I don’t really know what to do with this. Whereas the other entries in the sequence so far have all had instructions that I could use to acquire a tool or learn a skill or solve some problems, in this case there is only.… a description of what mantras are/do and a challenge that carries the assumption that we already have mantras? I think to fit in with the action-oriented nature of the rest of the sequence so far, this needs some guidelines maybe about how to pick a mantra or what it should do for us.
I don’t really have any mantras currently, though I think I used to have some maybe but I don’t really even remember them or think that I would endorse them now? I guess this is a reminder for me to pay attention to thoughts I have or ideas or words I encounter that are helpful and/or meaningful to me, and notice them and maybe write them down and then think about whether there are some that I would want to integrate into my life more strongly.
the idea of which is to put myself in a “mindfulness” kind of frame of mind and to remind myself that I don’t have to try and regulate what I’m thinking and feeling all the time, that I don’t necessarily have to do anything super important with my brain right now as I walk down the sidewalk, that I am allowed to relax even if there are things I could be worrying about and even if I’m having some feelings I don’t like. (by default I have a mental habit of constantly trying to force my thoughts and attention and feelings in particular directions and fighting myself a lot, which contributes to anxiety and makes it hard to enjoy things.)
(side note: my high school English teacher also used Mimi’s part in this song to teach us about how existentialism doesn’t have to be depressing all the time :) )
I don’t really know what to do with this. Whereas the other entries in the sequence so far have all had instructions that I could use to acquire a tool or learn a skill or solve some problems, in this case there is only.… a description of what mantras are/do and a challenge that carries the assumption that we already have mantras? I think to fit in with the action-oriented nature of the rest of the sequence so far, this needs some guidelines maybe about how to pick a mantra or what it should do for us.
I don’t really have any mantras currently, though I think I used to have some maybe but I don’t really even remember them or think that I would endorse them now? I guess this is a reminder for me to pay attention to thoughts I have or ideas or words I encounter that are helpful and/or meaningful to me, and notice them and maybe write them down and then think about whether there are some that I would want to integrate into my life more strongly.
I guess I have acquired a mantra!
My only goal is just to be. -Mimi from Rent
the idea of which is to put myself in a “mindfulness” kind of frame of mind and to remind myself that I don’t have to try and regulate what I’m thinking and feeling all the time, that I don’t necessarily have to do anything super important with my brain right now as I walk down the sidewalk, that I am allowed to relax even if there are things I could be worrying about and even if I’m having some feelings I don’t like. (by default I have a mental habit of constantly trying to force my thoughts and attention and feelings in particular directions and fighting myself a lot, which contributes to anxiety and makes it hard to enjoy things.)
(side note: my high school English teacher also used Mimi’s part in this song to teach us about how existentialism doesn’t have to be depressing all the time :) )