21 Positive Mantras that Will Transform Your Life

There will be situations where you’ll watch your entire life falling apart and you have no other choice but to watch it as it does. Life won’t always be filled with sunshine and rainbows. No matter how hard you try to control every aspect of your life, you’re going to experience situations full of despair, uncertainty, and even pain.

This is where having mantras to live by can be extremely useful as they can lift you and give you hope. The situation won’t change, but your mindset and perspective just might.

Why we need mantras to live by

In the same way that positive affirmations work, having mantras to live by can change your mindset on dealing with a difficult situation.

Maybe you got fired, you don’t know whether to break up with someone, or your current job isn’t making you happy any longer. Whatever it is, mantras can always lift your spirit and help you deal with problems the right way.

They aren’t a magic fix, but you might feel better and more optimistic as well when having the right kind of mantras to live by. This is especially crucial for those who tend to overthink things, even unrealistic scenarios.

An uplifting mantra can help you stay grounded in the logical side of things rather than dwell in your negativity and pessimism.

21 mantras to live by that can bring positivity into your life

Looking for the best mantras to live by that you want to apply in your own life? They won’t solve your problems, but they’ll help you see the positive in the situation and give you the strength to overcome them all.

1. This too shall pass
You probably think that whatever shit you’re going through is going to last forever, but you know it won’t. This is one of the most common mantras you hear everywhere – social media, blogs, and even videos. It basically means that no matter how unbearable your pain feels, it’s not going to last forever.

It might feel like the end of the world right now, but realize that there’s a light at the end of every tunnel.

Whenever you feel like giving up, this mantra is extremely useful for those scenarios. You’ll get through this and you’ll be okay, eventually.

2. Trust your gut
People will deceive you, manipulate you, betray you, and take advantage of you in every way they can, if you allow them. In these situations, it’s important to trust your instincts. If you feel like something’s off and your gut is telling you to walk away, go with your gut instinct.

You’ll learn to escape a lot of painful and hurtful situations if you just learn to trust your gut initially instead of disregarding it entirely. Your first feeling about someone isn’t wrong, so, stick with that opinion.

3. I am enough
As you grow older, the world will try to convince you to be someone other than the person you are. It could even prevent you from going on a date with someone who you think is “out of your league” *whatever the f#ck that means*. Everyone will make you believe the lie that you’ll never be enough, which is where this mantra comes into significance.

You are not the reflection of people who are threatened by you or the people who can’t love you right. The only validation you need to be adequate comes from yourself. You are and will always continue to be enough, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

4. Live in the moment
Nowadays, we’re so heavily connected to our phones, we lose touch with what’s happening around us. It seems that we’re focused on everything other than the present moment. This is one of the great mantras to live by, especially if you tend to obsess over the past and the future.

Unfortunately, you lose so many precious moments by not living in the moment. Saying this mantra isn’t a magic pill for living in the present better, but the point is that you become more aware of being present.

5. Take a chance
There’s nothing else in the world that will haunt you more than your what-ifs. You can never take back the moments that you regret because you refused to take a chance. If not now, then when, right?

Courage and bravery are both things you need, so take a chance at something you’re scared of. You might live with rejection and failure, but at least you know you did everything you could to make it work. You need this mantra, especially in taking more risks in your life.

6. If not now, when?
The more you keep delaying things, the more you end up not doing them. It keeps getting pushed and pushed. Then suddenly, you’re 70-years-old and you haven’t accomplished anything you want.

Procrastination isn’t an option if you want to live your best life. This mantra to live by will give you the realization that time is the most precious thing in the world. You shouldn’t waste even a moment delaying what you need to do.

7. Let it go
Okay, so maybe this mantra is something that almost everyone struggles to follow. No matter how petty it is, we’d really rather not let it all go. However, refusing to let go will result in feelings of resentment, anger, or any form of negative energy inside you.

You may not have any control over what happened to you, but you always have a say in how you choose to respond.

8. I’m grateful for everything I have
Gratitude is a far stronger emotion than every difficult emotion combined. People forget to be grateful for what they have, given how easy it is to focus on the things you lack in your life. If you notice, it’s much easier to complain rather than to appreciate what you already have.

Maybe you had a shitty day, but you’re alive, healthy, and have people who love you. What more could you ask for? This is one of the mantras to live by that can change your mindset entirely from a negative mindset to a positive one.

9. I will positively affect someone’s day today
If you have the capacity to make someone’s day, why not take it? The world is filled with so much darkness that even a simple act of kindness can make the world a better place. Pay for someone’s coffee or compliment someone on how they look.

