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Everyone has their own personal catch phrase, or a lyric or something that inspires them. Whether they doodle it on their text books in school, or use it in every day conversation, these phrases may have the ability to inspire and encourage us to be more confident or believe in ourselves.

These phrases are known as mantras, a phrase or word that can be used in incantations, religious ceremonies, or in every day life to apply to an everyday person.

Mantras have been used for thousands of years, within religious ceremonies; phrases may be constantly repeated in order to pay religious homage to the appropriate god or deity, or even to reiterate and solidify religious practices and beliefs.

‘The lord is my shepherd’ is a phrase that is commonly used amongst Christians, and the practice of Christianity.

This phrase specifically reminds the Christians of their lord, who is always looking after them regardless of what else is going on in the world.

This phrase has been known to empower people, remind them of their religious beliefs, and helps them explain strange occurrences that they might not otherwise understand. Mantras are commonly used within Buddhism and some practices of Confucianism and Hinduism.

These mantras, especially within practices that are more philosophical than religious, are there to remind about the way of the world, and what the Taoists describe as the ‘Wu Wei’. Wu Wei, in simplistic terms means to go with the flow.

What happens is what happens, and that’s the way it was supposed to go.

The phrase is commonly used not only in tradition Taoist ceremonies, but has often been applied specifically within the western culture during the phase that the West had with mystical religions and practices. Wu Wei as a mantra is encouraging, and is often helpful to remind people that there’s no way to change the past, and continue on with life.

Personal mantras are used commonly too.

It’s usually a phrase that has impact and resonates particularly with your lifestyle, but doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with religion or a set of beliefs by which to live.

Personal mantras while under stress often give meaning to things, and help encourage a lifestyle or a result of a certain activity.

For example, being under extreme stress with university exams or assignments can often be incredibly depressing.

A personal mantra to remind you of the light at the end of the tunnel can be highly effective and encouraging, if you are that uni student under the stress, perhaps a good mantra might be ‘It’s hard now, but at the end it’ll feel fantastic.’

By repeating the phrase and consciously concentrating on the end effect is what brings encouragement. Personal mantras, religious mantras, philosophical mantras are all phrases to instill a feeling of encouragement and purpose to an activity, a lifestyle, or a practice.

Anyone can be a hero to someone. Anyone that is strong enough, mentally or physically.

Without these phrases to bring us to our senses and to help slog through the everyday turmoil that we face, we would surely be without encouragement and give up on things far too easily.

If you feel like you are drifting, and cannot concentrate and need to, think of a snappy and catchy mantra that applies to you, and your life. You never really know the impact of a few words until you try it yourself!