10 Things to Tell You: #7 What's Your Mantra?

10 Things to Tell You: #7

What's your mantra?

I have several of them. The day that I was thinking about this particular question was also the day that we were going to be having FHE. So I texted my family about an activity that I wanted to do that night. I asked each member of my family to text me what they would consider to be their current personal mantra and what they would consider to be our family mantra. It was really interesting!! Even Reilly contributed and called to find out what everyone else had said. It sparked a great family discussion! It also gave great insight into who we are as a family and what motivates us collectively and individually. I highly recommend doing it!

1.) My Personal Mantra:

Invest in people who invest in you. (Alison Faulkner) 

This doesn't mean that I don't help, love, or serve those who don't/can't/or are unwilling to invest in me but it does mean that I don't give weight to their opinions. Does that make sense? I invest in what other people say to me IF I know that they are invested in me personally and have my best interests at heart. That also means that I set boundaries...I invest my time into those who are invested in me and my family with their own time, love, and support. Does this mean that I never do anything with people who aren't invested in me...no... but I do prioritize where that time is spent. A yes to something is a no to something else. I try to make sure that my priorities are straight and sometimes that means saying no to something that is good because my time and energy need to be invested elsewhere.

My Family Mantra:

Don't underestimate the Johnsons!

This saying started out with Ailey... Tyler and I would marvel at the things that she would try, do, and succeed at. We would say "DO NOT underestimate Ailey Johnson!!" but then we noticed it with all of our kids and it became a family mantra. Now we say it all the time and about all of us in many different circumstances.  We also have the mantra of "Johnsons come through...." whether it be a difficult time or upholding a promise or an obligation or something like that. That is one that we have had for many years.

2.) Tyler's Person Mantra:

I work hard to provide for my family, to show my love for them, to better our family, and to help us be happy.

Tyler's Family Mantra:

We work hard so we can play hard!

3.) Reilly's Personal Mantra:

Make yourself a priority. At the end of the day you are your longest commitment.

Reilly's Family Mantra:

Uphold the Johnson name.

Technically this is something that Tyler and I used to say to Reilly from about 6th grade on up. But it was more like "Honor our family name". This was because we wanted Reilly to realize that where we live there are people that she was coming in contact with who knew her great-grandparents and her grandma. We talked about having integrity and never wanting someone to say "Can you believe that so-and-so is Frank and Loreen's great-grandchild" in a negative way. She did a good job with that because there ARE people who do know our extended family all the way back to our kids' Great-Great-Grandparents. Ailey had a kid in one of her classes this year find out what lake she goes to and asked her if she was related to "Mr. Miley". That is MY GREAT-GRANDPA! It turns out that this kid's family has a cabin on the lake and has been coming out for generations and the tales of my great-grandpa and the kind and sweet man that he was has trickled down five generations to a random kid in a high school class. That is a legacy!

4.) Kameron's Personal Mantra:

Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in His strength I can do all things.

I love that my kids have scriptures written on their hearts and repeat them to themselves to inspire, motivate, remind, and strengthen them.

Kameron's Family Mantra:

Time to make the donuts!!

If you grew up in the 1980s you may have heard this phrase before. LOL. Remember the old Dunkin Donuts commercial?

We started saying this phrase many years ago to get Reilly's butt moving in the morning. "Come on Reilly! Time to make the donuts!!" She was always up early but was a very SLOW mover. Then over the years it evolved and became a phrase to get her to do her chores, homework, practice the piano... you name it...we said it. It was always said along the lines of "Hurry up! You have things to do!" She enjoyed this phrase so much that when she was in high school she made herself a hoodie with it written on it. We were very proud. Eventually this phrase was used with the whole family and in all kinds of circumstances.

5.) Ailey's Personal Mantra:

"Though she be but little, she is fierce" ~Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream)

This is a phrase that Ailey found years ago on Pinterest that she adopted as her own. She has always been one of the smallest kids in her class and yet she is no shrinking violet. Tyler and I call her "The Chihuahua". She may be small but she takes no crap. She will do things that she is terrified of even if she hates every minute of it. She will not be intimidated by other people or circumstances. She likes to be in charge and she likes to order other people around. LOL. She gets things done!

Ailey's Family Mantra:

Don't underestimate the Johnsons!

Explained above.


6.) Bryn's Personal Mantra:

She believed she could; so she did.

Bryn found this quote about two years ago and loved it. She has lived by it and has quoted it back to us many times. It has been on her letter board on her wall and she really uses it as a personal mantra especially during cross country and track seasons. I love it!

Bryn's Family Mantra:

We work hard, dream big, pray always, and have fun!

I absolutely love this and think that this is so true!! We may need to make this our family mission statement!! :)

**This turned out to be such an interesting activity to do as a family! Very illuminating. I highly recommend doing it!**