I love mantras. Specifically, I like Dictionary.com’s second definition:  an often-repeated word, formula, or phrase, often a truism.

Mantras are memorable. Little catch phrases that spread like wildfire. Small enough to easily store away in memory but big enough to encapsulate an entire story, meaning, or purpose.

If it weren’t for mantras, I truly don’t know that the past five years for me would have played out the way in which they have. You see, five years ago I had my first son. It was the mantra made popular by Nike, “Just do it,” that got me through many firsts as a new parent. Nike isn’t the author of, “Just do it,” but they sure did market it!

Another favorite that encourages me with getting started on projects, tasks, and chores is “Done is better than perfect.” This one resonated most with me after reading Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In. As someone who some may describe as Type A or a Perfectionist, “Done is better than perfect,” encourages me to “fail fast” (another favorite). When embarking on a new project, task, or chore that seems a bit overwhelming, I remind myself “done is better than perfect,” and before you know it by simply starting and having something to work with or from I typically finish through to a ‘nearly’ perfect state. To which if it isn’t to a ‘nearly’ perfect state, I remind myself, “something is better than nothing.”

Chip and Dan Heath helped me understand why I love mantras so much in their book, Made to Stick. They explain how in the military the Commander’s Intent succinctly describes what constitutes success for the operation. It includes the operation’s purpose by linking the mission, concept, and tasks for all subordinate units. As long as the various individuals understand the Commander’s Intent then a mission can successfully be carried out. If an individual was in a questionable situation and must ask, instead of referring to the chain of command for orders, the person simply asks themselves, “If I do X, will it fulfill the Commander’s Intent?” Mantras are not meant to ‘dumb down’ or ‘play down’ the significance in our decisions but rather simplify the complexity and bring clarity.

Mantras have always kept me going with challenges I set for myself. “No excuses” and “We all have the same 24 hours,” both kept me motivated in times of physical goals I had set for myself. “No excuses” got me through a 5 am boot camp for a month in 2012. “We all have the same 24 hours,” reminded me of how others I admire or dream to be like must make time for the daily tasks to attain the end result. In 2016 I decided I could not longer use the birth of my children as excuses for my poor health. I used this constant reminder that a day is the same amount of time for everyone to carve out time in my schedule to workout.

When the weight of working brings on feelings of guilt for not staying home with my children as babies I remind myself, “This is your life – you only get one.” This may sound crazy but for me I know that I would personally experience greater ‘regret’ had I not gone back to work. I cherish my children and want to savor every minute in their development. I also want to provide the best life and example to them. For me, this means pushing myself professionally. Which included going back to work when they were babies. By simply acknowledging this mantra, “this is my life – I only get one,” I can confidently dismiss my feelings of guilt.

The guilt typically strikes when my kids are misbehaving. The next thought that follows is something along the lines of wondering whether my children would be behaving this way if I were a stay at home mother. So after reminding myself, “this is my life – I only get one,” I not only forgive my guilt but also remind myself, “my life is the product of my decisions.” This mantra helps hold myself accountable for my life – yes, even my ill-mannered children. This leads me to better discipline my children or respond in a more appropriate manner rather than shutting down to the present moment by relishing in my guilt.

“Fake it until you make it,” isn’t really a favorite but I remind myself of this when I need a boost of confidence, particularly in front of a group. In my career, I give presentations. Great presenters come across confident. Confidence is powerful, attractive, and influential. I want to be a confident person therefore I must ‘act’ like a confident person. So while I do not believe in being ‘fake,’ I do believe in finding a reminder to help with boosting my confidence. Another mantra that I have used for this is WWJD. “What Would Jennifer Do?” I bet you thought I was going to say Jesus. Jesus is a good one to fill in the blank too. However, I use a person I see who exudes the quality or thing I’m trying to do or achieve. When I was a kid, it was my friend Jennifer. She was always so outgoing and friendly. So if I was feeling shy or reserved, I’d tell myself, “WWJD?” As a teacher trying to organize my classroom, I’d ask myself “WWSD, What would Sara do?” She was the most organized teacher I knew! I loved walking into her tidy classroom and marveling at its order. In my home life, when organizing out the overly stuffed toy closet a.k.a. “Monica Closet” (as in the character from the hit TV sitcom, Friends) I channel my friend Alex, “WWAD?” My clothes closet, “WWED, what would Elizabeth do?”

“Less is more,” may be my all-time-favorite mantra. It helps me slow down, move on, be more specific, appreciate what I have, fine tune relationships, and well, essentially it is my ‘catch all’ mantra.

With this my friends, if you have never embraced the use of mantras, you should. Find several to use for various areas of your life that will make you step up and be the best version of you. Maybe select one per month or per year. “It is never too late,” and “There is no better time than the present” to implement the use of mantras throughout your day. “Just do it.”