So there’s this theory, that if we live by a mantra and put it into practise daily, it will dissolve some of our psychosomatic baggage; though man cannot live on mantra alone, and it will not help us out of that formidable black hole – bringing to mind that whole schpiel about the power of positive thinking – really only working when we are in the “right frame of mind” – often impossible when lying in an abyss of self-pity?
But let’s face it, it does help to focus on something.
A simple mantra can make it that little bit easier – and the simpler the better. I have to confess, I have had a mantra most of my adult life, and though I use it freely for others and am so passionate about my little saying that I had a bumper sticker made – I do sometimes forget to apply it myself (normally when I am swirling in my own puddle of the ‘woe is me’ abyss).
So through this blog, my first mission is to dissect my own mantra, split it up and explain it, and this in turn will make me realise why I am so passionate about it, and it will make you realise why I am so passionate about it. You will get to know me better and I will get to know me better – cool beans!
My little mantra doesn’t always prove effective, but having it tucked away in the corner of my tumble-dryer mind, with its own “ding ding” “cycle-over” chime, really does help.
My mantra is simple, in order to live, really live and not just exist, one needs to love. And when one has love in one’s heart, one will shine! Easy peasy! The best part is there are no boundaries or limits to it, it can work for any religion or culture and really sounds so romantic in French. Yip, I know – I am a walking cliché – but seriously, say this out loud, “Vivre d’amour et de la brilliance”.
(I can’t even pronounce it properly and it still sounds so posh).
My favourite saying about romantic love, “Love is a feeling you are feeling when you are feeling a feeling you never felt before.” I think I read that on a desk in primary school and it just stuck. Another one is that love is not about how we feel about someone else, it is about how they make us feel about ourselves. This little four letter word is so powerful and I could bring out every definition in the book, and still, it cannot be defined into a single sentence. I think love means something different to everyone, and we all need to keep our own sacred meanings close to our hearts.
The explanation for living is well, self-explanatory. I love the bumper sticker reading, “Everybody dies but not everybody lives.” Again, the difference between just existing and really living. And living life to the fullest has a different meaning to everyone, we just have to find our own passion.
Shine – Here the dictionary definitions work really well, “emit light”, “be bright” and “direct light of something”. These are the first three Encarta dictionary definitions, explaining exactly what it is to shine!
All in all, in summarising – love is sacred to each one of us, and we all emanate it differently. But by loving with our whole hearts we do live, and not merely exist, and it turn, it flows out of us, making us shine!
So there it is, in order to really live and not just exist, one needs to love, and when one has love in one’s heart, one WILL shine!
Well…now that epiphany of clarity just stopped my spin cycle!
