Here are 52 Monday morning stress reduction mantras – one for each week of the year. I choose one Mantra every Monday morning and sit silently for a few moments, repeating it slowly in my mind as if I were meditating. I also write the mantra on a post-it note and stick it next to my computer monitor for the duration of the week. This weekly ritual has helped me reduce unnecessary stress in my life by reminding me to keep things simple and within a reasonable perspective.
The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.
– Sydney J. Harris
- Everything I do is by choice. There is always another option.
- I will strive to be the best I can be, but I will never try to be someone I’m not.
- I must keep dreaming. Wanting what I don’t think I can have is the first step to making my dreams a reality.
- I won’t use where I’ve been to justify where I am. I will use where I am to jump-start where I’m going.
- Right now is the only guaranteed moment in my life. I will make the best of it.
- Think big. Start small. One bite of the elephant at a time.
- I will prioritize my obligations and do the important things first.
- I will not try to please everyone. I will simply do what I know is right.
- The more productive I am, the luckier I will become.
- There is nobody else exactly like me, with my exact abilities, talents and ideas.
- I’m not supposed to have all the answers.
- Laughing, crying, joy and anger – all are vital, all make me human.
- I can’t change who I am. I can only change what I know and how I apply this knowledge.
- I will slow down and become conscious of life’s simple pleasures.
- I will focus more on less. I will get rid of stuff I do not use.
- I will not try to read other people’s minds. I will not make other people try to read mine. I will communicate effectively.
- I can help myself by helping those around me.
- I will take ownership of my actions so my actions never own me.
- Every person has a unique definition of success. To me, success means…
- I will never make decisions in a state of emotional haste.
- If I want to remember it, I will write it down in a trusted location.
- I will do something today that makes me happy.
- Everyone doesn’t have to like me and I don’t have to like everyone.
- The one with nothing to hide is always the one left standing tall.
- My habits define my life.
- I will say no when I should.
- I will stand firm by my values without senselessly promoting them.
- We are all weird in our own way. This makes life beautiful.
- Everyone has a story. There’s a reason why people are the way they are. I will appreciate them just the way they are.
- I cannot make someone love me. I can only be someone who can be loved.
- The biggest mistake I can make is doing nothing because I’m scared to make a mistake.
- Nothing is good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
- What other people think of me isn’t that important.
- If I want to believe in myself more I will start doubting others less. Because where I most easily doubt others is where I most easily doubt myself.
- I will ask questions if I’m not sure.
- I will let go of things I can’t change and instead concentrate on things I can.
- There are extraordinary things going on in my life. I have a lot to be thankful for.
- Today is a new beginning – a chance for me to do something extraordinary.
- No matter how small, I will celebrate my successes today.
- I will thank people who have helped me and I will return the favor as soon as I am able.
- There are ideas, products and cultures I do not yet understand. I will keep an open mind.
- The most important things in my life are my health, my family and friends, and my education. Everything else is secondary.
- There are thousands of little things that just aren’t worth fighting for – I will let them go. I will choose my battles wisely.
- I will stay out of other people’s drama and not needlessly create my own.
- I will always be honest with myself and others.
- Every mistake I make is progress. I must learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others.
- I will treat everyone with the same level of respect I would give to my grandfather and the same level of patience I would have with my baby brother.
- Nothing is permanent. However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.
- Life is short and people are not perfect. I will forgive myself. I will forgive others.
- Missing a once-in-a-lifetime chance leads to regret, or creativity. Because what can’t be redone can still be outdone.
- No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either I succeed or I learn something. Win-Win.
- I will not waste my time on jealously. I’m in competition with one person and one person only – myself. I’m competing to be the best I can be.
Please feel free to edit this list to meet your own needs. I’ve made a few modifications myself over the past few years.
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Photo by: noelty kay
Debi says
On a slightly more religious note, I noticed that in my self-talk, I frequently say to myself, “Dear Lord, Shoot me now.” And it took until today at church to realize it’d be far more productive to think “dear Lord, give me strength.” Feel free to adapt to your specific ideology or belief structure, but reprogramming our self-talk can be helpful. 🙂
ashna says
Thank you! This is very nice…makes me think! 🙂
Aurelius says
Each one of these mantras could be expounded into a standalone post.
I find generally stress is reduced as perspectives change. Thank you for mantras of ‘perception sifts’.
Pushpyndra18 says
Very well written thanks for sharing! Keep up the good work 🙂
Stuart says
Beautiful.
I can’t think of any other way to describe this post 🙂
Donna says
fabulous post…can’t wait to try this…
Jenny says
Number 1 is utterly profound. If you’re reading this post, go back and look. So often we just muck through life as if we had no choice in what was happening. Read it again, and be invited to your own freedom!
