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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:
ElizaPickford · 14/11/2014 17:29

"those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." I remind myself of this often...

NoMarymary · 14/11/2014 17:17

There is no problem without a solution.

yes, you may be terminally ill, (worst case scenario) but death is it's own solution, and if you are in horrible pain you can end it with suicide.

Not cheerful I know, but this mantra works for me, as in
Toddler locks himself in car.....spare key at home, RAC etc.
Lose purse and credit cards, ...call bank, stop cards, hopefully get back any money stolen from bank, otherwise work hard and repay money yourself.

If every problem didn't have a solution, we would still be in the Stone Age Grin

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 14/11/2014 17:10

Just telling it how it is is strangely comforting isn't it?

Yes, it's interesting how these sayings and aphorism do help - they don't change a thing, but help put them in to perspective.

I wonder whether it is simply helpful to realise that is somebody as thought of an apt saying then maybe others have been in the depth of despair or up against it before and got through?

We are all unique AND all the same

OP posts:
Legionofboom · 14/11/2014 16:57

Zing My dad used to have a poster years ago that read 'Some days you're the dog, some days you're the lamp-post' Grin

Legionofboom · 14/11/2014 16:56

A winner is just a loser who tried one more time.

ZingOfSeven · 14/11/2014 16:55

some days are rocks, some days are diamonds

Postchildrenpregranny · 14/11/2014 16:52

Life isn't fair .Get used to it and don't moan (my mum)

specialmagiclady · 14/11/2014 16:39

Caitlin Moran wrote this: " life divides into AMAZING ENJOYABLE TIMES and APPALLING EXPERIENCES THAT WILL MAKE FUTURE AMAZING ANECDOTES."

Which is quite catchy but I like the next bit too....

"However awful, you can get through any experience if you imagine yourself, in the future, telling your friends about it as they scream, with increasing disbelief, ‘NO! NO!’ Even when Jesus was on the cross, I bet He was thinking, ‘When I rise in three days, the disciples aren’t going to believe this when I tell them about it.’

BeCool · 14/11/2014 16:39

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger."
Buddha

GinAndSonic · 14/11/2014 16:31

I like this thread. Ive come to the conclusion that life is just one burning barrel of shit after another, so i need these.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/11/2014 16:26

"the price we pay for love"

Yy to that. Just telling it how it is is strangely comforting isn't it?

ZingOfSeven · 14/11/2014 16:26

"If you can't change your circumstances change your attitude"

granted it's not for proper bad stuff like grieving, but it is motivational at other times

ssd · 14/11/2014 16:25

this one is so apt for my life just now

"If I cut you off chances are you handed me the scissors"

spiderjumping · 14/11/2014 16:17

Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.

DMCWelshCakes · 14/11/2014 16:11

In six months time, all of this will be an anecdote.

ampersandand · 14/11/2014 16:08

Don't rely on anyone to make you happy.
You are in charge of your own emotions.
Positivity breeds positivity as negativity breeds negativity.
Every now and then from the bottom of your heart think about all the things in life you are greatful for.
Remember than the things you own now were once something that you wished for.
I've survived worse.

BetsyM00 · 14/11/2014 16:04

You might never get over it, but you can damn well get on with it!

noitall · 14/11/2014 15:57

Wish I had someone telling me all this a year ago. Now that I am on the otherside, here is one that kept me going-
It is better to have tried and failed than failed to have tried.

DayLillie · 14/11/2014 15:36

"Grief is the price we pay for love"

It is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.

Badvocinapeartree · 14/11/2014 15:29

"Grief is the price we pay for love"
So very, very true.

Clawdy · 14/11/2014 15:21

Life is a rollercoaster, you just gotta ride it....Smile

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/11/2014 15:06

Ah, Sandi seems a very wise and grounded sort of person, warm and friendly too, and an appriciater of a good story (not of my spelling though I dare say!)

In fact I think she'd might be my anyone in history dinner party guest IYKWIM - but then that's another thread again Smile

Bassetfeet · 14/11/2014 14:50

Thanks Juggling
I found it in a Sandi Toksvig book of same name .

JugglingFromHereToThere · 14/11/2014 14:42

That's a lovely romantic one Bassetfeet - beautiful imagery Thanks

Bassetfeet · 14/11/2014 14:38

'Its time to whistle for the elephants'

They are of course the wisest of us all in folklore .

My mantra when I know I need support and can't do it alone anymore .

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