The Importance of a Mantra
If you listen closely, you can almost hear New Year’s resolutions being written across the country. It’s that time of year. The season where pen meets paper, and hope meets goal and we exit one decade and enter another with the promise of what might be.
And I’m not that different. I appreciate the gift of a fresh start, of a blank calendar that offers me a new collection of weeks and months to work on. But, there’s one thing I never start a new year without – a mantra.
According to the dictionary, a mantra is simply a “commonly repeated word or phrase.” It’s an idea you create and then stick to for a set period of time. A few years ago I started using mantras in my life, both professionally and personally, and I’ve seen great results.
Now, they’re not silver bullets. They’re not magic. They’re just living, breathing reminders of goals that matter to you. In 2008, my mantra was “8 in 08,” which reminded me to sleep eight hours each night. In 2009, my mantra was “Dine in 09,” which helped me focus on eating smaller meals, more often. I enjoyed both of those, and they both share three things in common that just might help you write your own mantra for 2010.
1. Keep it simple.
Author Seth Godin talks about how in every great endeavor, there is a dip. A downturn where the road gets a little harder and we feel tempted to quit. I believe that’s true and if you’ve established a complicated, detailed mantra, it’s going to be a lot easier to give up. Simple things tend to stick. So instead of saying, “I will spend less time at work, especially on the weekends, and will focus more on my family in 2010” try to come up with something like, “Home again in 2010.” Keep it simple
2. Keep it fun.
For some people, goal setting is akin to taking a trip to the dentist. Why shouldn’t it be when for years, we’ve made boring, dry goals that aren’t any fun? That’s part of the reason I do little things like write my mantras with a bit of rhyme. Hitting a goal can be a blast. Accomplishing something we’ve always wanted to do can be a true joy. Don’t feel like your mantra needs to be clinical or sterile or stiff. Keep it fun.
3. Keep it measurable.
The greatest way to take the wind out of your sails when it comes to mantras is to create some that are impossible to measure. We like progress. We like tracking how tall our kids are on a doorframe and seeing our 5k times shortened through training. But when you write a mantra, there’s a temptation to make it big and crazy and completely unstructured like “Change the world” or “Eat good in 2010.” The problem with mantras like that is that there’s no way to really measure if you’re meeting them. And as many a manager has said before, “things that get measured, get done.” Conversely, things that don’t, won’t. So when you establish your mantra, make sure there are some easy success metrics built in.
Those are my three best suggestions for creating a mantra this year. I’m working on mine right now but will certainly be writing about it in the next few weeks and I am really looking forward to hearing yours.
Happy (almost) New Year!
This post is categorized Live
“Run 10 in 2010″ my mantra is to run at least 10 miles once a week in 2010. Thanks for the goal setting technique! Looking forward to a great year!
I didn’t know you have a blog! This was a great post. For the past 10 years I ask God to give me a “focus” for the coming year. One year I thought He said “This year is for finding answers”
The next year I thought He told me “This year is for living the answers”
Usually the focus I think I hear ends up being much different than I expect…for example, in 2009 my focus was JOY…2009 was one of the most challenging years EVER. I did however, find a new and deeper joy. (But it looked nothing like what I’d term : JOY!)
For 2010 I think God has been whispering…friendships. This scares me silly, I’m not a people person.Not in the least.
I can’t wait to hear your mantra!
I’m retweeting this….it’s great!
Robin
All Things Heart and Home
Discipline in 2010
I am realizing any goals I have set crumble unless I have the discipline to keep them going. I thought I’d focus on the root problem this time.
That’s an interesting insight, I’ve never thought about using mantras intentionally (certainly there are phrases I repeat all the time).
I’m going to make mine: “Sabbath saturday.” I tried to make it rhyme with 2010, but really, sabbath should happen in ‘11 and ‘12 too!
But the goal is really good rest on the sabbath.
I think the reason that many people abandon their goals by February is that they have set the bar a bit too high…staying focused with a simple mantra is great advice!
“You win in 2010″
Focus on others in 2010. As Rick Warren says in his book Purpose Driven Life “It’s not about you”.
I can help You……
I forgive You for……
I will give You…..
Call me if You need……
You are special because…..
Bottom line: In 2010 Love God and love your neighbor!
Let God do the leading,and try not to change his direction.
Thin in 2010!
I am trying to get in the habit of being slower to say either “yes” or “no” before I take time to really think things through. I’m such a “yes-girl” that I get myself in trouble with taking too much on at once! So …. my Mantra this year will be:
*drum roll please*
“A more thoughtful yes-no, in the big one-oh!”
Dan – an Operator here.
Sitting in a Barnes & Noble working on my 2010 business plan. This post was very useful – and helped me re-focus that I’m not making this thing overly complicated. Also, loved the advice to keep it fun – we’re definitely having fun out here – thanks for your influence!
Influence in 2010
Whether influencing my Leadership team, friends, acquaintances, family, or guests at my store..I want to be an influencer.
My goal is to constantly be influenced over the year(be poured into) so I can pour into others.
I am excited for the road God will pave for this year. He laid this word on my heart. Both professionally and personally there are things I will be doing to Influence.
Here are some influential lyrics from a song by the group Skillet, I am calling it my theme song for 2010
“Today I’m gonna try a little harder
Gonna make every minute last longer
Gonna learn to forgive and forget
’Cause we don’t have long, gonna make the most of it
Today I’m gonna love my enemies
Reach out to somebody who needs me
Make a change, make the world a better place
’Cause tomorrow could be one day too late”
“Be prepared. Be passionate!”
Dan-
Great post! Thanks for the advice! I’m the Operations Manager for two Chick-fil-A’s in Raleigh, NC. My mantra for this year will be: “My son’s hero in one zero.”
My wife and I just had our first son Samuel. My goal this year is to ask myself each day: If my son looks to me as his hero, are the things I set out to do today going reflect a heroic father? Are my eating habits, exercise rituals, work ethic, love for his mother, love for Christ, and passion to serve a heroic example for my son?