mantras 101

I recently started the 75 Day Hard program - well, my version of it, and one aspect of it is repeating your personal mantra out loud 3x a day.

What is a personal mantra, anyway? > A personal mantra is little motivational and inspirational phrase or affirmation that resonates with you. It can be as short or as long as you like.

I first really got into honing into a mantra when I started teaching spin. It took a lot of courage for me to get up onto that stage and really lean into the whole THING of it - being present, being myself, bringing my A game, getting out of my head and into how to make it a great class for my riders (and I still need courage every time!). I read a quote once that resonated with me then and still resonates with me now:

Inhale Confidence, Exhale Doubt

I use this mantra like a little reset. It's simple but effective. Whenever I'm nervous, I step up to the plate and take a moment, close my eyes, take a deep breath, and repeat that phrase in my mind. It calms my nerves and centers me, and it works every time.

How do I find my personal mantra?

> Pinterest is a great resource. I have a folder of quotes that I like and when I need a little oomph, I pull from that. Find a quote that resonates with you and adopt it as your own! You can always adjust and adapt as time goes on, but this is a great starting point.

One big tip I have is, make them punchy. Instead of "I will inhale confidence and exhale doubt", go full on and just say it. Get rid of the filler words.

Instead of "I will persevere", just "persevere". Instead of "I'm moving in the right direction", just "keep moving". Not "I want to inspire", just "I inspire others".

If you are still lost and you want an easy way to make one for yourself, fill in the blanks:

I am______, I will ______,

and I'm on my way to _______"

What's your mantra? I want to know! Share it with me in the comments below or DM me!

XO Mer