Mantra Magic

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Mantra Magic

Self-talk for a Changing World

Even though I’m a strong proponent of positive thinking, I believe that thinking alone is not enough to help us generate positive change in our lives. It takes focus and deliberate actions too. Developing a self-talk strategy is often the starting point to realizing our dreams and creating a personal mantra is a powerful way to remind ourselves that we are on a journey of infinite possibilities. A mantra is typically a repeated phrase or sound used for meditation, focus, or spiritual purposes. It’s often meaningful and used to bring about a specific state of mind or simply function like an internal mnemonic device to help us remember.

Mantras have been around forever. It’s a Sanskrit word and in Vedic literature it’s considered as any sacred word or syllable used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power. Essentially it operates like a “suggestion” planted by a hypnotist, meaning it triggers certain actions, sometimes subconsciously. The point is that a well-conceived mantra can keep us on course and grounded in who we are and where we’re headed. Examples include:

“I am enough.” – A powerful affirmation to boost self-worth.

“This too shall pass.” – A reminder that challenges are temporary.

“Be here now.” – Encourages mindfulness and living in the present.

“Progress, not perfection.” – Focuses on growth rather than flawlessness.

“I can and I will.” – A mantra for determination and resilience.

“Everything I need is within me.” – Reinforces self-reliance and inner strength.

Whatever your personal mantra may be, over time it can become a stabilizing influence amidst a world of incredible and constant change. It can function as our personal GPS which magically leads us to our desired destination leaving a wake of serendipity and good fortune.

Szenippet: Self-talk is a way to communicate with our inner self. It generates self-awareness which allows us to reframe our desires into a battle cry or a cheer – a mantra that reminds us of who we are and who we can be.

 

Begin Now

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Begin Now

Our First Step Activates Our Destiny

I have always believed that the Universe connects us all. That one action or thought here can be manifested and reflected there. That a wish takes the form of a request and it’s the nature of the Universe to grant it. What enables this process is our own belief that we are made in the image and likeness of our creator and thus imbued with that same power. When we can see it happening in our mind’s eye, it’s that faith that directs our actions and decisions to somehow put us in a position to find what we seek. In the book The War of Art, author Steven Pressfield cites a passage from W.H. Murray from The Scottish Himalayan Expedition:

“Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment that one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would not otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man would have dreamed would come his way. I have learned deep respect for one of Goethe’s couplets: ‘Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, magic, and power in it. Begin it now’.”

The sheer act of taking that first step is one of faith. When we move toward our dream, our dream moves toward us – It’s the secret sauce of life and we all possess it. What recipe we use it for depends on how we see our future and how we use the now to shape the days and the years to come. It’s never too late to begin the journey and the heavens await our command. State your desire, believe it will happen, plant that first step, and begin now.

Szenippet: The formula for making dreams come true is to have plenty of dreams, no doubts, and the belief that the sooner we begin our journey, the sooner our dreams come true.

 

 

Wishful Thinking

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Wishful Thinking

I think that thinking about anything changes that thing. Our thoughts on whatever the subject might be, have an influence on it. Our thoughts surround the subject and somehow rearrange it. For example, this week I have a deadline of Tuesday for some research. I’m behind a bit and really wish I had a few more days and today I was granted a couple of days. Wishful thinking works.

We all have examples of things we think about or concentrate on that come to life. That’s because in the process of thinking we establish a focus and focus channels our thoughts not only on the subject but also on ourselves. Pondering is a way for us to extrapolate the best course of action or develop a better perspective in the process. In both cases we win. And that’s the point. Focus and perspective can form a belief. And a belief becomes our own powerful ambassador in opening our minds and options. We end up getting exactly what we believed we would.

This is powerful and we can apply it right now and to all of the “nows” to come. Belief is a force that even nature can’t ignore. So, believe in positive life changing outcomes and they will happen; believe that you’re stuck, and wishful thinking doesn’t work and that will happen too. It’s your choice. Make a wish.

Szenippet: Our minds create the outcomes in our life. What we see inside becomes a reality outside. What do you see?