You’d be surprised by how even the most mundane things can put a smile on someone’s face. This is one of the mantras to live by that can help you incorporate more kindness and generosity rather than thinking solely of yourself.

10. Go slowly
In the fast-paced world we live in today, we tend to rush through our life without taking a moment to pause and breathe. The world isn’t going to end if you stop and appreciate your surroundings.

Even if you have several deadlines, it only takes a few seconds to pause for a bit. Take the time to remind yourself that you don’t need to rush through life. Sometimes it’s okay to slow down and enjoy the moment.

11. Do what makes you happy
The things and people you love fuel your soul with spark and passion. It’s for this reason that this mantra to live by can be useful in situations where you feel exhausted and burned out. If you don’t try to do what makes you happy, you’ll regret it.

Obviously, there are certain limitations to this as you can’t just quit your job and travel the world. However, you can take advantage of simple things like listening to music or dancing.

12. I accept whatever will happen today
We all need this reminder every now and then, especially because we tend to want our lives to be a certain way. Not everything is under your control, and maybe that’s okay. Life could present you with unexpected miracles today or it can present you with pain and challenges – that’s the beauty of what life is all about.

This is one of the mantras to live by that serves as a reminder you need most days, especially on the days you feel frustrated about a certain outcome.

13. I love myself
We all claim to love ourselves. But in reality, we keep believing our self-sabotaging thoughts. Self-love is a common thing to hear nowadays, but we forget to really love ourselves when it matters.

This means when someone breaks up with you or when you don’t get called back for a job interview, do you choose to love yourself no matter how tempting it is not to?

Maybe you dated someone who put you down, or you have children and put yourself second. Saying you love yourself can help you remember who you are and everything you’re worth.

14. Yes, I can
Your doubts, fears, and insecurities will always be there to defeat you and pull you down. What separates those who do what they want and those who don’t is their belief in themselves. As the saying goes – if you believe in yourself, then you can accomplish anything.

Say yes to that job interview, date that person, take that beach trip. As long as it doesn’t harm you, don’t hesitate to say yes.

15. My past doesn’t define me
No matter what your past consists of, your past will never define you. Even if you’ve done the most unimaginable things or have the darkest pasts, you are worth more than your past. Rather, it’s your ability to get back up and rise that defines who you are.

Your past will never be your final destination, even if it comes back to haunt you. This is one of the mantras to live by that is extremely helpful for when you feel stuck in your past with the inability to move forward.

16. I can accomplish anything I put my mind into
This is one of the most empowering mantras to live by, given how easy it is to compare yourself to others or to feel defeated by your insecurities.

When you stay grounded in this mantra, it can remind you that more than your fears and doubts, you’re capable of success and accomplishment. As long as you push through with your goals, you can achieve anything and everything.

17. I choose faith over fear
Your fear has the power to control you and stop you from taking chances and opportunities in your life. This is why choosing faith over fear is one of the important mantras to live by – to remind yourself to be stronger than your fear.

Most of your fears, while valid, come from your insecurities and past mistakes. You need to remember everything you’ve overcame and your fears are nothing compared to the faith you have in yourself.

18. I’m worthy of love and affection
Most of us have the belief that because of a traumatic past or our insecurities, others would love us less. Why are you so incapable of seeing the beauty within yourself that others clearly see?

You deserve so much love and affection in your life, even if you have a difficult time believing so. It’s heartbreaking for you to believe otherwise, but hopefully, this mantra can change your mind.

19. Perseverance, not perfection, is the key to success
Perfectionism is a double-edged sword that you can never achieve, no matter how hard you try. As long as you’re persevering towards your goal, that should be enough. This is one of the best mantras to live by as a perfectionist who tends to obsess even over the smallest details.

20. The glass is half-full
You will find more benefits when you go through life as an optimist rather than a pessimist. If you always see the beauty in even the worst storms, you can survive anything.

Even when you’ve been dealt with the worst cards, your optimism will give you a natural resilience in dealing with even the most painful situations.

21. If you want different, do something different
It’s easy to complain rather than to take responsibility for changing your life. If you’re unhappy, you can always do something to change that.

Shift career paths, create long-term goals, start your own business. This is one of the mantras to live by that actually have the capacity to change your life – if you let it.

So, what do I do with these mantras to live by?

Again, these mantras to live by aren’t magic pills that instantly change your life in an instant. It’s best to choose those that really speak to your heart.

For instance, if you tend to struggle with letting go of control, choosing a mantra that deals with that area is your best choice.

You need to pick a mantra to live by that really works its magic in your life. You can say them out loud first thing in the morning or even write them down, and you’re ready to start your day.