When people hear the word “mantra,” unless already familiar with its true meaning may equate it as being the same as an affirmation. There is a difference.. So what is a mantra precisely?

Discovering Mantras: What Is a Mantra?

In the simplest terms, it’s based on two root Sanskrit words: manas (mind) and tra (tool).  So the word “mantra” literally means “mind tool” or “a tool for the mind.”  You can use mantras – either spoken aloud, internally, or chanted repetitiously – to help focus your mind. This will enhance a deeper state of awareness, most traditionally during meditation and spiritual practices.

The reason “mantra” and “affirmation” tend to get confused is because you can use an affirmation AS your mantra during meditation. Or, you can simply use a single word or sound.

Using mantras as a daily meditation practice, over time, can help your mind access deeper areas of your subconscious. When seeking to make changes in our lives, we most often experience blocks due to our subconscious thoughts and beliefs.

Thomas Ashley-Farrand, author of Mantra Meditation, writes, “Mantra meditation is not only something one practices, but a radical re-envisioning of ourselves, our lives and our ability to create the future we desire.”

Essentially, you can use mantras to start appreciating the joy of simplicity and experiencing more overall happiness.

How to Use a Mantra

Using mantras can assist in entering a deep state of meditation or to energize an intention. Repetition is key. When you find your mind wandering, bring it back to your chosen word or phrase and appreciate the simplicity of repetition.

There are various schools of thought about how many times you need to repeat your mantra before you notice changes in your life. Most traditionally, you would repeat your mantra 108 times daily for it to be most effective. This is because, “in Vedic culture, the Mathematicians saw the number 108 as the wholeness of existence.” In doing so, you are aligning yourself with the will of the universe and its creative life force.

Others believe that reciting multiple times for 40 days in a row invokes change. This idea is based around examples of Buddha and Jesus Christ. Based on this belief, it took 40 days of daily meditation for life changes to occur.  (In using this 40-day meditation ritual, if a day is missed, you must begin again at day 1. Otherwise, it would not be as effective, according to those who practice it.)

But reciting your mantra can really be used at any time throughout your day to reap benefits. The more you repeat it, the better aligned with it you will become. In this way, you can always use this as a tool for stilling your mind.

Mantras for Meditation

During meditation, you would repeat your mantra silently or out loud for the time you are meditating.  Meditating daily in this way is most helpful. The goal of this practice is to rise above the everyday activity of your mind.

The type of mantra that works best in this capacity is one where you are not focused on any specific idea or outcome. So affirmation mantras, while helpful in other ways, wouldn’t tend to work as well in this setting as a tool for focusing the mind during meditation.

Because this type of mantra has no meaning to your conscious mind, you are able to simply focus on the word or phrase. The thought or sound vibrations assist you in accessing a heightened state of awareness.

Mantras to Energize an Intention

Alternatively, you could choose an affirmation as a mantra to repeat (silently or out loud) for specific periods of time throughout your day. Using a mantra in this way will help to energize your intention with heightened awareness.

During the course of the day, when you feel stressed or out of balance, you would repeat your chosen word or phrase to calm your mind and bring you back into focus.

How to Choose a Mantra

Choosing a mantra will depend on how you intend to use it – whether for meditation or to energize an intention. There is no single way to choose one. But you DO want to choose one that has positive connotations rather than one that you associate with any negativity.

For meditation purposes, to assist in attaining a deeper meditative state, choose a single word or phrase.  Traditionally, Sanskrit words are used for this purpose.  For example, using the word “Om” is said to be the sound of the universe or the primordial sacred sound. Another example is “Om Mani Padme Hum,” which is said to “unlock the loving and unconditional qualities of compassion.”

To use a mantra for energizing an intention, focus on what you want to achieve. Then choose a word or phrase that aligns with your intention. Keep in mind that it should always represent your greatest good without attachment to a specific outcome. Some examples of affirmation mantras are: “Love surrounds me;” “I attract abundance in my life;” or “I am at peace with myself and the universe.”

However you choose to harness the benefits, there is no down side. Try various words of phrases (and methods) until you feel energized by it.  When you feel attuned to using a particular mantra, you will begin to enjoy the benefits of this empowering daily practice.

The post Discovering Mantras: What Is a Mantra? How They Work & The Remarkable Results You Can Achieve By Using Them appeared first on Fearless Soul - Inspirational Music & Life Changing Thoughts.

Why Use a Mantra?

Every positive lifestyle change requires a mental battle that far outweighs the physical one. Adopting a healthy diet and exercise regimen means ditching old habits for new ones, and research suggests these new routines can take months to become normalized.