 

Going With the Flow

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Going With the Flow

Sailing on the Waves of Life

It’s Thursday, January 23, 2025, a day at sea, and I am writing this while on a cruise amongst the islands that populate the Bahamas, because we never know when an “ah-ha” moment will occur, and I just had one. I am reading a book by Oliver Burkeman entitled Meditation for Mortals, a book about embracing our limitations and making time for what counts. In the book he quotes Ann Patchett who shared a perspective which I’ve paraphrased many times, but didn’t know the source. She says: “It helps when you can realize that this part of life, when you don’t know what’s coming, is often the part that people look back on with the greatest affection.” The truth is we can’t know for sure how reality will unfold and even though we think we have things under control, we don’t. This fact is essential to enjoying life and the foundation for the open-ended philosophy of “going with the flow.” The lesson being that getting what we desire usually doesn’t happen the way we think it should. Seems that the universe has its own way of making dreams come true. I learned this axiom from someone who taught me that control is an illusion; unfortunately, I leaned it too late to keep her as a friend, which is a story for another time.

The metaphor I use with clients and students on this topic is that control is like grasping an ice cube. You think you have it, but the more you squeeze it, the faster it melts away. And when it does, there is no way to salvage its previous form. I think most of us have experienced some aspect of life where love or fame or riches or whatever is within our reach but not in our grasp. Those moments can be life changing and very often worth talking about. That is what my ah-ha moment has been today. To quote an adage of uncertain origin, almost everything that happens is either a good time or a good story and this trip is turning out to be both.

Szenippet: Going with the flow, letting go of our need to control, allows for infinite possibilities, both good and bad. Either something magical happens or at worst we’ve got a new story to share. And strangely enough, by sharing our stories we often create the magic we seek.

Making Magic

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Magic Making

Abracadabra

This is the time of the year when we list all of the things we resolve to change or do or create for ourselves. Then we get a magic wand (any brand will do) and wave it appropriately with our own special magic mantra and voila we’ve changed. We could perform this over and over as many of us do, until we almost believe that it will happen. So why don’t those things, that we so desperately want never arrive? I mean I really could lose the extra weight, get more sleep, read more, exercise etc. – All good stuff and for some reason they just don’t happen. The answer is that we’re not waving the magic wand right. It’s very clearly stated in the instruction manual that we must have faith and believe in our self in order to create what we seek.

Nothing happens until we see it in our mind first. That vision is a goalpost and sets the direction of our actions. And it’s those pesky actions that actually do all the work. Action creates energy and acts like a magnate for that which we desire. Even if we take itsy bitsy baby steps toward reaching our goals, we will feel the draw and soon, what we seek, will begin to move toward us. It’s a win win scenario, and all it takes is action. Not ordinary action like going through the motions, but real actions that we believe will bring our dream to life. Belief is the fuel that makes the action work, and it is embedded in each of us. It’s the creation tool that comes with us when we’re born, and we learn how it works through practice.

If you watch a baby or toddler build something or playing intently, you’re witnessing their practice time for building up their belief muscle. If they can see it, they can do it, or at least they will try. Of course, they get frustrated but that doesn’t stop the effort or the action. I like to believe that we still have that power, and it just needs to be energized with a new vision, destination, or resolution that through faith we can bring to life.

So, before you throw out the magic wand, try it again and this time try it with the faith that whatever you seek will manifest and proceed from there. Faith lessens the strain of work, and it builds confidence. It’s the human secret sauce for living the life of our dreams. Abracadabra. Poof! We’re almost there.

Szenippet: Anything we want, we see first in our mind. That mental picture represents the finished product, like we might see on the outside of a box of a do-it-yourself project. The instructions are inside and even though they may seem daunting we know we can make it happen.

Un-Done Things

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Un-Done Things

Seeking Comfort in Closure

The un-done things of life include two distinct categories: Things never started and yet to be done, and things started that can’t seem to get done. If you ponder this for a second, you’ll understand what I mean. The first one includes everything on our bucket list: the places to visit, the sights to see, the people to meet, the concerts to attend, and the ever-present improved health through exercise. These are on our list of intentions, resolutions and honey do’s. These all have a good chance of happening and some will join the second list.

