I've never been someone to subscribe to things like mantras, but when the new year rolled around this year and everyone was trying to choose a word for the year instead of a resolution, I settled on the word "Enough."
I recently downloaded a new pretty iPhone lockscreen with "You are enough" and I find it to be a good reminder of my main goal, which is to focus on progress, not perfection.
This year I plan to get divorced and make some big changes with that in my life. H has been less than accepting or helpful. Denial. Anyway, I have been wearing a bracket everyday that says, “Actually, you can.” My friend just got a tattoo that says “Let it be”. I think these small, subtle reminders are helpful during frustrating times.
I notice that I'm more mindful and less frenetic & snappish when I slow down. I especially notice it when I am working on a puzzle w/ my son--I don't have to (and can't, and wouldn't want to anyway) finish the whole thing in one sitting and "slow down" is really resonating with me. That's probably the one good thing to come out of this pandemic.
I also made cupcakes for my son's birthday (today!) just now, and I noticed that because I was going slower to fill up the cups, I actually filled them to the right level, I didn't make a mess, and they're going to look awesome. Usually they look terrible. I am proud of myself (and I don't say/feel that way often).
I’m an introvert who could sit in the dark silence my entire life and be perfectly happy just petting my dogs.
When I go to work I want to be quiet and reserved, but every day I fake being in a cheery mood until eventually that’s all people know me as. Everyone I work with thinks I’m a bubbly smiley person. I always feel like Rosa from Brooklyn 99 on the inside, but I’m an Amy on the outside. The Amy part of me has allowed me to build really good work relationships, but I think my coworkers would all be shocked at how different I am in my real life.
Post by followyourarrow on Apr 28, 2020 8:59:54 GMT -5
I can do anything for 15 minutes.
Not sure this is what your're looking for, but when I get stuck or just really don't want to do something, I tell myself I can do anything for 15 minutes. It usually works, I just have to get started.
I also love Glennon Doyle and I have sort of followed her for years. Watching her morning meetings everyday on Instagram has been so helpful. She has many “mantras” but the one she uses so often is, “We can do hard things.”
I've never thought of it as a mantra, but I'll think to myself "breathe." I'm prone to anxiety and this helps me take a step back and get some perspective.
Before Louis CK was ruined, the line "I don't ever have to tell you anything" from one of his jokes helped me when I would start to overexplain. I still think of it even though now it comes with an "ugh."
Post by stephm0188 on Apr 28, 2020 11:39:17 GMT -5
"I get to do this."
Mostly applies when I'm running, but I use it for other areas of life, too. I came from a background where I had nothing and recognize the very privileged life I have now. (I don't have to go to the dentist. I get to go, because I have insurance and the means to pay for it.)
My Dad used to always say ‘keep it light enough to travel’ which usually meant ‘calm the fuck down, or Focus!’ and then I grew to understand that it meant to keep my self inflicted drama and shit to a minimum so it wouldn’t become too heavy because my dad knew his girl. Now I repeat it quite literally, like for the last decade I’ve simplified my life to the point that at can always either be a moveable beast, or perfect content in place, and that has never been more timely.
A band I like put out an album last year called You Are OK and they wrote a little poem thing on Instagram and that was the last line. I liked it a lot.
Also, even though I haven't said it, my attitude this past year or so has tended to be, "My best is good enough, and sometimes, good enough is my best."
Post by DotAndBuzz on Apr 28, 2020 18:37:10 GMT -5
"Lighten up." I adopted this last year when I turned 40, and have applied it to all sorts of areas of my life to make changes.
Lighten up commitments (My kids don't need to do it all, and I don't have to volunteer for every.single.thing - I can pick one or 2 that I can go all in on, and truly enjoy, and sit out the others)
Lighten up on my kids (ages 9 and 12 - I try to say "yes" more, and give them more autonomy....and then I also have to lighten up about allowing them to experience the consequences of their choices and actions, good and bad)
Lighten up with what I'm willing to get upset about - some things are worth it. So many that I was carrying were not.
Lighten up on my personal expectations of myself - just be more accepting of where I am, who I am, how I operate, etc
Lighten up media/social media consumption - it has become toxic for me, and I made a deliberate effort to back off. I love this place, and still love when I can watch Maddow, but constantly reading/hearing about the horrible things happening was taking a very real toll on my mental health.
It's a work in progress, but I've noticed a change. "Lighten-up *****" is a much happier person.
Post by imojoebunny on Apr 28, 2020 18:58:48 GMT -5
"One hurdle at a time." It was something my grandfather told me, when I ask him how he got through some of the very hard times in his life, and he definitely had them.