10 Mantras Mindfulness Experts Live By

"When you’re feeling stressed, you always have your breath to focus on and anchor you to the present moment. When you think about the past, you get depressed. When you think about the future, you get anxious. But if you focus on the present moment, it’s all good." —Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder of Unplug Meditation

"No matter what the future holds or what mistakes I've made in the past, in this moment right now I can breathe, I am whole, I am creative, and I am capable of change. In the past year, I've experienced incredible highs and lows. I've spoken to audiences of thousands of people who listened intently as I spoke about finding inner peace and fulfillment. I also came close to destroying my relationships with my wife, family, and friends. Which of these experiences represents who I really am? The truth is that neither the best nor the worst things I've done represent me. I use this phrase to remind me that my potential to harm or heal is entirely decided by this moment right now." —Charlie Knoles, Vedic meditation teacher and director of The Veda Center

"So much energy and effort is expended on 'What do I want to do?'—which career, what school, or when our next promotion will happen. But almost no time is spent exploring who you want to be in this life—ethical, honest, compassionate, grateful, or loving? Asking that question can connect us to our humanity, and to each other, in ways that are nourishing and fulfilling. —Janice Marturano, executive director at the Institute for Mindful Leadership

"I say this to myself and my students: Show up 100 percent once you have physically shown up to practice. Also, 'Let go, and let God' is something a choreographer used to tell me. Although I am not religious, I am very spiritual and this makes me feel like everything will be okay, one way or another." —Bethany Lyons, founder of Lyons Den Power Yoga

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"When I'm anxious or stressed, I will often focus on centering my breathing. I say 'Dare to be' on the inhalation and 'Present' on the exhalation. Mindfulness practice is about focusing attention and cultivating a non-reactive awareness of your thoughts. For me, this phrase acknowledges that being fully present in the moment is a dynamic, rather than passive, activity. It helps me to practice letting go of habitual self-doubt and worries that often accompany feelings anxiety and stress." —Christy Matta, M.A., mindfulness trainer and author of The Stress Response

"I use this mantra to remind myself that nothing—good or bad—is permanent. Keeping it in mind and repeating it to myself is a great way to avoid getting attached to a particular outcome or caught up in a given situation." —Scott Eblin, certified yoga teacher and author of Overworked and Overwhelmed: The Mindfulness Alternative

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"When anxieties flare up about not being or doing enough, ask yourself, 'How do I want to feel?' By aligning your thoughts and actions to how you want to feel, you naturally create your life in a way that feeds your soul. At the end of the day, our achievements don’t fill us up—feelings do." —DeAnna Lynn Englezos, certified holistic health coach

"This mantra is powerful because your spirit is your most authentic self. By honoring your spirit, you choose to support your true nature and assure your integrity. This mantra also sets up healthy boundaries as well as keeps you tuned in to your intuition and inner guidance. It says everything you need to assure your health and wellbeing in all situations." —Sonia Choquette, author of Walking Home: A Pilgrimage from Humbled to Healed

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"We tend to place a high amount of expectations on ourselves, others or life and general to be more, better or different. This mantra reminds us that everything in the moment is enough and helps us avoid suffering from expectation hangovers." —Christine Hassler, life coach, author, and speaker

"Like many others, I used to fear change. Now, I think of the opportunities that come with it, say my mantra, and return my focus to the present moment." —Charlene Richard, mindfulness meditation teacher and therapist