5 Powerful Reminders That Soothe Me When Life Gets Hard
Nuggets of wisdom to navigate you through anxiety.
Are you struggling with bad days?
One day is filled with rainbows and unicorns. The next day, you can barely see the point of getting out of bed.
I understand how frustrating this emotional rollercoaster is, but you can boost your mood with a new habit.
Mindful repetition of a soothing phrase helps you relax and primes your body’s parasympathetic nervous system for rest. Repeating a mantra helps turn down the volume in your head, preventing the mind from wandering, planning, or worrying about the past.
But what phrase should you choose?
I want to share simple truths that soothe me whenever anxiety creeps in. I hope something here can be of use to you.
Everything Happens for A Reason.
When you are in the midst of challenges, it is hard to see the bigger picture of why things are happening the way they are.
But when you calm down during an emotionally turbulent moment, you gain the upper hand. Why? Because you cease to react.
Non-reaction is power.
When you take charge of your mind by repeating a ready-made mantra, you anchor yourself in the present moment. And in the present moment, you cannot feel fear, worry, doubt, or lack.
You become aware that whatever chaos may be raging outside you is not a part of you.
When you soothe yourself with the mantra “Everything happens for a reason”, you disengage from survival mode.
And with time, you will be able to see the potential of a difficult situation and the lessons it brings.
You didn’t get that job? Good. The next one will awaken your creative genius.
Your relationship didn’t last? At least you are not wasting your time. Soon you’ll have the space to greet new energy into your life.
Bringing back your focus to the now is where the magic happens. What is happening today shapes the person you are becoming tomorrow.
You are not a random entity in the Universe. You are here for a reason.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they’re right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.
— Marilyn Monroe
The Universe Is Always Conspiring in My Favour.
Many people rush through life without realizing the immense support they have.
But when you adopt a mindset of having the whole Universe by your side, you become confident.
Confidence and strong self-belief are the keys to persisting through challenges. High self-esteem guides your subconscious mind toward making your dreams happen.
Feeling secure and supported gives you a nudge outside your comfort zone.
Life will throw curveballs. It is futile to resist, but when you dare to face challenges, you learn and become a master at handling whatever life sends your way.
To face challenges, you need to feel supported.
During dark days, repeating the mantra “The Universe is always working with me”, allows you to look at your current situation from a different perspective and gives you the courage to move forward.
The Universe has got your back, baby.
The universe conspires to reveal the truth and to make your path easy if you have the courage to follow the signs.
— Lisa Unger
Life Is Not Happening to You but Through You.
You are the one calling the shots by navigating how you feel and think about yourself. Since you are in charge, what is there to worry about?
When something undesirable occurs, the power of reaction or non-reaction lies with you.
You can decide not to give it your attention and entertain constructive thoughts. Or you can spiral into worry, doubt, and fear.
This phrase always reminds me to stay calm and collected because my state of being determines my reality. When you have clarity, you create solutions. When you feel good, good things come to you.
Coming up with negative scenarios means blowing things out of proportion and creating the illusion of catastrophe. It breeds more stress and clouds your judgment.
During tough times, remind yourself about days when you thought you wouldn’t make it. But you are here now, safe and sound. You have made it, and you will make it through a difficult time again.
In every challenge, there is a lesson. Embrace what comes your way. You will come out stronger.
Your purpose on this Earth is to grow and learn. You were never meant to get stuck in one place or one season of your life.
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
— Viktor Frankl
Sometimes Not Getting What You Want Is a Wonderful Stroke Of Luck.
Since I can remember, I have always wanted to live in a big city.
I left my hometown for college. My parents moved to the serene countryside.
I pursued the big city life and a corporate career, wearing ‘busy mode’ as a badge of honour.
After a few years, I moved back to the countryside. It was never my plan. Today, I cannot imagine a better place for me to write and explore myself.
I had no idea that nature and the slow pace of life were what I needed.
I never imagined I’d live in a house near the forest. Rationally, I always assumed I’d stick to the buzz of the city.
But after experiencing severe anxiety and despair, I gave up and surrendered to the flow of the Universe. My life took a different turn. It wasn’t a smooth ride, but it provided me with the growth I needed.
When we are blinded by external expectations, something far greater might be passing us by. If not for the big city, I wouldn’t have appreciated the tranquility of nature.
Never berate yourself for not accomplishing your goal. In the process of getting there, you might stumble on what you actually need.
Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.
— Randy Pausch
There are no mistakes in life. Which leads me to my next reminder:
You Are Never Behind. You Are Always in the Right Place and at the Right Time.
When you spiral into fearful thoughts, stop them early in their tracks.
This mantra soothes me when my anxiety creeps in.
Whenever I start comparing myself to somebody’s feed on social media, or if I can feel my family’s remarks getting to me… I remind myself that everybody has their timeline.
You don’t have to live the life expected of you.
Living an unexpected life is never your defeat. It is the failure of those who pressure you with their expectations.
So don’t give them that power. And don’t waste your life on fretting.
When you are stressed, you lack clarity. When you are jealous, you deprive yourself of happiness. When you are fearful, you forget to enjoy your life.
The moment your attention goes inward, calming your body and thoughts, you gain clarity and stabilize your nervous system. With stability, you make better choices and navigate your life in the direction that feels good to you.
You are never behind. You are on the right path.
You are what you want to become. Why search anymore? You are a wonderful manifestation. The whole universe has come together to make your existence possible. There is nothing that is not you. The kingdom of God, the Pure Land, nirvana, happiness, and liberation are all you.
— Nhat Hanh
Life is cyclical. Tough times don’t last forever.
I hope those reminders will serve you when the sun goes out. Don’t forget that nights are beautiful too. Though times remind you how powerful you already are.
It doesn’t matter what happens. The most important thing in life is how you look at the circumstances that shape every outcome.
What are the go-to mantras that get you through dark days?
Thank you for being here, — Kate
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