I recently read an interesting Babble article on mustering the energy and patience to face parenting challenges with the mantra “I am a mighty dragon.” So, I’ve been trying it and I have to say it works.
There is something rather cathartic and empowering about the “mighty dragon” visual, not to mention more PG than my normal slew of four letter words. My daughter decides to change her outfit as I’m trying to rush them out the door. “I am a mighty dragon” as I dash upstairs to fetch alternate outfit options. My son doesn’t want to go to preschool today. “I am a mighty dragon” as I kiss him goodbye and walk out the door without looking back. I don’t even linger in the hallway to eavesdrop until his wails subside because, you guessed it, “I am a mighty dragon.”
I was curious about why mantras work, so I did what any time crunched mom would do, I googled it. Here’s what I learned:
The word “mantra” in its most literal sense means “to free the mind” from the vagaries of the mind. Quieting the bad parent chatter, anyone? Saying any word produces an actual physical vibration. If coupled with a mental intention, the vibration then creates thought-energy waves which change the outcome. Full disclosure: I know it sounds “out there” but it has been working.
It could also be the way the brain is wired. I recently attended a lecture on how the brain works and learned that when we get stressed the pre-frontal cortex (remember that from freshman biology) shuts down. This area manages our emotional regulation, response flexibility, self awareness, patience. In other words, when we are over-stressed from either our own kids, or other meddlesome parents, the part of the body we rely on to keep our level-headed, high road cool, literally shuts down.
The speaker offered some tips for regaining composure, including using simple tasks, like counting to ten or thinking about how you spell your name, to re-engage your cortex and calm down. I think a mantra may also work in this way.
Have you ever tried something like this? Did it work for you?
Magic Mantras
I recently read an interesting Babble article on mustering the energy and patience to face parenting challenges with the mantra “I am a mighty dragon.” So, I’ve been trying it and I have to say it works.
I was curious about why mantras work, so I did what any time crunched mom would do, I googled it. Here’s what I learned:
The word “mantra” in its most literal sense means “to free the mind” from the vagaries of the mind. Quieting the bad parent chatter, anyone? Saying any word produces an actual physical vibration. If coupled with a mental intention, the vibration then creates thought-energy waves which change the outcome. Full disclosure: I know it sounds “out there” but it has been working.
It could also be the way the brain is wired. I recently attended a lecture on how the brain works and learned that when we get stressed the pre-frontal cortex (remember that from freshman biology) shuts down. This area manages our emotional regulation, response flexibility, self awareness, patience. In other words, when we are over-stressed from either our own kids, or other meddlesome parents, the part of the body we rely on to keep our level-headed, high road cool, literally shuts down.
The speaker offered some tips for regaining composure, including using simple tasks, like counting to ten or thinking about how you spell your name, to re-engage your cortex and calm down. I think a mantra may also work in this way.
Have you ever tried something like this? Did it work for you?