Let's dive into affirmations vs. mantras to bring awareness to them, how we understand them, absorb them, and some tips to incorporate them.
Affirmations are defined as the action or process of affirming something or being affirmed typically an emotional support or encouragement.
Mantras are words or phrases that is used repetitively and typically during meditation.
Affirmations
The affirmations that one can use seem limitless. They are more positive small phrases that are meant to spark personal positive growth mindsets. They can change and can be written in places to remind us of all the good we are because most of us are so hard on ourselves.
It's more about reminding ourselves that we are important enough for self-love. To get out of all that negative self-talk we get stuck in at times.
We can journal about affirmations and list our gratitudes to get to the best affirmations for a particular day/week/month/year.
Affirmations Tips -
Look over your journal and get a feel for what type of negative self-talk you have. Find the opposite of that negative self-talk and write that down in your journal.
Write positive affirmations on sticky notes and put them on your mirror or someplace that will remind you to add positive self-talk instead of the negative.
Make it a game throughout your day by saying the positive affirmations to yourself every time your at a red light or something. Or every time you hear the word mom. lol. Get creative.
Find an accountability partner that you share your positive affirmations with.
Get into the habit of finding the opposite of those negative thoughts that pop into your head. Make that a game if needed. Instead of saying, "I HAVE to" say, "I GET to". Instead of saying, "I wish" say, "I will". You get the idea. Experiment until you find what works for you!
Mantras
Mantras are more like a word, very small phrase, sound, and/or vibrational power best recited repeatedly to aid in cultivating focus, insight, and connection.
If we say the same mantra over a long period of time with or without meditation, even if we are in a place where we aren't exactly absorbing the words we are saying; I believe they will be absorbed into our subconscious minds and we will begin to believe them on a subconscious level.
For example: I've learned that when I start to feel overwhelmed and stressed, I will sometimes say, "breathe, just breathe" over and over in my mind and sometimes I'll even say it out loud. I've said it so often in so many different scenarios that I've taught my mind to do that act of breathing without noticing it as I'm saying it.
That's an example for in the moment mantras that work for me. As for a mantra to absorb while in more of a state of meditation or when we are intentionally absorbing a mantra, try the following
Mantra Tips -
Take some time to pinpoint the stressors in life to wrap your brain around a mantra that will work for your individual needs.
Make the mantra true to your own values and beliefs that best serve you.
Make it a brief and short mantra that can easily flow for you and be quickly absorbed.
Be Flexible with how, where, and how often your mantras are being absorbed. Allow them to change if needed.
There's no room for judgement! Give yourself grace and continue to try until something clicks for you.
What affirmations and mantras work for you and when do you use them? Do you intentionally pause to absorb them?
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