Could something as simple as a few words help you reduce stress and live more mindfully?

Barb Schmidt, author of The Practice and wellbeing devotee, certainly believes so. Here, she explains the power of the Sacred Mantra

CAN you imagine going through life without tools that make it possible to live?

From simple carpentry tools, utensils, and household appliances to the most sophisticated computers and machinery, tools help us build and navigate our world. They help us survive.

So what if I told you that there was a tool you could carry around with you all day long - all life long - that would help you not only to survive, but also to thrive? I call this tool a Sacred Mantra.

It is a word, phrase, verse, or prayer with a long history of use that's hallowed or considered holy by the tradition or culture from which it originated, that you have personally chosen for your use. Why do I call it a Sacred Mantra? The word sacred is broadly defined by social scientists as that which is set apart from the ordinary and worthy of veneration, so what makes the mantra sacred is its intimate association with saints, mystics, or other spiritual masters, teachers, and traditions.

The word mantra is a Sanskrit word that means 'mind travel'. So the mantra traverses the mind and sends us into another space. Simply put, to use your Sacred Mantra means to repeat it silently to yourself under any number of circumstances throughout the day. It intercepts or slows down the rush of thoughts, helping you to act mindfully, rather than to mindlessly react.

A mantra is sacred because when we use it, we are calling upon the strength of all the great people before us who have used it for support, spiritual wellbeing, and deep connection.

A Sacred Mantra is the tool that intercepts the flow of negative, stressful thoughts and helps us to connect deep within with who we are, with the great source of strength inside of us - the Lord, Source, God, the Light, Beloved, Divine Guide. Whatever we choose to call it.

In this way, the mantra is our support and strength, helping us manage anything that life sends our way. Remember, the Sacred Mantra does not change the circumstances in the outer world, it stops the rush of thoughts so we can be present to our life in the moment and make decisions and take action from a place of awareness, love, and strength.

When our thoughts begin to wander, usually to the past or future, repeating our Sacred Mantra brings us right back to the present. For example, if I notice that my mind is wandering to feelings of fear while I am waiting for a doctor appointment, I silently repeat my Sacred Mantra - intercepting the anxious, fearful thoughts brings me back to the moment. The mind can start thinking thoughts of fear before we know what is truly happening, causing a great deal of stress and anxiety. Bringing the mind back to the moment helps us conserve our energy, as well as stay calm and ready for whatever action we may need to take.

When choosing a Sacred Mantra we can look to religious traditions for phrases and words like "My God and my All", the prayer words of St. Francis of Assisi; or in the Hindu tradition the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "Rama, Rama", meaning "the joy within"; or a non-religious mantra, the Aramaic "Maranatha" meaning "Lord of the Heart."

Do some research and take some time finding a phrase, word or prayer that speaks to your heart. When we find the space between anxious, stressful thoughts by repeating this powerful tool in our minds, we are accessing the deep place within that can supply us with courage and strength during the day and all night in our sleep.

The beauty of the Sacred Mantra is that we have this tool with us wherever we go, and we can learn to use it in every situation we encounter throughout the day-in business meetings, while shopping, when interacting with others, sitting in traffic, and during our ordinary tasks.

This daily spiritual tool can be used with or without a religious context; it is our deepest connection with ourselves. We cannot control what happens in the outer world, but when we connect within we can handle anything life sends our way with confidence and courage.

Five ways a Sacred Mantra can have an impact on our daily lives:

1. The Sacred Mantra helps to reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, allowing us to put situations in perspective and to approach them in a calmer, more mindful way.

2. The Sacred Mantra slows the speed of our thoughts and quiets mental chatter, so that we can consider what matters most to us with more clarity and take action that is in alignment with our purpose.

3. The Sacred Mantra gives us the opportunity to really experience uncomfortable emotions rather than trying to push them away, so that we can resolve and release them naturally.

4. The Sacred Mantra helps us cultivate compassion, love, and forgiveness in circumstances where we might feel our impatience or intolerance rising, even with ourselves.

5. The Sacred Mantra facilitates personal transformation through these actions, giving us the opportunity to be the person we desire to be and to live the life we want to live.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Barb Schmidt is a US businesswoman and philanthropist who has spent more than 30 years developing her spirituality, and founded the non-profit organisation Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life in 2011. To find out more or listen to her TED talk, visit peacefulmindpeacefullife.org. Her new book, The Practice: Simple Tools For Managing Stress, Finding Inner Peace, And Uncovering Happiness is published by Souvenir Press, £10, is out now

TRIED AND TESTED

3 OF THE BEST: Colouring books for grown-ups

Colouring-in is the latest stress-busting trend to catch on, and no wonder - not only does it calm the mind and soothe stressed nerves, it's fantastically nostalgic too. So raid the kids' pencil boxes and colour your way to a more chilled-out you. But careful - stay inside those lines...

Colour Therapy: An Anti-stress Colouring Book, £12.99 (Michael O'Mara)

Dramatic artwork - ranging from birds, bees and butterflies to intricate animal heads and detailed fruit - is split into seven different colour sessions depending on your mood. There's also a colour wheel to guide you into a sea of calm or a fire of energy.

Enchanted Forest by Johanna Basford, £9.95 (Laurence King)

Sophisticated fairy tale outlines give the romanticist carte blanche to weave a web of beautiful colours and to create amazing pictures. Silver or gold pens may create the crowning glory on the castle or the treasure chest.

Millie Marotta's Animal Kingdom by Millie Marotta, £9.99 (Batsford)

Another gorgeous offering from this Welsh illustrator, whose blockbuster colouring book currently occupies the No. 2 slot in Amazon's top 100 books. Lose yourself in flora and fauna-patterned elephants and hippos, donkeys and sea lions, or hone your artistic talent on double-paged repetitive floral designs for a wallpaper finish.