To have it all
Mantras are words or phrases uttered to bring a supposed positive psychological effect to a person. “Om”, said to be the universal sound of nature, is perhaps the most common mantra.
I have always found mantras to be grounding, as it attunes the self to the present moment. More often, though, it’s essentially an affirmation of a particular belief or ideal in how things work or how one views oneself, a reminder of how things should be or how one ought to see.
Still, no matter how relevant particular words or phrases may be, there often comes a time when they lose their impact. This always happens to me, which was for a time why I was reluctant to get a tattoo. Words that may be bringing me strength and encouragement today may lose its meaning tomorrow.
But as my great inspiration Ze Frank, a humorist and, I’d dare say, the pioneer of vlogging and most other digital content, said in his timeless Invocation for New Beginnings:
^ A spread from my old doodle journal
I also lived by these words: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” As an insecure teenager, this statement helped boost my confidence to do things, to go after my dreams. The caveat, though, is that it also made me distrust other people and their capabilities. I have set high standards for myself, and I had expected others to meet these standards, too. Because I was often disappointed, I preferred working on my own. For a long time, I micro-managed. It’s a trait I have now acknowledged and am learning to correct.
Sometimes, I derive mantras from lyrics of a song. My first tattoo was inspired by a song. The line “guts over fear”, from an Eminem and Sia collaboration, is one I particularly like at the moment, and I am thinking to have those words inked.
In recent weeks, Jason Mraz’s music has uplifted me in ways I never thought possible. Living In The Moment is like a series of mantras in song format. Everything is Sound takes all woes away. Life is Wonderful elevates the idea of impermanence, and that even then life can be meaningful.
Today, I discovered a newly released Jason Mraz single: Have It All. It’s instantly my favorite.
I don’t think we’re supposed to take it literally. No one can really have it all. What we can possess, though, is the joy of being in the present moment, to see and perceive things as they are, to just be.
This is not easy to do, but I am trying to come to that state of inner calm. And while I don’t speak it, I’m pretty sure these days, the mantra “Om” resounds in my mind. •
I have always found mantras to be grounding, as it attunes the self to the present moment. More often, though, it’s essentially an affirmation of a particular belief or ideal in how things work or how one views oneself, a reminder of how things should be or how one ought to see.
Still, no matter how relevant particular words or phrases may be, there often comes a time when they lose their impact. This always happens to me, which was for a time why I was reluctant to get a tattoo. Words that may be bringing me strength and encouragement today may lose its meaning tomorrow.
But as my great inspiration Ze Frank, a humorist and, I’d dare say, the pioneer of vlogging and most other digital content, said in his timeless Invocation for New Beginnings:
“Let me find and use metaphors to help me understand the world around me and give me the strength to get rid of them when it’s apparent they no longer work.”I tend to cling to mantras to help me get through tough times. In university, I always reminded myself, “The hard work pays off. It always will.” These were words mentioned in passing in one of our class lectures. While they inspired me to hustle, they also made me work harder than everybody else that I just had no time to slow down and rest. Eventually, I lost sight of who I am and became a walking zombie.
^ A spread from my old doodle journal
I also lived by these words: “If it is to be, it is up to me.” As an insecure teenager, this statement helped boost my confidence to do things, to go after my dreams. The caveat, though, is that it also made me distrust other people and their capabilities. I have set high standards for myself, and I had expected others to meet these standards, too. Because I was often disappointed, I preferred working on my own. For a long time, I micro-managed. It’s a trait I have now acknowledged and am learning to correct.
Sometimes, I derive mantras from lyrics of a song. My first tattoo was inspired by a song. The line “guts over fear”, from an Eminem and Sia collaboration, is one I particularly like at the moment, and I am thinking to have those words inked.
In recent weeks, Jason Mraz’s music has uplifted me in ways I never thought possible. Living In The Moment is like a series of mantras in song format. Everything is Sound takes all woes away. Life is Wonderful elevates the idea of impermanence, and that even then life can be meaningful.
Today, I discovered a newly released Jason Mraz single: Have It All. It’s instantly my favorite.
I don’t think we’re supposed to take it literally. No one can really have it all. What we can possess, though, is the joy of being in the present moment, to see and perceive things as they are, to just be.
This is not easy to do, but I am trying to come to that state of inner calm. And while I don’t speak it, I’m pretty sure these days, the mantra “Om” resounds in my mind. •