The generation today, and the ones to follow, will live in an extremely competitive world. Be it academics, extracurriculars, sports, arts, job searches, switches for money, and much more. But what a child learns and instills in childhood, they carry for life. And while schools teach math, science, and languages, the emotional strength needed to face certain situations of life is overlooked. And this is where mantras, chants, affirmations, or even some sacred sounds can help. They are meant to influence the mind positively and develop some inner peace, and when children start chanting or repeating them early on in life, knowing their true meanings, it gives them a sense of surety and confidence. Here we mention 6 mantras and affirmations that parents must teach their young ones for confidence and fearlessness in life.
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The universal sound of OM, and the simplest mantra to exist, is one that every child must know. Chanting OM is believed to put all the vibrations and energies around you into sync, and it helps your body and mind align with those energies in a positive manner.
When children chant Om regularly, even for a few minutes, it can help settle their minds and connect them to the peace and calm within them. And in times of pressure, be it results or exams, chanting OM even for 3-4 minutes will help them have a sense of confidence and fearlessness within themselves.
Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Mahamrityunjay mantra is often chanted to remove the fear of untimely death in people, and understanding its true meaning helps people realise that God does things at the right time and for the right reasons.
The mantra goes - Om trayambakam yajamahe, sughandhim pushtivardhanam, urvarukamiva bandhnan Mrityormokshiya mamritat.
Teaching this mantra to kids, even just one line at a time, and making them understand what every word means, will help them have an assurance of protection from Lord Shiva, and as they grow up and understand it deeply, they will trust God’s actions.
Although the Hanuman Chalisa is a long 40 verse hymn, when learnt overtime, it can help children overcome fear, and will make them more confident, believing that Lord Hanuman’s power is always with them.
Hanuman Chalisa was written by Goswami Tulsidas ji, and talks about Lord Hanuman’s characteristics, his strengths, his achievements during the Ramayan, and more. And many people feel that in times of fear or distress, if they remember Lord Hanuman through the Chalisa, it helps them calm down.
Maa Kali, the divine feminine who protects, nurtures, destroys evil, and helps her devotees, is the epitome of power. She is a symbol of fearlessness for Hindus, and her powers of destroying negativity and fear are known to all.
And a simple mantra of Maa Kali is ‘ॐ श्री महा कालिकायै नमः’, which means ‘I bow down to MahaKali’. When children will learn about her, what she did, her heroics, her nature, and more, submitting to her will give them strength when they feel scared or threatened. Chanting it when you feel insecure or scared about a certain outcome is believed to fill people with a positive spirit.
A mantra dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Universe, and the one who took on many forms to protect his children, this one too should be taught to kids. Lord Vishnu’s avatars, be it Varaha avatar, Matsya avatar, or the avatar of Lord Ram, helped people and destroyed evil, and even today, when you chant this mantra, it is believed and felt by people to give a feeling of confidence.
If you have a child who does not believe in chanting mantras, there is an affirmation that can help them in the long run. Just ask them to repeat ‘I am fearless in nature and confident in my ability. I can do this.’ everyday, as soon as they wake up or before going to bed, and during times when they need inner strength. This affirmation, when repeated with complete belief, helps children break the mental habit of self-doubt and will give them a positive image of themselves, one that can do anything it sets the mind on.