What is a Mantra and How Do I Use One?

MINDSOUL

Jan 18

Originally forming in the Hinduism and Buddhism beliefs, it means a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.

Broken down in the English language, the word mantra literally means ‘the vehicle of the mind.’ This kind of repetitive habit can have many positive effects on your life, such as:

Helping you stay motivated
Calming your mind
Helping you stay focused
Relaxing body tension
Increasing concentration

And so much more.

Not to go all woo-hoo on you, but mantras can seriously change the way you live, the way you think, and the way you go about your day.

So, to understand the true benefits of mantras, let’s first talk about meditation.

Meditation is considered to be a type of mind-body communication that allows you to focus your energy on clearing your mind.

It also serves as a tool in the therapeutic setting; I even use it myself in my own practice! It has been shown to be an effective option for treating stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, PTSD, and many other health conditions. In another one of my blog posts, I talk more about meditation and the powerful ways it can directly support your mental health.

Since the 19th century, meditative practices have been used not only in religious contexts, but also as a way to reduce psychological, neurological, and cardiovascular health issues.

Over the last decade, we’ve seen a huge increase in the use of meditation to improve general well-being. So much so, that numerous studies continue to come out showing an increase in corporate meditation programs.

In one report, William George, a Goldman Sachs board member, said;

“The main business case for meditation is that if you’re fully present on the job, you will be more effective as a leader, you will make better decisions and you will work better with other people. I tend to live a very busy life. This keeps me focused on what’s important.”


Now, before I dive too deep into the medical side of things and lose you, let’s get back to the basics of using mantras in meditation.

The overall goal of using mantras in your meditative practices is to shift your present attention to the present moment.

Focus on your breath.
Focus on the sounds around you.
Focus on the feeling of your being; your feet on the ground, your fingers against your skin, the sensation of the materials around you.
Focus on visualization - close your eyes and focus on a peaceful environment, an ocean-front with waves hitting the shore, a spring walk in the woods with the sunlight breaking through the tall trees, or maybe the birds chirping with the smell of fresh air coming through your bedroom window.

When in this quiet, meditative state, you can begin to repeat your mantra to yourself.

They don’t have to be complex.
As a matter of fact, they can be as simple as saying,
**“I am calm”**
or
**“I am present”**

I want you to experience this for yourself.
Allow yourself the ability to be at peace with the present moment.

Amongst the craziness of life, the daily obligations, never-ending to-do lists, driving the kids to all their activities, etc., it’s often easy to forget to appreciate the small things in life. I’m here to remind you that you have everything you need within you to live the life you want.

So here is your mantra for the week…

“In this moment, I have everything I need.”

Repeat it to yourself. Daily, and more than once. Let your mind believe the fact that you truly do have everything you need in this moment.

And on that note, I hope you try out using mantras as a form of meditation and reap the benefits it has mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually!