Why Study This Mantra...

You will learn how to learn about yourself. You will realize which of your attributes you prize the most, and how you prefer to use them in the world.
 

Introduction 

Clichéd, but true. It all starts with knowing yourself. True contentment lies in figuring out who your soul wants you to be, and then aligning that with what you think, say, and do in your everyday life. 

That's why, in the coming months, you'll be working toward this goal. For now, you'll focus on learning how to listen to yourself. That alone is a lifelong process. But let's get comfortable enough with this daily practice now so you're well-positioned to hit the ground running later. 

In this month's challenge, you'll also do some preliminary work around your basic personality. You will also be introduced to journaling; this month focusing on what drives you, and how you think about things. Journaling is an extremely healthy practice in and of itself, and so you’ll return to it in future months.

Before you begin...

Before you start these practices and challenges, take a moment to rate yourself on this mantra. Give yourself a score from 1-10 (10 being the highest). 

Do this again at the end of a month of practices and challenges. How much have you grown?

The Practices

Daily Practices

 

As I put on this mantra this morning, and throughout the day when I notice my mantra, I will take 2-3 minutes to relax in my body. I will stop what I'm doing and stand or sit comfortably. I will take slow, deep breaths. Straighten my posture by pulling an imaginary thread on the top of my head. I will drop my shoulder blades toward my back pockets. Let my belly go. I will find stress points or places where I am tense and I will relax them. Feel where I'm hot and cold. Feel my heartbeat. 

This exercise is to get to know my body, and learn to listen for it. Throughout the day, as I become tense, nervous, or angry, I will stop and feel where that lands in my body. My body will eventually inform me of my tendencies, and I'll be more proactive and controlling of my behavior.

Monthly Challenge

Take a Free Personality Test

Go to https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/personality-quiz/ and take a free personality test. It only takes a few minutes, and you'll love learning the results about your strengths and weaknesses, your relationships, career paths, and habits. Print out your results and save them somewhere. Trust us, this is going to come in handy later.

Journal Practice

Assess My Work and Life Views

This month, you will only write in your journal one time. In later months, you’ll write more frequently. For now, get out your journal and write this down. You don’t need to spend more than 10-15 minutes on it. You'll be asked to revisit this in later months as well.

• Work View: Why work? What does work mean for me? How does it relate to me vs. society? What defines good or worthwhile work? What do experience, growth, and fulfillment have to do with it?
• Life View: Why are we here? What's the meaning or purpose of life? Where do family, country, and the world fit in? What is good and evil? Is there a higher power or something transcendent, and if so, what is its impact? What is the role of joy/sorrow, justice/injustice, love, peace, and strife in life?

The Reasoning

For a definitive look at this month's mantras and practices, including what philosophers, theologians, psychologists, and scientists throughout history have thought, taught, and advocated, click below.