Keep Calm and Carry On

I never liked this quote to be honest.

It annoyed me.  I think mostly because it became such a trending quote.  On everyone's pinterests, bumper stickers and pendants from here to tim-buk-tu.

I read a blogpost a few days ago, the topic was mantras.  What is a mantra you may be asking yourself?
It is: an often repeated word, formula, or phrase, often a truism(a self-evident, obvious truth)
I don't remember what else the blog said, but what did catch my attention was that it asked the reader to find a mantra for themselves.

For whatever reason keep calm and carry on was what came to mind.
I found it bizarre that this was the phrase that leapt forward into my mind.  Like it had been sheepishly hiding itself just waiting for this exact moment to spring forth with excitement that I was looking for just the right words to say to myself.

Keep calm and carry on.
Keep calm and carry on.
Keep calm and carry on.

Have peace and self control.  Be humble and gentle.  Be patient.  Stop for a moment.  Breathe.  Don't rest on this.  Don't overthink this.  Don't be irrational.  Let go.  Move along.  Carry on.
All these words and phrases sum up this little phrase I'd for so long despised.  Yet after repeating it, over and over, I realized how much this phrase could and did mean to me.

I long to live my life with peace and self control.  To walk every day, every moment in the fruits of the spirit. I don't want to become irrational in any situation, I don't want to be stuck in a moment of anger or frustration.  I want to be humble and gentle.  Soft spoken and loving with my words and my thoughts.  I want to breathe in and take a moment to gain clarity in a situation.  I want to be discerning, I want the Holy Spirit to lead.  I want to let go of the negativity that so wants to creep it's ugly way in and take over. I want to keep calm and carry on.

I find myself repeating this little phrase now.  Even when I'm not in a situation that needs it's use.  I think in doing this I am setting myself up for a more than likely positive situation next time I find myself in a negative situation.  I am already creating a habit.  I am already walking in that peace, self control, humbleness, gentless, kindness, love and power.  So when I come head on with a situation that I might have otherwise reacted to in not such a lovely manner, I think I'll already be walking into this situation with a calm to just carry on :)

Do you have a mantra?

I challenge you to find one today.  It could be a word, a phrase, a bible verse.

Maybe you need it to remind yourself you are significant and beautiful.
Maybe you need it to walk with bravery and courage.
Or maybe like me you just want to have more peace and self control in every day situations.

I have a few words and phrases that I like to say to myself.  You can have as many as you'd like/need.
If you're not sure where to begin...Ask God to show you.  He will :)

Love and blessings,

Christy Creative Dreamer Dawn