Best Mantras To Keep You Hanging On When Things Are Shit

chipping the phase of complaining about this too shall pass has passed too

It is actually one of the most positive things I have taken from MN particularly in relation to challenging time with kids because whatever infuriating or delightful phase they are, it passes.

Patience is the art of being hopeful

The only thing that is certain in life is that everything changes. Nothing stays the same.

I like lots of them, but the one that works, for me, in most situations is 'This too shall pass'. I stopped saying it on here after it appeared on so many threads in a negative way (ie if I hear it again I'll scream type stuff) but you know what!? It's back in play! anyone that doesn't like it can walk on by.

Melt - I totally agree with both the things you said. Keep on keeping on is so my mantra when life goes pear shaped. When the rug goes from under you and you've no idea what to do and have no control, what to do? Get up in the morning and carry on. Carry on doing what you always do. You feel beyond rubbish but if you mustn't give in. And yes be kind. Always be kind. It's such a positive approach and can empower you because you're going against what you feel like being.

Not a mantra but a poem given to me on a little card when I was about 9:

You must keep on going when the odds are against you,
No matter what doubts lie within,
The darkness of night has to reach its conclusion,
Before a new day can begin.

Face up to the challenge, show that you're worthy,
Repeat that you can and you will,
Life has a tariff on every ambition,
And effort comes high up the bill.

Faith is a candle that glows in the darkness,
Lighting the road to relief,
All it requires is a burning ambition,
And a touch from the flame of belief.

Have no idea where the little card is now, or who wrote it, but I scrawled it in the front of so many homework diaries that it is still engraved in my brain now!

Hey mrs, sorry things are tough. If I can help then PM me.

My favourites are. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.. Except for bears. Bears will kill you.

And this

The trick is to keep breathing.

The title of a book I read years ago. Can't remember much about the book, however, the title has stayed with me,

Oh and "it's darkest before dawn" a friend told me that one

Failure is not an option

Love that explanation of failure sparky

Should this thread be moved into classics?

Yeah, that cuppa was blinding!

I have gathered quite a few sayings this last year.

"Its better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not"

"Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better" (Samuel Beckett).

I had to study the last one ... here is one explanation I've copied. Life is all about failure in a way, as we are not perfect and life is not perfect. To fail is an acceptance of living, and embraces living since we are alive. One cannot live life to the full if we cannot live in failure and imperfection. We have no alternative but to keep on failing. We cannot be who we are, or grow, or find truth, or take risks, unless we accept this. The fail "better" means maybe to do it with more honesty, more aplomb, more commitment and verve, more consciousness and more awareness and humour even. Perhaps this is the progress, not success in and of itself.

"Seize the day"

I've just read this elsewhere, and it's really resonated with me.

I'm not crying because of you; you're not worth it.
I'm crying because my delusion of who we were was shattered by the truth of who you are.

• Steve Maraboli.

Sometimes there's nothing better than a nice brew Sparky

Even if the only thing I can think of is a decent cup of coffee I made(today!) that is fine with me :-).

p.s. For me its not a pollyannaish exercise, I can do this in v. dark times too ...

x

I enjoyed this thread and wrote a few new ones down. I liked the "kick ass" ones as well as the more philosophically minded.

I came across this practice a while ago. and was reminded of it today. I find it nice to do at the end of the day. Often no matter how bad things are, we have something to be grateful for. Sometimes in the difficulties and miseries and endless bureaucracies of life (or barrels of shit as someone so pithily described it) we often forget the good things and I think it can be a nice reminder.

"Think of 3 good things every day

1. Three positive things that happened that day. It can be anything.
2. Write them down on a pad or a place where they can be stored.
3. Reflect on each thing, and why they happened. This is an important part. Did you get that good result as a reward for your excellent work? Was that trip fun and you feel lucky to be able to go? The reasons and details are personal and need only make sense to you".

We're not doctors, nobody's going to die (my old boss - clearly do not apply if you are in fact a doctor )

Life is what happens while you are making other plans (John Lennon)

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new (Albert Einstein)

Get up, get dressed and try. It can't get better if you don't

Blunt but accurate. My gran :)

It's not about getting what you want but wanting what you've got.

Not entirely sure that's a mantra but it makes bloody good sense to me