This week, write your own slogan!

Judy Lief teaches that slogan practice is always practical and applies to everything we do. That’s why the ninth lojong teaching tells us, “In all activities, train with slogans.” It always helps. She writes, “Once you understand the underlying point—to increase loving-kindness and concern for others and to decrease self-absorption and ego fixation—you can make up your own slogan. One suited to where you feel most stuck.”

So what if, over the next few days, you pondered where you feel stuck, and then came up with a slogan that would most help you practice getting unstuck? Write your own slogan for the kind of mind-training you most need right now.

Remember, lojong slogans don’t need to be complicated. For example, something like, “Pause before speaking!” works. Or perhaps, “Choose joy.” Of course, there’s always the British classic slogan, “Keep calm and carry on.”

Certainly, if you belong to a faith tradition, you may have a phrase or verse that grounds you. So what if this weekend, you used that as your mind training? Some of my favorites: Love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly.

Obviously, the sky’s the limit here. Just write your own slogan! Anything that brings you to ground, helps you get out of your own negative reactions, and calls up compassionate awareness works great. You can scribble it on a post-it note or use fancy colored pens and decorate the whole card. Go all out, if that’s your thing.

Also, if you haven’t yet been keeping the slogans on display, maybe give it a try this week and see if it helps you remember to practice it.

If you do this, I’d love to hear what you choose! Drop me a comment below or leave one over on my Instagram feed.