SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, a friend of mine shared what she had learned at her child's science fair. One of the exhibits presented two microscope slides and what had resulted when water droplets were placed on them and then spoken to (not a typo).

To the first slide, the person had spoken negative words; to the other slide, only positive words were spoken. Then both slides were put in the freezer for a period of time.

Afterward, and quite amazingly, the negative word slide had only the water droplets. But the positive word slide had beautiful crystals.

Although we may be aware of the power of words, we may not realize their power toward ourselves, and how much we need their positive boost. When was the last time a word or phrase helped you through a rough spot, especially as a parent?

In talking with women, here are a few tips I've learned for helpful mothering mantras.

1. Keep it real

Forget the cheesy ones — they're annoying and useless. Use mantras that are tried and true, such as scriptures or quotes; something that gives you a deep breath and moves you forward.

Some of my favorites include: "The grass will still grow;" "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all;" and from my friend: "That's part of being a family" (mostly in relation to disgruntlement at chores, errands or functional family do's).

Posted next to my bed are a few standbys, from Rudyard Kipling to Emily Barrett Browning. But one of my oft-used favorites is from Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." That's mainly because understanding the intricate job requirements of motherhood has taken, and will continue to take, many good years.

Of course, I always like a good twist on an old favorite. The Serenity Prayer is beautiful and healing. And this humorous version in Mary Ellen Edmunds book "You Can Never Get Enough of What You Don't Need" works too:

"Grant me the serenity to know what I can change. Let me change what I can. Let me accept that which I cannot change. Let me ignore that which I cannot change or accept. Let me run away from that which I cannot change, accept or ignore. Let me lock myself in the bathroom, hold my hands over my ears, and hum about that which I cannot change, accept, ignore or run away from. Let me bite those who can change, accept, ignore, run. Let me be!"

2. Use mantras with children

Some of my most helpful phrases are ones that I use with my children. When they complain about our checking social media, phones, or where they are going — and even question why we "don't trust them" — I use a phrase from a friend: "Trust but verify."

That mantra has helped many a situation and child to know that we do love and trust them. As invested parents part of our job is to verify — and to ignore resulting eye-rolling or whining to said explanation on trusting and verifying.

3. Seek for the right mantra on a given day

What women shared, and I have also found to be true, is that if we seek it, we will find it right when we need it. One morning I was jogging/walking/corralling my children when a neighbor drove by and stopped for a moment to chat. She had been through a difficult experience within the last year, as I had also (unbeknownst to her).

At one point in her conversation she shared, "You know, you've got to learn to be lonely. You've got to feel the hurt to get through to the other side." Those two phrases distilled down to my new necessary mantras: "Learn to be lonely," and "You've got to feel the hurt to get through it."

4. Expand the mantra to a family mission statement

If you feel brave, or bored, consider taking some of your favorite mothering mantras and adding them to your family statement. One of ours is: "Work hard, play hard, pray hard." When children give me grief about a family project or family prayer, I feel great joy in reciting this one explanatory line, in that teaching mother tone.

Consider the mothering mantras that get you through your day, and even share one with a friend or a child. You can also share your favorites in the comment section below, helping others feel the power of the positive words.

Watch the Video:

Studio 5: 'Mothering Mantras'

To watch Connie's "Mothering Mantras" segment from Thursday's "Studio 5 with Brooke Walker," visit <a href="http://studio5.ksl.com/?nid=71&sid=36657642" target="_blank">studio5.ksl.com</a> or <a href="http://conniesokol.com/"target=_blank>www.conniesokol.com</a>.

Connie Sokol is an author, speaker, TV contributor and mother of seven. Contact her at www.conniesokol.com.

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