What’s your mantra?

FOCUS ON THE GOOD

This is my mantra.

I write it on my bathroom mirror. I post it on my refrigerator door. I tape it to my office wall. I speak of it every time I teach.

These 4 words remind me to focus on what’s good, what’s working, what’s infinitely possible. Even (especially) when everything is going wrong.

Focus on the good.

Because if I can find one good thing in the course of a day, I have found my reason to live, to love, and to lead.

Sometimes the blessings are obvious. Sometimes they’re hidden. Sometimes it’s simply breathing. Other times “it’s the moments that take my breath away”.

Mantras wake us up.

Mantras work because they wake us up. Snap us out of it. They carry us from the perpetual loop of our worries to the equanimity of present time.

For we all need a gentle nudge in the right direction. A loving reminder to come back to reality.

Or we’ll all be too busy looking down that we miss the beauty of what’s right in front of us. Life itself. 

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What’s your mantra?

Related Post: Happiness in one word.

96 thoughts on “What’s your mantra?”

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  1. Rest, Rest, Rest…you’ve made it this far and now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and plan the next chapter of my life. I’m very excited by this idea! ❤ xoxo

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  7. Oh, Thank you so much, Andrea for such a super uplifting post!!! I’m going to adopt those four words – FOCUS ON THE GOOD and A GENTLE LITTLE NUDGE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION!!!
    Really wonderful!!! You might like this little mantra to add to your Focus On The Good – “What Have You Done Today, To Make Your Dreams Come True!!!
    Blessings to you!!!
    Chuck
    xoxo

    Reply

    1. Thanks Chuck! For your buoyant response and for your uplifting mantra. I will definitely add it to my motivation mantras. Every nudge in the right direction helps! Have a wonderful evening. Andrea ☀️🌻

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  8. I ♥️ this piece about “Whats Your Mantra!” About a year ago…our daughter had some struggles and thru those personal struggles, I came up with a Mantra to help her that I live by …”Learn, Adapt & Adjust”. In my life I am constantly Learning, needing to Adapt to changes which causes me to Adjust. I am finding this Mantra so helpful…I ♥️ your Mantra!!! It becomes our Vision/Mission Statement!

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  9. I can and I will — watch me.
    I like this because it inspires a self-confidence in myself yet at the same time is a defiant cry against the doubters – this can sometimes also be me!

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  12. What a beautiful and inspiring post Andrea. My sentiments align closely to yours. I always look for the good in life and I also count my blessings, ending each day by writing in my Gratitude Journal. Another thing I tend to say to my teenage son when he doubts himself is “you can do it”. And he always does. Loved this post 💜

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  14. Mantras definitely help us get into the vortex. That’s for sure! All is well is also one of my favourites. And I bet you can tell that I enjoy Abraham Hicks too. The books and the Hay House recordings are the best. Thank you for sharing Deb. Your work story & your mantras remind us how alike we truly are.💛💫

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  15. Mine are “Everything always works out for me” and “All is Well” both from Abraham Hicks…whom I love listening too! Great post!! Love your mantra, that’s actually what I’ve been practicing for the past couple of weeks, especially at work when I find my mind lamenting over and over again about something workwise…I am now catching myself, stopping myself and shifting my focus…to the good and thinking about how I want things to be, not the way they currently are. 🙂

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  16. This is a very positive article! To ‘focus on the good’ is something, a lot of us forget to do. We get too caught up with life’s challenges, don’t we?

    My mantra is to always stay positive, remembering the fact that everything happens for good. This is also the reason I don’t have regrets, for I believe every mistake is a lesson in disguise. Another mantra of mine, is to love my own self first. Self love is so important, yet ignored.

    Reply

    1. Empowering Mantras! Thank you for sharing. I love how positive you are Jiji! Your blog & your mantras mirror your beliefs beautifully.

      I too believe that every mistake is a lesson in disguise. The key is to let the hurt of the mistake go – just long enough – to reach for a new beginning. Something I wrote about here: https://drandreadinardo.com/2016/10/20/failure-is-the-opportunity-to-begin-again/

      No regrets is something I also aspire to live everyday. No mistakes. Only lessons. 📚💚

      Reply

  17. Interesting! “Focus on the good” is something I have in my list, though I need a reminder every now and then. Thanks for the reminder. 😆❤

    My main ones are (in no particular order):
    1. Smile!
    2. Everything in moderation
    3. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

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  18. Reblogged this on Leadership Flagship and commented:
    My Mantra is: This too shall pass, from the 12 steps of Recovery. Thought not an alcoholic myself, I went the course with a very dear friend many years ago – he taught me about perseverance and commitment. Here’s to you RQ, wherever you are!

