive affirmation that can have the exact same impact, only it has an impact on a positive level rather than a negative one.

A mantra is a personal statement of belief. You can find lots of affirmations to say to yourself using prayer books, books of affirmations and even just simple statements you may read online. To make the mantra really effective, it has to counteract the negatives in your life.

For instance, you may think you are overweight. The problem here is that you literally think it. When you think something to yourself or say it out loud, you are confirming it. Try to reverse the process. It can be done. You simply think that you are at the weight you want to be. Visualize it. Now, is this going to make you drop 20 lbs. over night? Thankfully, no, because that's just not healthy. What it will do is increase your positive energy so that you are more ambitious. When you feel better about yourself, you have more energy. You move around more.

Create your own mantra. Reject negative images and thoughts. Replace them with positive images and thoughts. If you normally wake up in the morning thinking about all of the chores you have to (I personally am guilty of this) then you need to change the way you think of your chores. Be thankful that you have something to accomplish for the day and set realistic goals so that you can accomplish them. Start your day with a mantra that reaffirms your positive attitude. Soon you will be looking forward to your day instead of dreading it.

Start your mantra with "I", as in "I will be smiling today". Then, picture yourself actually smiling. Imagine all the things you have to smile about. This can be difficult if you are experiencing depression, but even if you can only think of one positive thing at that time, make it your focus. In fact, make it a goal to find 10 positive things about the day. Keep a notebook with you to jot them down. Every time you read them, think them or say them, you reaffirm your positive outlook.

The most important part of a mantra is to believe it. If you suffer from low self esteem or depression, you may have difficulty with this at first. Sooner or later though, it will sink in and you will recognize the signs of feeling better and having more energy. You will also find yourself avoiding negative people who sap your energy and make you doubt your own self worth. Have fun with your mantra and use it for its purpose.