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Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu
"It's only a gameshow". Big Brother contestants sang it to themselves on one of the seasons back in the 00s. My colleagues and I did the same during a rough patch at a former company I worked for.
I like it because it's a reminder that things can seem immovably important until you remove yourself from the context of that situation and assess it from the outside.
Ah well, nothing to be done about it, might as well carry on
From Lord of the Rings: "Not all who wander are lost."
From the Old Kingdom Series: "Does the walker choose the path, or does the path choose the walker?"
I like the idea and message of the first one except that I used to have an absolute asshole of a neighbor who drove a heep-ed out Wrangler with a spare tire cover which had the phrase on it. I can't separate any longer.
I can't go on. I'll go on.
(Samuel Beckett)
"If you are going through hell, keep going". Churchill
Despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage.
I made it through 100% of all the bad days, weeks and months in my life so far. I will also make it through the ones that have yet to come.
...and on my more cynical days, this follow-up:
And if, one day, I won't survive a bad day, then it is not my f[%$]ng problem anymore.
I tried to have a more positive mantra, but eventually realized that sheer spite can be a powerful motivator in bad times, even more so than trying to stay "nice" to the rest of the world.
Kant approves.
The closest I come is "Calgon, take me away."
Don't worry about things you can't change.
Just keep swimming
Pain is life - trevor cadieu
Be your best you as long as you can; then be a right bastard.
Generally just "it'll be over soon"
But not in a super depressivt way, just when I'm super bored or waiting for something or in a tight spot working on an issue I just kinda zone out and imagine myself looking back on this while relaxing.
Hard times are never permanent.
Tomorrow will be better; even if it's just not today.
Living in the "self esteem" part of Maslow's pirimid when you are battling basic needs aka allergies, sleep, dehydration, dimentia, etc is a good way to be depressed. Focus on preservation of assets and restoring basic functions.
*shrug shoulders*
Eh…
I don’t have the vocabulary for a good mantra like most of you. But a shoulder shrug and a “what are you gonna do about it” kind of noise is enough for me.
Amor fati.
One I like from Malazan Book of the Fallen: "I am not yet done." The mantra of a man who's duty it was to bear the souls of the fallen for his faith as it crushed him.
I have two:
Way back when I was 16, I worked as a host at a busy restaurant, I would get really stressed when we had a long line at the door (the wait would easily get up to 1 hour on weekends), and I just started repeating, "you can only do what you can do, you can't do any more". As someone who has always really struggled with the need to please everyone all the time, it's really helpful when I'm running busy events (I work as an events manager now) or when anything is approaching FUBAR because of things beyond my control.
On a broader, life-changes perspective, I always loved a quote from The Riches (said by the actor now known as Suzy Eddie Izzard),
"Life's a river kid, you gotta go where it takes you."
Its helped a very risk-adverse me take some huge leaps and I've not regretted any of them.
Tough titties.
Seems a little weird to make your life mantra a meme phrase anyways.
Mine is the motto from my high school lacrosse team, of all things. I was 15, an angsty teenager, the team sucked and lost most our games. But our coach was relentlessly positive. The motto was a Latin phrase that roughly translates to "if you're going to do something, commit to it". Basically, no half ass efforts. That stuck with me all the way through until 11 years later when I had it incorporated into a tattoo design.
Whatever intrinsic motivation you pick, it's gotta have a little more meaning to you than being the flavor of the month on the internet, or it will always lose its magic.
Thæs ofereode Thisses swa mæg
That was overcome So may this be.
From Deors lament. A Middle English poem.
Yes Exists. (to the tune of The Chemical Brothers - The Test)
I heard my partner's dad working on some IKEA patio furniture or something in his backyard when he messed something up and yelled, "Nothing's ever easy!" In the moment, it was hilarious. Then it was kind of sad. Then it was true. Many years later that shit still sticks with me. Nothing ever is fucking easy. And any time you feel like you're getting a bit too sure of yourself or when you need to keep in mind everything you've gotten through so far, it's good to remind yourself of that.
From one of Patton Oswald's stand up specials, he shares his late wife's mantra, as a devout atheist: "It's chaos. Be kind." Nothing means anything, nothing happens for a reason, things just happen, they only have the meaning we bring to them, be kind.
Do what you can.
There's so many problems, so much uncertainty about the future, it can sometimes feel overwhelming and you just shut down. If you have a counter full of dishes, even if you wash one dish you've technically made the situation better. Marginally sure, but still in the right direction. And if that's where you can focus your attention it might provide some momentum to finish all of them. But if not, that's fine too, you still made the situation a little better and sometimes that's the best we can hope for.
Hope you find what you're looking for.