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  20. I love your Mantra! I have several but the one mantra that I say to myself every morning as I look in the mirror is “I am worth it” because for most of my life I didn’t think I was. These four words have helped me to overcome the pain of my abusive childhood and help me to do things I never imagined I could. Great blog post, thank you!

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    1. Oh Terri. What a thriver you are! I appreciate how far you’ve travelled & how much your words inspire us all to rise up. “I am worth it”. You sure are! In so many beautiful & uplifting ways. Thank you for sharing. 🙌💫

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  21. Love this. I have several mantras, depending on the situation, but here are some favorites: “I have fibromyalgia – it doesn’t have me” or “I can’t do everything, but I can do something” (when pain has me down) and “No guts, no glory” (when I need to take action / make a tough decision). 🙂

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  22. My best friend gave me a little decorative piece to hang up when I was struggling. It says “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.” 🙂

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    1. My pleasure! Self-efficacy is a concept I practice & reinforce at work. Which makes it all the more wonderful to meet a young lady like you in the blogosphere. Your “can do” mindset (and some days “can at least try” mindset) gives me hope! 🙌

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  25. My mantra is “I’m always there for me”, it gives me the satisfaction of knowing I’m not alone in anything, and gives me the confidence I need in difficult situations. 🙂

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  26. Andrea, I love this post! I agree – Focusing on the good is so powerful … From my experience, focusing on the good helps me to see blessings everywhere – and it also helps me to feel safe inside, like “Oh right! Everyone is alright. 🙂 ” Also, I live by the principle that everything is a blessing. (I do my best anyway)

    Thank you for this. You are amazing … so glad that we found each other on WordPress. Blessings to you, Andrea!! Love, Debbie

    Reply

      1. I have so many right now: 1) One strength. One support. (This one refers to the Divine, I say this to remind me that only God can constantly help or be constantly kind. As no human can as of yet.) 2) Benefit in everything. 3) I am good and kind. 4) Detached observer (so watch the horrible from a distance and don’t let it effect my heart, so i don’t get hurt, or cry, or take pain, or make my heart hard just observe and trust in you and the divine) 5) I am an immortal soul, everyone is, we are orginally peace, love, purity, wisdom and joy.

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  30. I love this, mantras are so important! I have two.
    It’s okay.
    I am enough.
    They seem so basic but when I focus on them they bring me such a calming peace.

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  32. Bring It Bitch!! I’m referring to life and the adversity it enjoys sending my way. I’ve been through a lot, I’m not stopping here. It’s not my final destination. I will not quit! So, bring it bitch!!

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    1. Oh God yes! Grabbety I have said something similar many times in my life. Sometimes adversity brings out the warrior in me & other times it brings forth the peace. Either way: At the end of the day – the peaceful warrior conquers all. 💃🎯

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  33. We must say Andrea that ours follows right along side of yours. When we focus on the good the challenge we are faced with seems to wash away and as a bonus folks observing become part of the solution along side us.

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    1. Positive minds think alike! And so true about the bonus part of shared vision. We always have a choice when it comes to our attention. And the more we look in the right direction – the easier it is for those around us to do the same. “Together we rise.” ⭐️💫

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  35. “I woke up today.” – This is my mantra for today. I was lucky enough to awaken to a body that works and the gift of another day on this planet. Thank you for this inspirational message.

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    1. Right on Ali. Too often we take life itself for granted. I share a similar saying with my nursing students. “The next time you feel sorry for yourself because of an 8am class: Be grateful that you woke up today. Not everyone who went to sleep last night did.” Shifts them (and me) grateful. Every time.

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  36. Never thought of doing it in mantras, thank you for the idea. What I carry with me now is: don’t apologize for who you are. My mantra, or more likely, an idea of the this period 🙂

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        1. No wonder we found each other in the blogosphere. I follow Danielle LaPorte’s work too! Interestingly enough: She’s a fellow Canadian who grew up 20 kilometres from where I live now. My hope is to one day bump into her on the streets of Kingsville, Ontario when she’s home visiting her parents one summer’s day. Fingers crossed. 💃

          Reply

          1. Really, such a synchronicity! I only “know” Danielle by her guesting on the podcast “Good life project”. I hope to read some of her works too. Anything especially worth reading? And wow, you are her neighbor, I wish you to meet her!

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  37. Well dear daughter. You have indeed practiced your mantra ever since you were able to walk.

    It has served you well and everyone loves to be with you with your positive outlook on life.

    My “mantra” is COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS and you are one of them.

    ❤️ mom (aka) Dr. Di 😃

    Reply

  38. Love your mantra. I don’t really have one but when I’m having a tough day I look for three positives. I like this mantra!

    Reply

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