Don't take stuff personally

nuff said. 

Mental Discipline

This is not a mantra.  It is, however, a recommendation.  I try not to think of work when I'm away from it.  In the past, it's monopolized my existence.  Ironically, now that I forget about it when I'm not there, it actually goes better when I am. 

Live in the moment

Easier said than done.  It requires compartmentalize life, to subject my worries and concerns to some dark corner and get on with life.  Compartmentalizing doesn't mean prognostication.  Issues should be dealt with but in their own time and if they can't, leave them behind.   I'm sure meditation would help with this kind of mental discipline.  

Be Giving

This is a bit of a difficult one for  me and if you're into mantra obviously it may be for you as well.  My tendency is to look at everything as to how it affects me.  I need to look more at how it affects others. 

You can't control what others think

This may seem obvious but it's what I have a tendency to think too much about.  I want them to think well of me however in positions of power and responsibility, this just can't always be the case.  

Forgiveness

Wouldn't this be one of the more noble mantras?  But look at it from a selfish point of view.  Anger is such a heavy burden. 

Get through the day

This sad mantra has actually worked for me over the last couple of days.  Surprisingly, it didn't cause me to focus on the future.  I wasn't only concerned with just surviving.  Okay, I take that back.  That's exactly what I was concentrating on, just surviving.  My problem, if you haven't figured it out, is that I worry too much about what people think of me.  One of my favourite moments in life occured when I was a lifeguard and forced to save a young man who'd sunk to the bottom of the swimming pool after suffering a minor epileptic fit.  A couple of kids were supposed ot be looking out for him however, apparently at this particular moment, they hadn't.  He was picked from the bottom by a patron whose girlfriend had kicked him with her foot.  The pool was very crowded at the time and the summer sun was reflecting off the water making visibility very poor.  I told the man to bring the boy over to the edge of the pool where I immediately began artificial respiration.  He looked dead and I thought my efforts would be fruitless.  As soon as I had cleared his passageway and was getting air to his lungs his lips became warm.  I asked one of the other guards to take over however neither would.  All told, it was about ten, fifteen, twenty minutes until the ambulance arrived.  I couldn't tell how long a period of time had transpired because I was completely in the moment.  Afterwards, I realized that I had rarely had so much fun.  At no time during the emergency had I thought of myself or what others thought of me.  I was just getting through the day.