Following the Mantra
October 17, 2023
Author: Jacqueline Presser
Editor: Hannah Ostfield
On a daily basis, I find myself ruminating and wasting so much time focusing on things that I truly cannot change. I recently thought to myself: “What if I started shifting all of this energy toward things that I can control?”. The following mantra especially, “don’t worry about what you can’t control”, has remodeled my view on my life, encounters, outcomes, and how I move forward with those responsibilities.
Using mantras to focus on what you can control will lessen the strain on your physical and mental health. Mantras are defined as instruments of mind or thoughts and holy declarations containing words, syllables, and verses to create a sacred symbol, spiritual figure, or magic incantation (Tseng 2022). Studies have shown that through Mantra Meditation (MM), which is known to be one of the easiest and most effective meditative practices with versatility to all levels of meditators, leads to lower stress levels and in dealing with hypertension. Incorporation of mantras and positive ideologies in general into your mind aid in facilitating an overall more optimistic and determined outlook.
Since you can only control your response to the action and can’t change the way others may proceed or even react, it is crucial to not harp on the unfixable and instead take them as lessons and put your energy into the positive things that bring you light and life. Shift your gaze to how you can move forward and make positive changes and if you happen to find yourself in a situation where you feel stuck, find an outlet to persevere and jump out to. Although control may feel scary at times, you have the power to make decisions and pay less attention to things that aren’t in your control.
One of my favorite techniques I use to shift my thinking is the Calm app. There you can find a plethora of podcasts, general storytimes, bedtime stories, meditation and breathing exercises, and your most wanted soothing sounds to relax to. You will find daily inspirational segments, music as well as amazing sleep renditions that will help you refocus your thoughts when they may feel out of control (especially at night time).
Recently, I realized that I am constantly telling my friends and family to live by this mantra all the time, yet I need to actually implement it myself. I was walking around campus a few days ago thinking about my future at college and how everything will play out, and in my usual thought patterns, making myself anxious and uneasy. I thought to myself, what if I just let it all play out and trusted the process? I realized that what I can do to be productive is to continue to stay present, attend classes, apply for clubs, make connections, and enjoy what I can control. Instead of harping on the disappointments that were out of my control, I went forth and emerged myself in new clubs, met new people, and was pleasantly surprised at how amazing an attitude shift in a suit with this mantra really can dictate how you feel about yourself, others, and life in general.
Distractions are sometimes good and bring forth productivity different from schoolwork or other tasks you might’ve originally only known to be “productive.” Self-love and self-care are the most critical tasks. Finding time in your day for yourself is a great way to overcome your worries of the mysteries to come. By doing this, you are refocusing, spending time with yourself, and grounding yourself in a new environment physically and mentally.
On the flipside, it is important to face what you may be stuck against and most of the time, with this mantra, these worries can slowly shift in new directions. As someone who attends therapy and has for years, I know how hard it can be to shift your thoughts and mindset: it truly takes hard work. At the end of the day, it all comes back to you and how you choose to react and then move forward.
