becoming what we practice

Oct 23

Dear Reader,

For many people, the idea of a personal mantra can feel uncomfortable. It can sound like pretending to believe something you don’t. When life feels uncertain or discouraging, saying I am enough or I trust myself might ring hollow. That resistance makes sense. We can’t talk ourselves into a truth we don’t yet feel.

But in therapy, we often remind people that belief doesn’t have to come first. The way we speak to ourselves shapes the pathways the mind takes most often. A thought repeated with intention begins to create new associations, even before we fully believe it. Over time, those repetitions can help loosen the grip of older, more critical narratives. This isn’t wishful thinking; it’s how the brain learns.

Psychological research supports this. Studies in cognitive-behavioral therapy and self-affirmation theory show that consistent, self-directed language changes emotional processing and self-perception over time. Our inner dialogue influences what we notice, how we interpret experiences, and how quickly we recover from setbacks. The words we practice become the scaffolding for the beliefs we grow into.

So when you are intentional about choosing a mantra, it doesn’t need to feel entirely true yet. It only needs to feel possible. Think of it as a bridge between where you are and where you hope to stand. A phrase like I’m learning to trust myself or I’m allowed to rest honors both your current reality and your capacity for change.

Yours in the journey,