I saw a profile on LinkedIn where someone included their personal mantra. It was, “Passionate for making every day, a good day.”

I asked several friends what their personal mantra was and why they chose it. Here were their answers.

“One day at a time. Sometimes it changes to “one hour at a time”. It helps me through tough times when you have to be strong to support those around you that are struggling. This year I have not only had to support my husband with a progressive disease, but also deal with a death in the family and two friends who are struggling with health issues that live alone and need help.

Sticking to this mantra gives me the encouragement I need, as well remembering that this is just one moment in time and if it is a tough one, maybe in a few hours or the next day it will be better. Take the moments as they come and cherish them.”

“Lead with love.”

“It’s just as easy to be nice. This was the refrain of my childhood. It was my father’s mantra. If I heard it once, I heard it a million times. It was helpful to me over the years in many situations at work. I am trying to remember this now as a menopausal woman. It’s ok to disengage–I don’t have to respond if I can’t be positive.”

“Idiopathic. This word is often used in medical circles ‘to relate to any disease or condition which arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown.’ But I like to take it further than that. I like to relate idiopathic to life in general. In a world of left and right, good and bad, sickness and health, sometimes we just need to be present for all of it. Life is more than the hand you are dealt (past). It’s how you deal (present).”

“Think big and you may get something, think small and you will get nothing.”

“I don’t really have a mantra, but I recently heard the following quote which I think is from Anne of Green Gables. “Tomorrow is a day with no mistakes in it..yet”. When I was going through my divorce and everything that came with it, I tried to live by ‘I forgive you, not because you deserve it, but because I deserve it.’ It was helpful to start moving forward and not continue to be angry and resentful about the situation.”

As for mine, it is “Everything happens for a reason.” This belief has helped me accept life’s twists and turns and has provided comfort when the headwinds of life have seemed to have blown me off course.

What’s your personal mantra? And many thanks to my amazing friends who provided such insightful, heartfelt, deeply personal and inspirational responses. Thank you for your willingness to share to help others.