The second list of un-done things in life includes all of those projects we started that never got completed – they’re just not done, over, ended, terminated, transformed or finished. It includes the promises we made and failed to deliver on. It includes the relationships that are left unresolved, and it includes any memory that continues to surface that generates a “woulda, coulda shoulda” response. This second list desperately seeks closure, especially when it’s a memory that needs to rest.

Closure is defined as the act of closing, bringing to an end, conclusion. Closure can signify celebration. When we have achieved and have completed the task and arrived at our intended destination, that’s closure. When the whole story is finally told and a dark memory is allowed to subside, that’s closure. To be able to set aside the “what ifs” and accept “what is” is closure. Closure closes doors so others may be open. Closure is the friend of the open minded and its cousin completeness. Closure is required to learn and to grow.

Whatever our un-done list may look like, it is exclusively our list. We alone get to manage, modify, and manipulate what gets done and what doesn’t. When we feel the need for closure, it’s important that we act, because when we do reach closure, it can generate a calmness and peace – a sense of completeness like nothing else. And from there, anything is possible.

Szenippet: Feeling a need for closure is normal. Actually achieving closure is complicated. And life without closure can be chaotic. So, when that one unresolved thought pokes at our psyche, let it go and move on. We need the room to grow.

Many Happy Returns

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Many Happy Returns

 

Getting a gift from a person you didn’t expect to, or a gift big- ger than the one you thought was appropriate or getting a gift you didn’t need or want at all, can be stressful and make you feel a little uncomfortable. This time of year, this happens a lot. It happens to you and it happens to the person that you just gave a gift to.

 

Knowing how to receive is as important as how to give. The way you take it, embrace it and acknowledge it is as meaningful as any gift you could ever give in return. The art of receiving is a gift unto itself. And in many cases, accepting a gift the right way is the very gift you give back to the giver.

Children don’t know the right or wrong way to accept a pres- ent, they simply react to it. Remember the innocence and won- der you felt as a child and how you loved the fact that you got everything that you told Santa you wanted. Or conversely how you’d scrunch your nose at the new clothes you always got from Grandma. Remember too, giving your hand-made “do-dad” to your Mom and how she beamed with delight and how you swelled with pride.

This Christmas think about how to receive as well as give. Be gracious. Be honest. Be happy. The look on your face, the twin- kle and spark from your eyes will say it all. People know when you don’t like what you got. They can tell by the shift in your aura. By the twitch in your smile. By the lack of eye contact.

Open up. Let people give. Let them be happy with what they wanted you to have. Let them feel that you care and appreci- ate the effort. Remember there is no gift that you will ever ever receive that has not been considered and thought about and maybe agonized about before its presentation. And for each of us that receive that extra special and thoughtful gift there is a gift giver that swells with pride with your reaction. Their gift is truly in the giving and that’s what makes them happy. So take it, don’t spoil their fun, and know that you are giving them the best gift of all, your gratitude.

Merry Christmas. May every gift you give be the right one.

Unforgotten Love

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Unforgotten Love

A Perpetual Blessing

Young love and new love tend to steal all of the headlines. There is something exhilarating about finding a spark amidst darkness, and once sparked, flames ignite until they roar, burning their mark into the hearts of the new lovers. The nice thing about love, is that this feeling of connection can happen anytime with anyone, and sometimes with the same person over and over again.

I believe that once love happens it should continue to happen. I honestly can say that once I love someone, they are pretty much stuck with me, even if time has moved us both along to another path, or if we live in different countries and time zones, the connection remains, and it only takes a second on a phone call or a text, or even a casual thought to feel its warmth again. Keeping in touch with those that have touched you may not be an everyday thing, but when holidays come around it’s always fun to reminisce. Author Arthur Brooks has research that shows the “secret to happiness isn’t falling in love; it’s staying in love.” That sounds about right and if it’s true, then I’m doing great.

