School Me Saturday 10/4/25- New mantra has entered the chat

I’ve written before about the importance of a mantra.

According to the Merriam- Webster dictionary, a mantra is a mystical formula or incantation. The word comes from Sanskrit and is a sacred counsel that comes from the phrase meaning “he thinks”. Maybe Rene Descartes knew Sanskrit when he came out with “I think therefore I am”.

To me, a mantra is a phrase that you repeat to yourself when times are tough. Say you’re on mile 5 of a planned 8 mile run, you repeat to yourself “The only way out is through.” This is also good for school situations. Take a semester- the only way out is through. Take a degree- the only way out is through. Take a nursing shift- the only way out is through.

Another mantra might be “At least there’s [blank]”. The blank could be anything. A cookie. A kitten. A puppy. Your favorite food. This is good imagery to carry you through the hard time. To get you to the other side.

My personal nursing mantra is “Do no harm, take no shit”. This reminds me that I have a voice that can help the helpless. It also reminds me that I have a voice to help myself. This is useful in the event of a bullying surgeon. Especially if I have more years of experience in the trenches of healthcare.

My new mantra, the one that I decided I will be using to deal with the lawlessness of the administration and the frustration that I feel on the daily.

The new mantra is “Remember who the fuck you are!”

This has applications to so many of the world’s dumpster fires.

I look forward to using it.