10 Mantras I Live By (That Changed How I See Life)
Photo by Hendrik Morkel on Unsplash
We all want to live meaningful lives. For me, the challenge isn’t in wanting it — it’s the mental clutter that keeps getting in the way.
I used to spend more time doubting myself than actually taking steps forward. I would wait to feel confident before acting. But I’ve learned that confidence doesn’t come first — it grows as I start.
This is where mantras come in. For me, a mantra is simple: a phrase I repeat to myself. It’s not magic, and it’s not “woo-woo.” It’s a practice and like any practice, it shapes how I think, how I act, and who I am becoming.
The funny thing is, I already had mantras. They just weren’t serving me. Thoughts like “I need more experience”, “I need more skills”, or “I need more resources” had been playing on repeat for so long they felt true.
The solution wasn’t to stop having mantras. It was to choose ones that serve me. I spend more time listening to myself than anyone else, so what I say matters.
The key is simplicity. I keep a short phrase ready for when fear shows up — while doing the dishes, walking the dog, or stuck in traffic.
What I repeat doesn’t just echo in my mind. It shapes the person I’m becoming.
For me, mantras are reminders, short phrases that pull me back to what matters when life starts to spin out of control.
These are the 10 mantras I keep in my back pocket, the ones that have helped me live freely, take action, and see life more clearly.
1 — Awareness Precedes Change
“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” — Nathaniel Branden
You can’t change what you don’t see. Most people try to fix their lives by doing more — more habits, more goals, more noise. But real transformation starts with awareness.
Awareness is the flashlight in a dark room. It exposes the patterns you keep repeating, the excuses you keep recycling, and the stories you keep telling yourself. Once you see clearly, you can’t unsee.
Change doesn’t begin with action, it begins with honesty. When you become aware, you stop running on autopilot and start making choices that actually serve you.
Because before anything can grow, it first has to be seen.
2 — Have Big Dreams. You’ll Grow Into Them
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” — Norman Vincent Peale
Most people wait until they feel “ready” before chasing something big. The truth? You’ll never feel ready. Readiness comes after you start, not before.
Think back to when you first tried anything new — your first job, your first presentation, your first real risk. You weren’t ready, but you figured it out along the way. That’s how growth works.
Big dreams stretch you. They force you to become someone new in the process. And even if you fall short, you’ll land further ahead than if you’d played it safe.
Don’t wait until you feel prepared. Dream bigger than you think you can handle and grow into the person who can.
3 — If You Want to Achieve Greatness, Stop Asking for Permission
“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’ Start where you stand.” — Napoleon Hill
Most of us are conditioned from a young age to raise our hand, wait our turn, and ask for approval. That works in school. It kills you in life.
The people you admire most — the ones who built companies, wrote books, made art that mattered — they didn’t wait for someone to tell them it was okay. They acted, often before they were “qualified.”
Permission is a trap. The more you seek it, the more power you give away. Waiting for the perfect green light is just procrastination dressed up as politeness.
Greatness doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from deciding. You don’t need approval. You need action.
4 — No Masterpiece Was Ever Created by a Lazy Artist
“Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.” — Picasso
We love the idea of talent. It makes success look effortless, like some people are just born to do great things. But talent without effort is wasted potential.
Every masterpiece you’ve ever admired — whether it’s a painting, a book, a business, or a song — was built on hours of unseen work. Drafts, rewrites, mistakes, and do-overs. Nobody coasts their way into brilliance.
Creativity demands sweat. Discipline is the fuel that turns ideas into something real.
The truth is lazy artists don’t make masterpieces. They make excuses. The ones who keep showing up, even when it’s hard, are the ones who leave something behind worth remembering.
5 — As You Know More, You Grow More
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” — Benjamin Franklin
Knowledge is fuel for growth. Every book you read, every conversation you have, every mistake you reflect on, it all expands who you are and what you’re capable of.
Growth isn’t about waking up one day and being transformed. It’s about stacking insights. Each new thing you learn gives you a sharper perspective, better tools, and the ability to make smarter moves.
The truth is, the fastest way to stay stuck is to stop learning. The moment you believe you know enough, you close the door on growth. But if you keep feeding your mind, you’ll keep stretching your limits.
The more you know, the further you can go.
6 — Forget the Mistake. Remember the Lesson
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” — Henry Ford
We all mess up. It’s part of being human. But staying stuck on the mistake only steals energy and focus from what comes next. I remind myself to forget the mistake and carry forward the lesson.
Every failure, every misstep, is an opportunity to grow. Maybe I said the wrong thing, missed an opportunity, or made a poor decision. That’s okay. What matters is what I take from it — the insight, the adjustment, the wisdom to do better next time.
When I focus on the lesson instead of the regret, I turn setbacks into stepping stones. I move forward stronger, smarter, and more capable, without carrying the weight of the past.
7 — Let It All Go. See What Stays
“Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” — Hermann Hesse
We spend most of our lives gripping things that stopped serving us long ago — relationships, routines, identities, opinions. We cling because control feels safe. But the harder you hold on, the less room you leave for what’s meant to find you.
Letting go isn’t about giving up. It’s about clearing space. When you release the noise, the unnecessary, and the expectations, what truly matters will naturally remain.
The truth reveals itself when you stop forcing outcomes. So loosen your grip. Let it all go. Then pay attention to what refuses to leave.
8 — Work Smarter, Not Harder
“It’s not about having time, it’s about making time for what matters.” — Unknown
Success doesn’t come from grinding longer hours or burning yourself out. More often than not, it’s not the hours you put in but the focus, strategy, and leverage behind them.
Working smarter means prioritizing what actually moves the needle, automating or delegating the rest, and saying no to distractions that steal your energy. It’s about doing less with more impact, not more with less results.
Time is finite. Energy is limited. The smarter you work, the more of both you keep for the things that actually matter.
9 — Be Your Own Sunshine
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
Don’t wait for the world to brighten your day. Be the light that lifts it.
Relying on external validation — praise, attention, approval — puts your happiness in someone else’s hands. But when you learn to generate your own warmth, no storm can take it from you.
Being your own sunshine doesn’t mean ignoring hard days. It means choosing to show up with presence, gratitude, and self-respect no matter the weather. It’s the quiet confidence of knowing that your peace isn’t up for negotiation.
You are the source. Everything else is just reflection.
10 — Be the Flame, Not the Moth
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
Most people chase approval, attention, validation, and love. They flutter from one light to the next, hoping to be noticed. That’s what moths do. They’re drawn to the glow, not realizing it can burn them.
The flame, on the other hand, doesn’t chase. It simply burns. It radiates warmth, energy, and direction. The flame attracts because it embodies what the moth seeks — light, purpose, aliveness.
Being the flame means cultivating your own fire; your values, your work, your sense of self. It’s about living with intention instead of reaction, drawing others in by the strength of your presence, not the volume of your effort.
Don’t chase the light. Be the light. Be the flame, not the moth.
Thank you for reading along! 🫶
Much love,
Writer l Speaker l CEO of Living Your Greatness
P.S. If you enjoy reading articles like this, you’ll find more here. I mostly write about holistic well-being.
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