That said, staying in love doesn’t mean that the love stays the same. Love has to change and morph, it’s its nature to rise and fall, and run then crawl and then from out of nowhere pick up speed again. Whatever form it is today with those folks in your life that somewhere along the way got your heart’s full attention, it’s still there. It may not spark flames of joy like it used to, but it can certainly warm up a memory and maybe rekindle and fortify the friendship that formed because of it. Yep, love has that kind of power, and for me, it always will.

Szenippet: When love joins our journey, it tends to let us take the lead, and then after a while it begins to lead us. When that happens our entire world changes, and love’s power never leaves us again.

A Playbook for Change

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A Playbook for Change   

Moving Toward a Path to Happiness

Albert Einstein tells us: “We can’t solve today’s problems at the same level of thinking as when we created them.” Hence, if we change our thinking we can solve our problems. But what if we didn’t create the problem to begin with? What if sinister cosmic forces thrust the problem on us and that’s what is making us unhappy?  What then? What can we do to keep on our path to finding and holding on to happiness? Well the first thing to do is to understand that solving problems or issues or circumstances are just a part of life. If we put our life’s journey toward happiness on hold to solve problems we’ll never get there.

In the book by Matthew Kelly entitled Perfectly Yourself, here’s what he says on the subject: “Unhappiness is the fruit of doing and saying things that contradict who we are and what we are here for. Unhappiness is not something that happens to us as if we’re poor little victims. Unhappiness is something we do to ourselves. You can choose to be happy – and never forget God wants you to be happy even more than you do yourself.” I suppose the next question we should ask is, even if we choose to be happy, what do we have to do to get to be happy? The answer of course, is it’s different for everybody.

It’s a combination of mindset, and faith that will propel us into the happiness zone. When we turn toward our own unique goals, the world will turn with us. It’s true that if we believe in where we are heading, the destination will move toward us too. Events, luck, serendipity will arrive on our journey to ensure we get to where we want to go. And consequently we get happy because happiness is the by-product of the journey, not the goal. The goal is to be the best version of ourselves and that’s what gives us confidence to continue to strive to improve. Eventually we get enthusiastic about our life and the outcomes we seek. Enthusiasm is confidence on steroids and as Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm.” I agree.

Szenippet: Whatever we seek becomes easier to achieve when we continue to become better versions of ourselves. The more we grow, the more we know, and with knowledge comes the power to harness change on our behalf.

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Delaing with a Funk

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Dealing With a Funk

Escaping its hold and influence

I’m going to jump to an assumption here that all of us have experienced the reality of being in a “funk.” A funk is feeling low and out of sorts. It can sometimes last for days and getting through it or out of it can be difficult. That’s because funks can be caused by almost anything that happens to us, stuff that hasn’t happened to us that we wished had happened to us, and stuff that we’re afraid might happen to us. In other words almost anything can cause a gray dark cloud to surround us and get in the way of our being our normal cheerful self. Here are a few suggestions for escaping its grasp.

– Don’t feed it. Funks thrive on brain cells that succumb to notions of gloom and doom. Funks love to build up strength by bringing us down. It’s just a game with them and they’re good at it.

– Don’t blame anyone. Another funk trick is to have us believe that feeling so somber and sad is somebody else’s fault. “They did this to me.” “They will pay, just wait.” Then of course we get hung up on this whole revenge thing, which is usually pointless, untrue and depressing – the perfect breeding ground for funks.

– Talk to it. Funks don’t like to hear logic and good will or anything that might break its hold on us. Humor is an especially potent weapon, so by all means tell your funk some jokes and laugh in its face. You’ll be surprised and how fast the funk will fade.

– Own it. The last best thing to do about a funk that creeps into our life is to recognize it for what it is. It’s born from our own thoughts about events or people or situations and in a weak moment we inadvertently give it life and power; when we really are the ones with the power. By using our minds to shift into a positive state we squeeze the funk out of the available space in or mind.

Sharing can help too. Getting the funk out doesn’t have to be done alone. Find a friend. Share a laugh and move on funk free.