Make your own Mantra
One of the ways I work with clients is use spontaneous songwriting as a way to explore emotions and new perspectives.
I believe we all have a song inside us, in fact many and that we can learn to access them by opening up to what’s possible.
Most of us think we cannot sing or we don’t like the sound of our own voice.
We don’t allow ourselves to sing unless it’s in the shower or on the freeway with the windows rolled down.
We compare ourselves to others or worry we will look foolish.
Kids know we are born to sing!
For today, I want you to forget what you might believe about your voice and give yourself permission to explore.
Instead of judging yourself or your voice, I want to invite your 3-year-old self to do a little exploring by making up your own song (perhaps even a mantra).
By the way: You might also notice that your self-critical voice about your singing is similar to other limiting voices that you hear in other areas of your life.
For this exercise, I want you to explore soothing yourself with a song or at least some vocal sounds (could be humming, or vowel sounds like Ah, Ooh, ew, etc.)
You might sing yourself a love song, or a song of gratitude simply acknowledging yourself for trying something new.
Make Your Own Mantra
Make Your Own Mantra Song Bed
The video on this page has a song bed that I created using some basic chords that should sound pleasing to Western ears.
I recommend using some headphones and going somewhere private so you can really explore without being conscious of someone else listening in.
As you play the file, try and hum a bit at first and find the notes that work for you.
As you feel ready, start to sing a few syllables or sounds with an open mouth.
Don’t worry about making sense, using words or rhyming.
If words come to you, that’s great. Just go with it. If they don’t, no worries.
Just let it flow and suspend all judgement.
After the YouTube piece is done, I’d love it if you could leave a comment about your experience or drop me an email.
I recommend you try this for 3-5 days in a row to start to get into a groove.
You might find certain melodies or groups of words seem to stick (a good sign that your mantra is forming).
In coaching, I use this process for many other types of situations.
Here are a few common types of topics to sing about:
Emotional acceptance and release (pain, anger sadness)
Emotional appreciation and heightened experience (joy, awe, inspired)
Self-love
Working with Fear
Limiting beliefs
Affirmations
Essentially it is up the client to decide which way a song might go for them. A mantra might soothe, but venting is sometimes helpful too.
Part of the magic and power of music is that we don’t fully understand it. Music doesn’t pretend to be logical.
If that sounds a little woo, consider why we have voices and how they have developed as they have?
We are literally born to sing as any child will show you.
A mantra doesn't have to derived from spiritual planes.
More on Mantra
Mantras have been around since people began to speak.
Ohm might be the world’s first mantra.
Mantras can be religious or they can merely be a statement or slogan that you repeat all the time.
Amen, Thank you, Have a great day are all mantras.
We also develop our own personal mantras or find inspirational quotes to use as shorthand mantras to enable us to quickly tap into the spirit of the mantra.
What mantras do you regularly say aloud or think to yourself?
Here’s a few common mantras that I’d bet you can fill in the blank:
Do unto others ____
Practice makes ____
There’s always ____
“I love you” is a common mantra for all families and loved ones and yet, how often do we stop and truly feel the power of these automatic words?
With “Make Your Own Mantra” I’m inviting you to be a bit more mindful. I want you to truly feel into what you are feeling as you explore it.
I have seen the power of mantra first hand and know how much it can help us have breakthroughs to new ways of long ignored expression.
Even professional singers often don’t allow themselves to make up their own songs and feel they must always sing someone else’s song or melody.
As you allow yourself to create your own mantra, you can discover helpful musical phrase that can run through your mind or be sung out to remind you more fully of what it means to you.
Give it a try. I hope you have a great experience!
If you’d like some guidance, I offer this as part of my coaching work as well.
I believe music can heal the world. You have music inside you. Let it come out to play!
