Patty Mayeux Blog

One of the ELAN Principles that I strive to live by is “Watch Your Language.” It promotes good verbal practices such as choosing words carefully, deciding to speak or not speak and refraining from gossip. It also means to monitor your thoughts. The words you feed into your brain can nourish or deplete your soul, even your physical body. We know a mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid in meditation. It is also a statement or slogan repeated frequently. What go-to phrases fill the quiet spaces in your head? Here are a few of mine: “I’m the ‘flunky’ in the group,” “I don’t do enough (am not enough),” “I don’t understand where that person is coming from,” “I should be so much farther along in this process,” and “This practicing, working, writing, reading, is all for what?” A reboot is needed to swing my mantra toward nourishment. I can replace every destructive thought with a creative one that promotes peace and joy: “I can choose to love those I don’t understand,” “I am learning from my more skilled colleagues,” and “Quiet times are productive.”

Is your mantra ready for an upgrade? Your words can build up or break down. Choose wisely.