Written by Nicole J.

It is still pretty early in 2019, and while the New Year New Me attitude may not be as new; it is never too late to reinvent and recommit yourself to self-improvement. Here are some inspirational mantras to live by:

• Water off a duck’s back.
  The first time I heard this was from the season 5 winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jinkx Monsoon. It means to let an insult or otherwise nasty comment roll off you, as if it meant nothing. So the next time you see a video clip of colorist men saying “cheers to more light skin kids”, do not allow yourself to be triggered, but instead, focus on your own level up, refer to mantra number 2 below, and keep it moving.
• And nothing of value was lost.
  As a Millennial, I spend a lot of time on the Internet. I first came across this gem of a mantra in memes, derived from this 10-second clip. You didn’t get that job you weren’t all that keen on? Some celebrity said something disparaging about black women again? You finally decided to dissolve a relationship, romantic or otherwise, because it wasn’t working for you? Say it with me: and nothing of value was lost.
• Feel the fear and do it anyway
  This mantra is also the title of a world-renowned book by Susan Jeffers. Even though you might be faced with what seems like an insurmountable challenge, put your best foot forward and do your thing, despite the naysayers and anxiety that might come with it.
• Fail fast, fail often
  Do you think technology’s best and brightest inventors and creators pulled their revolutionary creation out of their hat on the first try? Certainly not! The likes of Apple and Amazon and Google all started somewhere, and their spear headers were not immune from failing. But they failed quickly and went on to create some of the world’s most profitable businesses, which is a lesson we can all learn from.
• F*** you, pay me
  And last but not least, the immortal words from the 1990 film, GoodFellas, and the meaning of the mantra is self-explanatory. Anything you are good at, get paid to do it. Whether you have a knack for proofreading or are an excellent babysitter, let the world know that your services are not free. If you are just starting out in the creative industry, don’t do work “for the exposure” – people died of exposure in Oregon Trail, and Instagram likes don’t pay the bills. If someone lowballs you for your services, refer to mantra number two above and get paid what you deserve.

These are a few mantras I’ve taken with me on my own level up journey. What mantras do you live by? Let us know in the comments!