Mantras

I always thought mantras were for hippies and people too focused on getting ahead in their careers. I realize now that I was wrong. Having a mantra makes life 110% better.

A principal in a low-income, low-achieving area mentioned the impact of asking "so what? now what". Meaning- So what's the problem? Now how are you going to make it better?" Asking herself and her staff those questions helped to build a positive, and safe environment for her students. So, being an educator and aspiring administrator, I decided to try asking myself and my students those questions. With some "so what, now what" training and a few months of practice, my classroom started to act like a well-oiled machine. Instead of coming to me for any little thing, my kids would ask themselves "so what's my problem? now what's my solution?" thus eliminating 10 hands going up at once for paper/glue/pencils/tissues etc. Watching them grow into my little independent minions made me so darn proud.

Seeing such positive results, I began to use "so what? now what?" in my personal life. Thank God for that decision. After I was diagnosed with ALS I had two choices: wallow in misery until the disease took my life, or fight. It only took 5 seconds to ask myself "so what, now what". But it was the most important 5 seconds of my life. The 5 seconds that taught me how to fight.

Here's how it went down:

"Holy crap, I'm gonna die. This is so unfair and mean and messed up. Why does it have to be me?

...I'm spiraling... breathe. Just for a sec, try that mantra thing. So what - I have ALS. Now what - It's Halloween, my favorite time of year. I want to enjoy it."

Asking myself those questions didn't erase my anxiety or keep me from hurting...but they helped me to enjoy the moment I was in. Halloween 2018 turned out to be quite amazing.

The days following my diagnosis, I continued to repeat "so what? now what?". Eventually I was able to pull myself out of the darkness and fight on.

If you have a mantra you would like to share, please comment!!! I would love to hear them.