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Original poster

Best Mantras To Keep You Hanging On When Things Are Shit

266 replies

PacificDogwood · 13/11/2014 21:18

I am supporting a RL friend through some shitty times - no real end in sight Sad

She said the exact same thing I recently saw posted by a battle-experienced, wise MNer Thanks:
"Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and keep breathing in and out."

Pace yourself.
Be kind to yourself and look after yourself.
This too shall pass I may have used that one rather a lot in my own head
Que sera, sera.
Let it go.
You cannot change somebody else's behaviour; you can only change your response to it.

I am sure there are many more.

They are all quite trite truisms, but not any less true for all that.

Please add your own - anything at all that kept you hanging on when times were tough and no light at the end of the tunnel was forthcoming.

And I do hope you did come out the other side and don't need your own mantras anymore.
Thanks

OP posts:
SparkyLark · 15/11/2014 10:11

Another way of looking at painful feelings and experiences ...

When we are left with painful or uncomfortable feelings after painful or uncomfortable experiences, our first instinct is to fight them, deny them and refuse to face or accept them.

Which may be understandable. We only like good feelings!

But I have realised recently ... that's all they are ... feelings.

Feelings change, feelings pass. Why not make friends with feelings, even the uncomfortable, painful ones? Especially them! They are only trying to help us, after all. Help us know we've been harmed perhaps, and need to heal. Our feelings want us to heal. Trying to sit gently with them, be with them with an attitude of open curiosity and love and friendliness and acceptance.

(Perhaps denial and non-acceptance of feelings is when the problem starts)

NickiFury · 15/11/2014 09:56

The only way past it is through it.

I say that one to myself quite a lot.

ssd · 15/11/2014 09:54

another one my old boss used to say

"don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining"

ClaudiaNaughton · 15/11/2014 09:36

girloutofglasgow "what's for ye won't go by ye" was a saying when a boyfriend disappeared. I think it's great.

cheapskatemum · 15/11/2014 09:18

I love these! I love that you can choose the ones that are most relevant for your particular shitey situation of the moment!

Mine is: "Do it now!" bit like Nike's, but good if you're procrastinating. Also, if you are actively doing something, you don't have time to mope, worry or whatever.

Also, as a Christian, "Well, we can pray about that..." When all else seems to have failed, you can hand it on to a higher power.

GinAndSonic · 15/11/2014 08:37

Its better to be pissed off than pissed on.

FishesTit · 15/11/2014 08:34

When things are shit I tell myself 'everything is working out for me just as it should' gives me a bit of relief

stinkingbishop · 15/11/2014 08:22

Somewhere in the world, someone is on their knees right now, praying for what you have.

OpiesOldLady · 15/11/2014 08:03

I have several mantras that have kept me going this past year. The main one being

One foot in front of the other, and don't forget to breathe.

Other's that have helped are -

It'll be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end.

Keep on keeping on.

Feck 'em all. The feckin feckers.

oneowlgirl · 15/11/2014 07:56

That's a great poem!

sandgrown · 15/11/2014 07:35

When DH left a friend sent me a poem

There's always a hope for tomorrow no matter how dark the day
There's always a corner for turning no.matter how weary the way
So just look ahead to tomorrow and trust that you'll find hiding there ,the sunshine that seemed to be hidden by yesterday's clouds of despair.

sandgrown · 15/11/2014 07:26

That's a great one pear. I always believe in maintaining a dignified public face so nothing will come back to haunt you but letting go and swearing and ranting with close friends and family!

knittedslippersx2 · 15/11/2014 07:18

"Chuck it in the fuck it bucket and move on"
Sorry for lowering the tone!:)

CuttedUpPear · 15/11/2014 06:51

I read this on the side of a box of herbal tea once and have tried to always keep it in mind:

"Regardless of the situation, react with class."

SwearySwearyQuiteContrary · 15/11/2014 02:31

Zing that's a lovely thought.

girloutofglasgow · 15/11/2014 01:02

"What's for you won't go by you" mentioned by a couple of other posters was one of my DM's sayings. Although it's probably a bit too fatalistic to actually provide any succour.

dancingwitch · 15/11/2014 00:27

There will be a solution. There is always a solution. It's just a pity that, at the moment, I don't have a clue what that solution is. But in time I will.

Crying isn't going to help in the long run but a good old sob for a few minutes will at least postpone trying to deal with things properly.

Yes, it is sh** that this is happening. But, I have my health, my family, food, water and an automatic washing machine so, really, how bad can things be?

This is the top trump. Next time you are in the pub with your mates and everyone starts rolling out the anecdotes, you can sit their smugly knowing that, when their mediocre tales dry up, you can play this card and there will be silence and they will wonder why they bothered telling you about their trivial issues.

Things have a way of working out in the end. It would be nice to know how it is going to work out and when the end is but, really, I have no control over any of it so I may as well just go with the flow.

Let's put the kettle on and then deal with it.

FrancisdeSales · 15/11/2014 00:10

When you're going through hell, keep going.

You can't have roses without thorns.

Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.

The tallest oak in the forest was once just a little nut that held it's ground.

ZingOfSeven · 15/11/2014 00:00

the night is darkest just before dawn

AYellowCreation · 14/11/2014 23:17

Rise above the nonsense of others.

MNHQ
TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 14/11/2014 23:03

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."
DOLLY

TheScottishPlay · 14/11/2014 22:55

Be strong enough to stand alone, wise enough to know when you need help and brave enough to ask for it.

All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.

This too shall pass is the ultimate life mantra I think.

Mumzy · 14/11/2014 22:48

Don't look down at the mud, look up at the stars

pumpkinpie5 · 14/11/2014 22:30

It's only brave when you're scared. Xx

Wafflenose · 14/11/2014 22:28

Mine is just:

Never, ever, ever give up.

It's got me though many a tough time. But I love all the others on here!