Buzz
When you're having doubts about setting that 6am alarm or choosing a run over happy hour, create and repeat your personal fitness mantra. Because it's rooted in your core values and beliefs, it'll be a powerful motivator to keep you on track.
A mantra is a significant word, phrase, or sound in Sanskrit, often used during meditation or spiritual practices. It doesn’t need to follow any grammatical rules, but it holds deep personal or spiritual meaning. The calming om sound during yoga is a prime example.
Ideally, your personal mantra should reflect your core beliefs or your goals, boiled down into a single word that fuels self-awareness, confidence, and positivity. Greatist refers to it as your 'one word pep talk,' but in essence, it can take any form. Here’s what to do:
Reflect on your greatest accomplishments.
Give each item a rating between 1 and 10.
Pick the item that makes you feel the most confident, self-assured, and powerful.
Simplify it down to a single word.
Incorporate this one word into your daily routine.
I created one for myself as well. Even though I've been working out for years, I still need a push to get going these days. For me, it’s thinking about how strong and independent I feel when I carry over 70 pounds of luggage through the streets of Tokyo or when I walk miles and miles, discovering new places without getting overly tired. It reminds me of the video game Legend of Zelda, where exploration is key (with epic music playing in the background).
My personal mantra now is Zelda.
Your mantra can be a phrase if you prefer. It’s there to remind you of your purpose, especially when you're aiming for something big or just need a boost of positivity and motivation. The best part is that you can craft a mantra for any part of your life, whenever you need it. Share with us in the comments what your personal mantra is, whether it's fitness-related or not.
Image by Moyan_Brenn.
