A Mantra For Hope

Ever had moments of self-doubt or low self-confidence, or questioned if you have what it takes to accomplish your goals? I’m pretty sure we all have. Unconsciously and emotionally, self doubt is gripping and keeps us stuck in inaction. But consciously we know that the successes we want are on the other side of doing things that we don’t feel ready for.

It’s in these moments that it helps to cultivate a sense of hope. It reminds us of all the possibility in the world, that if someone created a certain reality for themself we are capable of achieving it too, and it gives us a reason to try.

And what you can do is interrupt the unconscious, hopeless pattern being driven by self doubt and replace with with a hopeful, encouraging thought pattern that gets you into action. Consider this to be your new mantra that you can use any time you sense yourself hesitating or holding yourself back from what you are struggling to find the courage to do.

It goes like this: If I can… (Recite List Of 3 Big Wins), then I can definitely… (State Whatever You Want To Courageously Pursue Next).

Here’s a personal example: If I can go 31 miles at Runningman when I only planned to go 13, if I can do 50 pushups just about every night for 20 years, if I can complete a Spartan Race, then I can definitely train for and complete a sub 4 hour marathon in 2025.

You see what happened there? You stack so much evidence upfront that the thing you feel scared to do becomes way more doable. It takes the sting of impossibility out of it and makes it seem actually achievable. Without minimizing how hard it might be, it encourages you that you can. It creates hope.

As Heroic puts it, hope requires 3 conditions: An inspiring goal, agency, and pathways. This mantra supports the “agency” piece, showing you that you are capable of what you’ve set your sights on! And again, it’s a simple reframe that gives you the willingness to try.

So as a takeaway, I’d encourage you to think about that one thing you really want to happen, but might be scared to pursue. Then identify 3 massive wins that are relevant to that pursuit, codify them, and have them ready to go the next time you need them.