Deciding to work on a marriage or uplift a family environment can mean learning to communicate and a shift in perception. These projects don’t come easily, often requiring deep adjustments to your thoughts, which trigger new behaviors.

Tasks requiring long-term commitment don’t advance after a one-time decision. Instead, each new day and moment demands a renewed will—a promise to keep focused, maintain new practices & smother self-doubt. One of the best exercises for succeeding under these constraints is positive self-talk. You must become your own best friend, fighting off anyone who threatens to derail progress.

Getting rid of negative thoughts means finding new ones. Some call them mantras or affirmations – words or phrases you repeat to yourself so the idea can be meaningfully absorbed. Often, different mantras exist for various purposes, but when you find the right one, you’ll never need another.

The Most Effective Mantra to Combat Negative Thinking

To support yourself through trying events, there is a mantra that keeps your mind focused on making positive changes in real-time. It is, The only moment that matters is right now. This statement may feel too simplistic at first, but once you think about it, you’ll understand its underlying power.

“The only moment that matters is right now.”

What Makes it so Effective?

First, almost all anxiety, stress, and guilt arise from thoughts about the future or the past—ironically, two things you have little to no control over. Maybe you yelled at your kids yesterday, so you spend days torturing yourself about what you could have done differently.

That event has now soured not only the occasion in which it occurred but many livable moments afterward. And to what end? Perhaps you vow to act differently next time, but who makes better choices under the dark cloud of guilt and shame?

Maybe you spend time worrying about your future career or personal life. But meeting a significant other or landing your dream job often involves a mix of luck and timing. Although most people understand the importance of being present, they can’t seem to hold onto it in practice.

If you consistently repeat the words, The only moment that matters is right now, it will help you release negative emotions tied to the past and keep you solely committed to adding value to each new moment. You will stop putting healthy habits off until Monday. Why would you if you believe today is the most important element? When you feel burdened by guilt, you will begin to practice self-compassion, knowing the actions of today take precedent over any that might have come before.

It doesn’t matter what mountain you want to climb. Accepting that The only moment that matters is right now will release the past and bring you back to the now, where you can give 100% of your attention and effort.

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The Law of Attraction is a rule of the universe which states that like attracts like. Although this is correct, many people leave out a key element when they put the Law of Attraction to use… it’s a huge Law of Attraction mistake that costs them greatly.

Many people believe that if they are in a positive mind state, then what they desire will automatically and easily come to them. This is mostly true. The universe is definitely ready to let you have what you want if you are ready to receive it. However, the power of the law of attraction resides within you.

If you would like to attract something into your life, you must take action that will lead you towards your vision.

Living Your Mantras + Affirmations | Law of Attraction Mistake

To attract the things you want, you must put in the work required to change your life. The abundant universe will gift you with what you desire, but only if you are in the proper vibration for it. This is more than just reciting affirmations and mantras every day. Yes, saying your mantras will elevate your vibration… until you stub your toe or your toddler starts throwing his food. Then, the affirmations you said that morning are not so effective. If you find yourself in a negative mind state, then first recite you mantras and really feel them.

Think of what it would be like to live your affirmations. What actions would you take if you were, “so loved and appreciated”? You would probably be very kind and empathetic towards others. The person who loves others gets great love in return.

What sort of life would you live if you were, “sexy, strong, and confident”? You wouldn’t be sitting in front of the TV with a bag of chips. You would be at the gym, taking care of your body, and eating clean. The person who is taking care of themselves is going to attract a sexy, strong, and confident feeling.

Really using your affirmations means that you are living your mantras, not just saying them. You have to be doing the actions that will attract the thing you want. It all starts with you.

Aligning Your Actions with Your Desires | Law of Attraction Mistake

Another facet to this topic is that if you are not living your affirmations, you may not believe them when you say them. That is a whole other problem that could be messing with your attractive power. If you are saying this mantra: “I am wealthy”, then you go out and carelessly spend money, that action diminishes your belief in the mantra. The next time you go to say the mantra, you will feel the opposite of wealthy. You really won’t be able to feel into your mantra strongly if you are not living your life with actions that are in line with it.

The key to attracting what you want is not to SAY what you want, but to feel it, as mentioned in this amazing speech by Abraham Hicks:

Meeting the Universe Halfway | Law of Attraction Mistake

By really feeling into your mantra and elevating your lifestyle, you can attract the things you want. The universe is ready to grant you with abundance, wealth, anything you can imagine. You just have to take the necessary steps towards building the life of your dreams.

You must take the actions that show the universe that you’re ready for your gifts. Also be ready to act on synchronicity and opportunity that will advance your life to the next level.

Are you ready?

[Source: StevenAitchison.co.uk]

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