Do Mantras Really Work? Research Says Yes

Mantras are powerful tools for the spiritual practitioner. They’re a short and simple way to focus your intention toward something you wish to achieve. When used correctly, they can help improve your manifesting capability by a thousandfold. I use them for numerous purposes, and they’ve provided great benefits in my life — more than I could have ever imagined.

You’re probably here because you’ve been asking yourself, “Do mantras really work?”

Let’s get into the basics of how to use mantras to enhance your power and increase your alignment with the Universe. Trust me, if you’re serious about your practice, there’s nothing more important than being attuned to the energies around you.

Mantras help prime your mind for welcoming all the things that your heart desires. Whether it’s better health, healing, or simply a feeling of gratitude you want to invoke within yourself, using mantras every day is a great way to connect to your personal power. Let me tell you what you need to know about mantras.

What Is a Mantra?

A mantra consists of a single word or phrase that is uttered to focus the mind. You may have heard of the mystic syllable “om,” which refers to “the first sound of the earth” and is considered sacred in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. Monks and other religious practitioners chant the sound to calm the mind and body and connect to the spirit.

Other religious traditions have their own versions of mantras in the form of hymns, chants, and prayers. It’s the same for non-traditional religions when it comes to spellcasting and rituals for honoring the earth’s natural forces. Whatever religious path it may be, the purpose of mantras is the same: to transcend rational thought and tap into the innate life force that rests within.

Through the years, the use of mantras has been incorporated into people’s daily lives. More and more people are slowly becoming familiar with the immense benefits a daily mantra can give. I can attest to how powerful mantras can be when used properly because I’ve seen their effects firsthand.

Different Types of Mantras

There are various types of mantras you can use for your spiritual practice. If you’re a beginner, you can start with mantras that focus on the mind, body, and spirit. You can choose from any of the following mantras:

Mantras for the Mind

Mind-focused mantras are perfect for those who need a reprieve from persistent thoughts that don’t seem to have an off button. The Gayatri mantra can combat self-defeating thoughts and bring you peace of mind: “Om tatpurushaya vidmahe mahadevaya dhimahi tanno rudrah prachodayat.”

Mantras for the Body

Body-focused mantras target your physical health, and these are great for those who are suffering an illness from which they want to recover. The Pranava mantra can be easily done by chanting “om.” This creates a vibration in the body and connects it to the primordial source, allowing healing energy to come in.

Mantras for the Spirit

Spirit-focused mantras are meant to connect to your higher self and hidden power. The Siri Gaitri mantra facilitates spiritual awakening. By chanting, “Ra ma da sa sa say so hung,” you awaken the kundalini energy sitting on the base of your spine and allow it to rise up through the chakras, aligning everything perfectly.

How To Choose a Mantra That Works for You

Of course, these mind, body, and spirit mantras are some of the most popular mantras that yogis and other religious practitioners use for their daily spiritual work. Remember that a mantra is a form of prayer, and you have to pick one that best resonates with you. Otherwise, your mind will only find it incredibly difficult to give in to the repetitive nature that the mantra requires to raise vibrational energy.

If you’re having trouble connecting to the mantras I’ve mentioned because they’re all in Sanskrit, no worries. Because most people have co-opted the use of mantras in their daily lives, enter their more accessible counterpart: the affirmations.

Affirmations are different from mantras because they do not create vibrations that synchronize with the harmony of the universe. What they do is make use of positive statements that reprogram the mind into achieving what you want.

Affirmations have gained popularity because anyone can compose a powerful one on their own. You can say them in front of the mirror before you start your day, or you can write them in your journal a number of times within a given period for the best results. Below are some of the affirmation equivalents of the mind, body, and spirit mantras I discussed earlier:

• Mind affirmation: “I am the master of my fears. My mind grows stronger every day.”
• Body affirmation: “All the cells in my body are alive and well. I give my body what it needs.”
• Spirit affirmation: “I have limitless potential inside of me. I choose where to spend my energy.”

How Do Mantras Really Work?

Whether it’s a mantra in Sanskrit or a positive affirmation in English, uttering these words repeatedly holds the key to your manifesting power. You’re probably thinking, “It’s just the placebo effect.” You’re probably right — and wrong at the same time.

You see, the simple act of saying a string of words to attract what you want serves as a priming agent for the brain. So, in a way, it does harness your mental power. By feeding it your powerful choice of words regularly, it creates neural pathways that help you accept the possibility of turning your dreams into reality.

Plus, the calming effect of mantras and affirmations leads to a theta-wave-induced meditative state. This makes you feel more relaxed and positive about what you hope to achieve.

Use Mantras To Achieve Your Goals

Mantras are a great way to achieve your goals. They may have gained a bad rep from others who believe that all they do is create a false sense of hope, but I don’t believe this is what they do. They don’t leave you in denial about your limitations. In fact, they help you connect to your soul purpose, which will help you better understand what you’re going through in the first place.

Let mantras change the way you do soul work and help you connect to the higher energies around you.