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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:
minklundy · 14/11/2014 12:14

www.pinterest.com/fashiontales/inspiring-quotes-keep-your-chin-up/
I like
good things are going to happen good things are going to happen

let it go

and love your fabulous self.

all of these are very difficult though if you just don't feel like it.

on the EA thread (a great source of solace in tough time), the most commonly said things I remember were:
let it out, don't be afraid to cry

baby steps, one step at a time, will get you there in the end

leaving is a process not an event (also applies to life)

put down the big stick [and stop beating yourself with it]

and be kind to yourself

BeCool · 14/11/2014 12:11

thank you for this one (it's been a week of it) : "challenging children make interesting adults"

girliefriend · 14/11/2014 12:10

The one I said regularly when my dd was going through a 'challenging phase' (which lasted 4 yrs) was "it's the grit that makes the pearl"

She is much more pearly now Grin

Narrowdog · 14/11/2014 12:10

I always remember the matriarchs of my family giving anyone going through a tough time (child or adult) a sort of Gallic shrug and saying 'you just have to get on with it' . It sounds a bit harsh, but somehow when going through any sort of shit, it's what I think of and always seems to make things more manageable.

I also love the saying (it might even be coined by a car manufacturer, not sure!) 'one life, live it'.

minklundy · 14/11/2014 12:08

garlic that reminds me once when i was in the gym and totally failed a lift and got stuck and was totally Blush someone said,
"if you never fail you are never really trying".

BeCool · 14/11/2014 12:01

"Be cool, be cool, be cool"

also "fuck it fuck it fuck it"

For getting into cold water at the beach "This is what I'm here for" - splash!

ShutUpLegs · 14/11/2014 11:59

"This too shall pass" is my life motto Exit.

It reminds me to cherish to the good moments and helps withstand the bad.

No-one should ever be kicked for it.

AggressiveBunting · 14/11/2014 11:56

It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog

GarlicNovember · 14/11/2014 11:54

A strong wind breaks trees, but it only bends grass.
(Chinese - I think Xenia would call that one "Lean in" Wink)

When one door closes, another one opens. Look for the open doors.

Failure's a learning process - those who never fail, never learn.

"I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out and I know one thing
Each time I find myself layin' flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get back in the race."
(Thanks, Frank!)

minklundy · 14/11/2014 11:48

if at first you don't succeed, don't take up hang-gliding

minklundy · 14/11/2014 11:48

into every life a little rain must fall
not at all helpful if life is a constant deluge though

and from another MN poster
nothing can drag you down if you are not holding on
although this is not actually true for gravity

minklundy · 14/11/2014 11:45

taffeta "challenging children make interesting adults"
Oh lord I hope so.

minklundy · 14/11/2014 11:44

PD that is actually the chain of thought I ran through in my head over the everyone's fed one.

"It is what it is"
"fuckit"
both frequently said by the ex i am desperately trying to get over so not helpful right now
"what is for you won't go by you"
"if you want something let it go, if it is yours it will come back, it if doesn't it never was yours in the first place"
"just keep swimming, keep swimming, keep swimming"
"don't sweat the little stuff"

ExitPursuedByABear · 14/11/2014 11:40

I've had my arse kicked on here for 'This too shall pass'.

BitOutOfPractice · 14/11/2014 11:36

And of course, the Winston Churchil one "When you're going through hell, keep going!"

BitOutOfPractice · 14/11/2014 11:33

I always like: "It'll be OK in the end. If it's not OK, it's not the end yet."

Another version of "this too shall pass" I guess but I like how it sounds and feels

I hope your friend is OK OP. You sound like a lovely friend Thanks

Taffeta · 14/11/2014 11:25

My lovely mum, a teacher for 50 years : "challenging children make interesting adults"

Original poster
PacificDogwood · 14/11/2014 09:38

Oh thank you, lovely people, you kept the thread going.

I am happy that some of your contributions may have helped others who are struggling - Thanks to you all.

Interesting that there has a similar thread before - which reminds me of another thing that's helped me before: "Why me? " - "Well, why on earth NOT you?". Gives perspective if nothing else.

OP posts:
ZingOfSeven · 14/11/2014 09:30

fox
I love your doors and scissors ones.
very very true.
Thanks for those

JustAShopGirl · 14/11/2014 09:28

My mum used to say to us when we were moaning about something or other..

Shit happens to everyone, dig your way through it, don't wallow in it.

foxdongle · 14/11/2014 09:18

I am who I am, your approval is not required.

My silence could mean you are not worth the argument.

Leave me alone, I'm only speaking to my dog today.

Old ways wont open new doors.

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

Successful people never worry about what others are doing.

ZingOfSeven · 14/11/2014 09:10

puny

that is brilliant! I never thought of it like that

punygod · 14/11/2014 08:49

Give her a copy of "We're Going On A Bear Hunt."

"We can't go over it, we can't go under it - oh no! We've got to go through it!"

And at the end the family are all tumbled together and the threat (bear) goes away.

A lovely metaphor, I always think.

ballsballsballs · 14/11/2014 08:48

Thanks for this thread, I need it today. "why cry? you've got to do it anyway!" made me laugh for some reason.

Pointlessfan · 14/11/2014 08:46

The bridge between despair and hope is a good night's sleep.

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