Harnessing the Power of Mantras and Affirmations for Stress Relief
Aug 02, 2023When you are trying to reduce your stress, there are many methods you might want to try out. This includes having healthier habits, eating right, exercising, finding out what your stressors are, and many other options. Another great idea is to use mantras or affirmations each day for stress, which can be used in a variety of different ways.
Affirmations and mantras are very similar to each other. Mantras are more about sacred phrases that have been used for a long time, while affirmations are more for inspiration and motivation. Both can be used for the purpose of helping you to reduce stress and maintain positivity throughout your life.
Why Use Mantras and Affirmations?
First of all, it helps to understand exactly why mantras and affirmations help for your stress. When you are first getting started it might feel silly to use mantras or affirmations, but if you create a habit you will start to notice a positive difference. Affirmations can be used for so many things in your life, from encouraging more positive thinking, getting more intention for what you do each day, becoming healthier inside and out, and yes, reducing stress and anxiety. This is really only the beginning of what affirmations and mantras can actually do for you.
Here are some reasons using mantras and affirmations can help with your stress:
- They help you manage specific stressful situations – If your stress isn’t just generalized, chronic stress, but from specific things in your life, you need a good way to deal with it. You can start by managing these stressful situations with mantras. You will choose positive statements that allow you to understand you can deal with the situation without letting it get to you.
- You get more confidence in moving forward – Everyone needs a little more confidence, especially people who are dealing with large amounts of stress. Stress can have a snowball effect in your life. It starts to make you feel worse, not just in your situation, but about yourself. You might need a little boost of confidence in order to regain your life back after something traumatic or life-changing has happened.
- They can put you into a calm state – Many affirmations specifically for stress are created to relax you and put you into a calm state. These are the ones to use when you need to calm down from a mental breakdown episode or panic attack related to your stress.
- The positive thinking helps in every area of your life – Also don’t forget that all affirmations promote positive thinking. This might not seem like a big deal, but if you are someone with a lot of stress and anxiety, it is an amazing added benefit.
How to Use Them
Affirmations are really easy to use, with many different options available to you. How you use them will depend on your lifestyle, habits, and when you need them the most. Some ideas include:
- Writing them down in a journal or planner – A super easy way to use affirmations each day is by writing them down in a journal or planner. This is great if you want to remember them, be in a calm state while journaling, or when you just want a convenient place for recording different ones you have come up with.
You can have one section dedicated to your affirmations, or write down a different one for each day’s journal entry, depending on what you need to work on that day.
- Using different ones each day – You can definitely choose a different mantra each day if you prefer that to having the standards that you repeat to yourself as needed. Sometimes, the stress in your life is about a specific issue, so then you might need a different type of affirmation to get you into that calm state you need.
- Having your go-to affirmations in a convenient place – Another way to use them, especially if you have a handful of mantras that really help you each day, is to put them in a place where you will see them regularly. This might be on the refrigerator door, inside a cabinet you open every day, or on your bathroom mirror.
You can also choose other ways to use affirmations based on your lifestyle, such as having some that you use during a daily meditation and mindful practice, or during your self-care routines.
Guidelines for Choosing the Best Ones
Not sure how to choose your affirmations? There are a few guidelines that can help you choose the right one.
- How does it make you feel? When looking through affirmations and mantras, consider how it makes you feel. Not just while reading it, but when you say it out loud. Are you relaxed and calm? Do you feel positive? Or did it increase your stress, causing you to focus more on it?
- What are you using the affirmation for? Another guideline is deciding what the affirmation will be used for. For example, an affirmation that is used daily that you put on your bathroom mirror is often different than a specific affirmation you write down in your journal.
- Is it calming and positive? You really want your stress-related affirmations to be calming, relaxing, and positive.
Ideas for Stress-Relieving Affirmations
Here are some stress-relieving affirmations and mantras you can start with. These give you a good idea of what the statements might be like, whether you choose from this list or create your own:
I am at peace.
I will remain calm today.
This is temporary.
Exhaling allows me to release the stress.
My body is at peace.
I feel loved and complete.
Today, I will let go of my worries.
I am able to relieve stress and tension from my body.
I hope this helps you unlock the power of mantras and affirmations in your life!!
đź’ś Coach Tanya Jo