Difference Between Mantras and Affirmations
Most people use mantras and affirmations interchangeably. However, they are not the same.
Mantras and affirmations are different. Mantras are sounds that carry a vibration to get you in harmony with the universe. Affirmations are positive statements to help you reprogram your mind. Both of them can help you improve yourself, accept yourself, and achieve your goals.
If you want to know the difference between mantras and affirmations, you are in the right place. In this article, we will look at what mantras and affirmations are, how they work, the differences between them and some examples.
What are mantras?
The word mantra in the Sanskrit language means “the thought that liberates and protects”. The root of the word “man” means to think, and “tra” means to protect or to liberate.
Mantras are sacred sounds created by ancient Indian sages and yogis. These sages and yogis managed to become one with nature and the environment around them. They heard sounds and vibrations of things surround them and expressed these sounds as mantras.
A mantra can be formed by one syllable or a combination of syllables. The most important part of a mantra is the sound, the vibration that the utterance produces. The vibration of the mantra has a frequency that carries the power. If you want to learn more about mantras, read this article.
The vibration of the mantra can surround you when you chant it out loud. When you chant it in silence, the mantra vibrates inside of you. By merely listening to the mantra, you can also benefit from its vibrations.
How do mantras work?
Mantras will work if you chant them regularly. It doesn’t matter if you chant them out loud or in silence. Before you start chanting, you should set your intention.
Mantras are tools that can help you feel alive and reach an inner state of contentment. The mantras’ power lies in the vibration produced by the utterance of the mantra. There are countless mantras, so you need to choose the one that best fits your intention.
Some mantras have a melodic sound and a beautiful meaning. But the meaning of the mantra is not essential. The vibration of the mantra will harmonise you with the universe.
The vibration of a mantra will help you recognise your divinity. You will feel at ease with life as you progress in mantra chanting.
The sound of a mantra carries a specific power. You can use that power to align your vibration with the mantra. After chanting for three months, you will start seeing the benefits of chanting mantras. A mantra will work for the intention you set. For mantras, the meaning of the word is not essential, unlike affirmations.
What is a good mantra to chant?
Here are examples of mantras you can start chanting:
Aum
A simple mantra to start chanting is Aum, a single syllable mantra. Aum is known to be the sound of the universe. It can bring lots of benefits to you by getting your being to harmony with nature and the universe.
Aum Namah Shivaya
Aum Namah Shivaya is a 5-syllable mantra. When you chant this Aum Namah Shivaya, you call on Shiva to destroy, to dissolve your own self to become a new you.
Om Mani Padme Hum
Om Mani Padme Hum is a 6-syllable mantra. This mantra is known to be the essence of the teachings of Buddha. This mantra will protect you from danger and bring love and compassion to you.
Har Har Har Har Gobinday
If you want to try a unique and beautiful yet longer mantra, give a go to Har Har Har Har Gobinday. It’s a Kundalini yoga mantra for prosperity and creative power.
Har Har Har Har Gobinday.
Har Har Har Har Mukhunday.
Har Har Har Har Udharay.
Har Har Har Har Aparay.
Har Har Har Har Hariong.
Har Har Har Har Kariang.
Har Har Har Har Nimamay.
Har Har Har Har Akamay.
What are affirmations?
Affirmations are positive statements that you repeat in a language which you understand. You can use affirmations to depict an intention of something you long for or something you aim to achieve. You can create positive affirmations about anything in your life.
Affirmations aim to change your negative patterns of thinking and speaking into positive ones. For example, you can replace ‘I can’t’, ‘I won’t’, ‘I don’t’, ‘I am not’ with ‘I can’, ‘I will’, ‘I do’, and ‘I am’.
How to use affirmations?
Using affirmations isn’t difficult but it requires focus and repetition. Here are easy steps to get you started:
- Become aware of your negative thoughts.
- Choose an affirmation that helps you transform your negative thoughts into positive thoughts.
- Observe the change in your thinking and speaking.
Step 1. Become aware of your negative thoughts.
Step 2. Choose an affirmation that helps you transform your negative thoughts into positive thoughts (choose the specific affirmation that will work in your particular negative thinking pattern). To change your subconscious thinking, you need your habits. Changing habits requires time and repetition. So you will reinforce your positive thinking by repeating the affirmations.
Step 3. Observe the change in your thinking and speaking. Notice the difference it makes to your thinking, your experiences and your life. Reinforce your positive thinking pattern by becoming consciously aware of these new positive ways of thinking. Observe the positive changes the new positive thinking brings to your life.
When you put your mind and soul into what you want to change in your life, your brain creates new pathways to allow that to happen.
Louise Hay is one of my favourite authors for affirmations. Her books and affirmations are fantastic; they helped me immensely at a difficult time in my life. Let her do the same for you.
Do you have to say affirmations out loud?
You don’t have to say affirmations out loud, you can repeat them in silence. Keep in mind that it can be harder to focus if you are repeating them in silence.
When you repeat affirmations, you are directing your attention to the words. As oppose to mantras where you direct your attention to the sound rather than the meaning of the word. When you affirm something in your mind or out loud, you change your habitual thinking and speaking, which will change your beliefs. New beliefs will guide you to act differenty, which will change your reality.
