Comments on: Words of Wisdom: what personal mantras do you live by?

By: Lorna

Lorna — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 19:07:20 +0000

I really enjoyed this post and the comments. I realised when I thought about it that I have a few too!

“Have the serenity to accept the things you cannot change, courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

“Treat others as you expect to be treated yourself.”

“All things happen for a reason.”

I’m sure there are others. I do like a good mantra!

By: Michelle K

Michelle K — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 20:19:20 +0000

Wow some great quotes. I’ve stolen some. Already today I have used the quite “if it’s not happening now, it’s not happening” and the rocking chair one.

By: Betty12

Betty12 — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 15:32:20 +0000

I’m going by the same one as Red Razor lately while struggling with second year marathon training… (no matter how slow I am, I’m quicker than everyone at home on the couch)and that refers to me.. I could easily just give up and not bother!
Another one I try to tell myself is “worrying is a waste of time, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday”!

By: PirateAtSea

PirateAtSea — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:12:00 +0000

I don’t have what I would define as mantras but I guess they are.
-Everything happens for a reason (I absolutely believe this. Even through the darkest of days when I believed there was no hope this kept me going)
- This too shall pass(I suffered from depression, even attempted suicide in the past and while I was trying to pull myself together, for want of a better phrase, I would repeat this to myself over and over. I plan on some day gettin it as a tattoo)
- Difficult isn’t impossible (I’m getting it tattooed as well but in Irish. I’ll be like a bleedin’ book!)
When I was in college and finding things hard my Da said “Shur if it was easy wouldn’t any gobshite be able for it?”. He wasn’t wrong either!
On my last ship I was going through a tough time with homesickness. I was having a frreakout one day when my roommate (fellow paddy!) turned me around to my poster my mam gave me on leaving that read “Keep calm, it’ll be grand!”
I love the F@ck the begrudggers one as well, trotted out fairly often in my house!
I’m sure there are others but those are the ones that spring to mind right now.

By: red razors

red razors — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 09:15:48 +0000

I don’t “do” mantras per se, but generally my take on life is “it’ll be grand!” or more usually “let there be no panic”. I have to remind myself of that cos i can over-think stuff. I like those lines from invictus, too
One i think of a lot for the gym/ running, when i get bogged down in what i have to do or if i feel bad for not being as good and going as much as i should, is that i’m still doing better than the person who never gets off the sofa.

By: Munji

Munji — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:58:28 +0000

Great post – I have a few I think of when I’m having a crap day.

“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato. So I try not to judge people who are being rude/mean/unpleasant because they may have something really awful going on in their lives.

“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” – Roald Dahl, The Twits. Funny and true!

“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” – Samuel Beckett. Think this one speaks for itself.

By: Rebelette

Rebelette — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:31:24 +0000

Best post in a long time! Lots of inspiring thoughts here. I feel like I’m starting off the day on a positive note now.
I love the rocking chair one…so true!

By: Atkin

Atkin — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 08:04:55 +0000

@Marge that has given me watering eyes. I haven’t spoken to my mother for almost three weeks. I will ring her as soon as I get home from work.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 03:21:47 +0000

“Treat others how you want to be treated”.

Simple, but true. I spent 4 years in retail and learned this the hard way. Ultimately, if you can’t demand respect if you treated others like garbage.

By: Rose

Rose — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:41:44 +0000

Love this post, I’m a sucker for mantras and little sayings. A favourite one of mine is “He who has hope has everything”. I think it’s an Arab proverb, keeps me going in tough times!
Carpe diem is another favourite, always loved it but only really started living by it last year, my quality of life has improved so much since then. Life’s too short to wait around!
Also, “it’ll be grand”, sure it always is eventually!