Become Strong by Talking to Yourself

What is a Mantra?

Mantras are communications to yourself. As usually understood, a mantra is a sound, word, phrase or sentence that is considered capable of creating a transformation if continually repeated. Mantras may be repeated silently and internally, spoken out loud, or written down.

Because communication is what creates psychosocial reality, mantras can keep you on track to create (or even transform) yourself. The 6 self-control mantras have the feel of truisms that seem deceptively easy to adopt.

The essence of any mantra is defined by the experience it creates in the user. In the present case, the experience to be created is strength. However, these mantras of self-control cannot be repeated mindlessly to produce their effect. They must be used via the vehicles of goodness.

Mantras are expected to quieten the mind. In the present context, the quietening is focused on event-related, intrusive egocentric impulses that are psychologically and socially harmful.

Communicative Features of the Mantras

As well as mantras being communications to yourself, they activate communication more generally. It is apparent that each mantra results in a distinctive form of communication within a relevant social interaction.

■ Accept Reality-R"G2⁶

To accept reality, you must make descriptions of the unavoidable, unpalatable or strange blockage or deviation that interferes with your hopes and expectations. That description becomes the basis for unifying with the relevant aspects of the situation, and moving forward.
In Society ►

Society values people who accept reality; and if they help others do so as well, then they are leaders e.g. scientific leaders describe important but ignored disciplinary puzzles to be addressed. Irrespective of any proclaimed doctrinal purity, all leaders—scientific, political, religious, business—must be pragmatic in facing reality. The alternative is give into the temptation to distort or disguise crucial facts or to over-reach and then fail, potentially sending followers to their doom.

■ Staying the Course-R"G2⁵

Commitments are commonly bolstered by communicating them. Verbal promises, swearing of oaths, making of vows are common methods to increase intensity. Signing compacts or contracts is a modern-day equivalent The essence should be captured in a few sentences and not vitiated by the small print. The practice of making contracts so complicated and full of legalese may weaken commitment, because the communication is incomprehensible and loses all meaning.. The mantra can also take the simpler form of writing down your plan and regularly referring to it e.g. one insightful system recommends daily repetition: saying your goal out loud and writing it down every day.
In Society ►

Commitment often needs bolstering when the going gets rough, when the unexpected occurs, or when a person enters uncharted waters. Society values people who can help others stay the course—they find roles as coaches, mentors, trainers, guides, and leaders.

■ Be of Service-R"G2⁴

In being of service, it is necessary to avoid exploitation or disappointment or the relationship can quickly go awry. So verbal statements or specifications are required which indicate the rationale and the limits to what will be done. These terms of reference might be written down.
In Society ►

Society values people who can be of service to others, and so many gravitate to the helping professions.

■ Give an Account-R"G2³

Giving an account is rather obviously about communicating. But here the communication is about forming understandings, making interpretations and creating explanations—and then weaving them together coherently in narrative form.
In Society ►

Society values people who can give accounts to others. Newspaper journalism is about giving accounts on a daily basis. Intellectuals, opinion-formers, novelists and historians operate on a longer time scale and with a broader scope. As public speakers, they may give accounts via lectures using the internet, television or to live gatherings. Scientists should be controlled by disciplinary methods in regard to their accounts.

■ Reach the Truth-R"G2²

In reaching the truth, it is necessary to state factual evidence, to define concepts, to make discriminations, to give names to things previously unnoticed or confused, to specify assumptions, to propose new perspectives. Finally, there is a need to explicitly formulate the truth so that it can be checked, affirmed and used.
In Society ►

This is an intrapersonal sphere and society has a more uncertain relationship to people who are determined to reach the truth. The truth can cause discomfort, even upheaval. The role of investigator is about finding the truth. It is a core role wherever deliberate lying and deception are used e.g. politics, insurance, tax-collection, crime. Not all scientists are inquirers in this sense, but those on the Enlightenment Quest are focused here.

■ Do What You Love-R"G2¹

In loving what you do, you are naturally preoccupied with issues, details and problems. These fill your mind and, ideally, are part of working. Part of doing what you love is enjoying talking about it, especially sharing plans and ideas with others who are genuinely interested. Probably the most enjoyable part is recounting your progress and tangible achievements.
In Society ►

Society should leave decisions about the choice of work to each person. Every mature adult naturally aspires to find work that they love. Interestingly, those who do, typically describe themselves as «lucky». If you can't love your work, as is rather common, you have to find some other activity that you do enjoy greatly.

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Summary Table

Group	Mantra for Self-Control	Communicative Features	Social Role*
R"G26	Accept Reality	Make descriptions so you can see your situation and get the necessary perspective.	Charismatic leaders.
R"G25	Stay the Course	Make a verbal promise, sign a written contract, write down your goal or your plan.	Coaches, mentors, guides, leaders.
R"G24	Be of Service	Specify the rationale and limits of the service and advise others.	Helping professionals.
R"G23	Give an Account	Weave together facts, figures, interpretations, understandings and explanations into a coherent story.	Journalists, historians, novelists, scientists.
R"G22	Reach the Truth	Collect evidence, specify assumptions, define concepts if needed, so as to make explicit formulations.	Investigators, inquirers.
R"G21	Do What You Love	Share your passion: talk about details, issues, problems and especially achievements.	Mature adults.

*This list is indicative only. Everyone will use all levels e.g. someone on the Enlightenment Quest will accept that life-purpose (G"2⁶), and therefore does what he loves (G"2¹) by finding work that allows commitment to inquiries in the long term (G"2⁵) so as to ultimately reach the truth (G"2²), as well as provide opportunities to give accounts of findings (G"2³) in a way that enables service to others (G"2⁴).

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• Having clarified that communication is a common feature, and yet distinctive for each Group, proceed to an initial overview of these mantras. (A more detailed account then follows here.)

Originally posted: 13-Apr-2013