The more you affirm something, the more real it becomes. So, if you have negative thoughts, you reinforce the negative patterns in you, and more misery comes to your life. But, if instead, you reinforce positive thoughts, you will attract good things to your life and have more positive things flowing towards you.
How do affirmations work?
Every time you consciously make an affirmation, you are taking control over your subconscious. You are sending the message that you are taking responsibility for your life. So you can create something pleasant.
The awareness of your thoughts can show you the way you are thinking. You can have the choice to decide if you want to think positive thoughts or negative thoughts.
An affirmation will empower you to create the life you want. It could be hard to stay positive or think positive all the time. Listening to affirmations can help you to set in your subconscious mind the new positive pattern of thinking.
Before you go to sleep, think, and affirm something you need or want in your life. Take this last thought to your sleep; the message will permeate your subconscious. Then, it will become easier for you to affirm consciously and believe that what you say is possible.
How long do affirmations take to work?
According to Louise Hay, affirmations take 30 days to permeate into your subconscious. To achieve results, you need to repeat the affirmations throughout the day for 30 days.
During this time, you will create a new neuron-mesh of positive thoughts that will change your beliefs.
Differences and similarities between mantras and affirmations
The difference between mantras and affirmations is in the way they work. Mantras and affirmations are significantly different. Mantras are sounds, which power lies in the vibration that is produced when you chant them aloud or in silence.
The power of affirmations is in their meaning. For this reason, saying positive words can create a new attitude and new neuron pathways.
A mantra doesn’t need to have a beautiful or positive meaning to work as affirmations do. The power of a mantra lies in the sound and the vibrations it produces.
Affirmations can help you create new positive beliefs about yourself and your surroundings. They can help you to re-programming your mind.
Affirmations are statements believed to be true. Affirmations can be about anything in life, or yourself. They are usually used for self-love to help you accept and love your life and body. Affirmations can help you recognise your life experience and be grateful for everything that is in it.
A mantra goes beyond the meaning of the words, or the neuron pathways that it creates. A mantra sound will make you vibrate at a particular frequency to bring you in harmony with the universe. You will resonate at the same frequency as the mantra.
Both affirmations and mantras need repetition and time for you to feel their benefits. You must practice your mantras and affirmations every day. The power of affirmations affects you at a subconscious level, and the power of mantras affects you at an energetic level.
You don’t need to choose between mantras or affirmations. You can use both they can complement each other. Be clear in what each of them can do for you. Put your intention into your practice and keep optimistic about what you need or want in your life; trust, it will happen.
What are some examples of affirmations?
You may not notice that you have negative thinking. Be aware of the phrases, thoughts or words that you use that can be contributing to creating negativity in your life. It could be easier to change them for positive affirmations instead.
Here are some examples of what a negative way of thinking maybe and how you can convert them into a positive affirmation.
| Negative Affirmations | Positive Affirmations |
|---|---|
| My income is never enough | My income is constantly increasing |
| I am afraid to speak | It is safe for me to speak up for myself |
| Bad things always happen to me | I deserve all that is good |
| I am afraid to pursue my dreams | I have the courage to live my dreams |
| I feel stuck in life | I am willing to change |
| I hate my job | I do what I love and I love what I do |
| I have so much pain in my body, and I am always sick | Love flows through my body, healing all dis-ease |
These are some beautiful affirmations from Louise Hay. You can use them for different areas of your life. You can find them online, in an app, audiobook, books or printed in cards.
If you struggle to say the affirmations, start by listening to them before going to sleep. Soon it will be easier for you to accept the positive words. Do some mirror work; this consists of looking to yourself in a mirror while saying out loud your affirmations.
Conclusion
I hope that now you have a better understanding of what are mantras and affirmations, and their differences. Mantras and affirmations are used in different ways and for various purposes.
Mantras will help you to connect with your spiritual being and bring you in harmony with nature and the universe. Affirmations will help you reprogrammed your mind so that more positive thoughts are present.
Both mantras and affirmations can bring contentment and pleasant feelings about your environment and yourself. Both require you to focus your attention on your intention. You can use them together to improve your life.
Be bold and start chanting and affirming. Who knows, mantras and affirmations may change your life for the better.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which one is better mantras or affirmations?
None of them is better or worse. Mantras and affirmations have a commonality of setting an intention to achieve a specific goal. However, the way you accomplish this goal through mantras is different from the way you achieve it through affirmations.
What should I choose mantras or affirmations?
What you choose depends on how you want to achieve your goal. Mantras are more spiritual, whereas affirmations change your thinking patterns. You could try both and see which one works for you.
Are mantras affirmations?
Mantras are not affirmations. Affirming something is not the same as chanting a mantra. The importance of a mantra lies in its vibration. The power of an affirmation resides in its meaning.
Can I say an affirmation like a mantra?
The power of a mantra comes from the sound. Most mantras come from the Sanskrit language. Affirmations are positive phrases that you repeat in a language you understand. Both can help you bring positive things into your life.
Are mantras and affirmations the same?
They are very similar in the sense they both need you No, they are different. Mantras are sounds that have inherent power. Affirmations are statements you believe to be true. Both mantras and affirmations require you to focus on a particular goal like good health or a happy relationship.