Awesome!
Jenny says
@ Debi–you made me laugh right out loud!
Thankful says
Sometimes, we read some of these stuff in really good book, but never pay attention to short, simple and clear healthy tips such as these…im glad u brought it all out and opened my eyes to even more. Im gonna start practicing them daily with ofcourse the principles of my Bible.
Contrarian says
There are so many good suggestions on this list. My favorite is number 11). I’m not supposed to have all the answers.
It is a sign of a strong self esteem and a high level of thinking when you don’t feel compelled to assign meaning to everything. To say, “I don’t know, and I will never know,” is a sign of enlightenment.
A curious mind is healthy, a need to quickly assign meaning to everything is not.
Find peace in the mystery of the universe!
– Contrarian
Bryce Christiansen says
You always bring great thoughtful lists on the subjects that really matter.
Dealing with the Monday stress is never fun. In the work I do, stress relief is one of the top issues we help out with.
We use DISC and Motivator assessments to help discover people’s natural behavior and then match that against their adapted behavior, (the rules and behaviors you display because you have to). Whenever your natural self is at odds with itself, at work or home, you are going to experience stress.
I have a blog article about my personal discovery with this concept of stress here if reader’s want to learn more about how to lower their Monday stress.
http://bit.ly/geB8hn
Living the Balanced Life says
Awesome list! Will have to save this one!
Bernice
Are you too busy to be yourself?
Linda says
Wow!
So many ideas for me to write about on my blog!
A really inspiring collection, thanks so much.
Martha (MM) says
This is an awesome list! A friend of mine forwarded it to me today. I write a “Motivation Monday” article for the blog I’ve linked up as my website. Would you be interested in posting as my guest for next Monday, or give me permission to repost this list giving full credit with links?
Thanks, Martha (MM)
bendedspoon says
This goes to my favorite things!
So thoughtful of you! So thank you!
🙂
paul duran says
thankyou, meditation + this = greater days
Marc says
I hope you all are having a great week. I just finished revisiting my mantra for today. Time for some more productivity.
😉
Lana says
What a smart idea! Really like #29, it helps one to be more empathetic and less judgmental.
farouk says
i love number 48
Nothing is permanent. However good or bad a situation is now, it will change.
this is the mindset one needs to always stay positive:)
Richard says
I love this site. Hat’s off to you guys for creating and sharing this. 🙂
jonathanfigaro says
Wonderful post. keep on keeping on!
Leslie says
Dear Marc,
Thanks for your well-written messages. I had been following ur blog, and I say I always loved what you had written.
And, this message is no different. It’s a collection of great things we should do and I appreciate the effort you had put in.
Thank you.
Adam Black says
Thanks for this – it really helped me reflect on what’s important. Since it suggests to thank those who help you, what choice did I have? 🙂
the province girl says
Thank you! The mantras are very inspiring. It’s time to look at life with more optimism. 🙂
Nea | Self Improvement Saga says
This is really awesome. I especially like, “I won’t use where I’ve been to justify where I am. I will use where I am to jump-start where I’m going.”
Cherry says
As ever, when I visit this site, it makes me feel so positive and fired up. What a wonderful list, so beautifully worded too – so clear and direct and kindly.
Did you write these yourself? Fabulous stuff. Thank you so much for sharing it freely.
Savitha says
Love the way you have articulated this. Anyone who reads this can relate with it.
This post makes for better mondays , days and therefore a better world.
Thank you.
arina nikitina says
Whatta list! Like there’s a lot of things I need to get checked in my life 🙂 Thanks for filling my head with “to do” stuff, Marc. LOL! Seriously, though. It did poke some sense into my weak areas. And yeah, No. 43 rocks big time!!!
Kris says
I love your post!! You´re a great writer!
I´m from Costa Rica and a friend from the States have your blog’s URL as her Gmail signature because she loves the way you write… and that´s how I found you.
Keep writing, cause your posts make me happy 😉
Greetings.
Dylis says
This is great! One of the best blog posts I’ve ever read. Thanks!
June says
A sincere ‘thank you’ for sharing these. They are so often overlooked as we go about our lives, chasing our aspirations and goals.
I truly admire your flair for positive writing. Keep it up!
Janet I Mueller says
Great post. Number 17 resonates, help other people get what they want and the rest will take care of itself.
Ryan Quintero says
Hello, I just wanted to say 2013 started on a Tuesday and that was the day I read Mantra number one. Throughout the year it helped me get a boost on life during more than a couple months. It’s the last week of 2013, I applied every mantra now and it feels great! Thanks for the Mantras & Surf’s up! -Ryan Q