How Repetition, Music, and Intention Shape the Mind

TLDR: You can influence the voices in your head by repeating a simple positive or neutral phrase in your mind - music helps to reinforce whatever mantra you are trying to put in place. I made a special Spotify playlist with all my favourite feel-good music incase you needed some inspiration: Soft Spells Sound playlist 

What Is a Mantra?

A mantra is a word, phrase, or sound repeated with intention.

Historically rooted in spiritual and cultural traditions, mantras were used to focus attention, regulate emotion, and anchor the mind during moments of uncertainty.

At their core, mantras are simple. Their power doesn’t come from complexity, but from repetition - returning to the same sound or phrase again and again until it begins to shape inner experience.

I recently spoke to a friend about mantras at a Christmas dinner party.

She had studied mantras quite seriously and shared that her teacher designated her a specific mantra not to share with anybody.

Of course - I asked her what it was. And she shared happily that it was simply "I am". She said it helped her a lot throughout the years. As creatives its easy to get swept up in emotion and feeling.

She shared that this simple mantra has been a welcome grounding practice for her: a way to gently influence thought patterns without force or pressure.

The Historical Magic Behind Mantras

Mantras Across Cultures

Mantras appear across many traditions:

• In ancient Sanskrit practices as repeated sounds for focus and meditation

• In religious prayer as spoken phrases for comfort and guidance

• In folk traditions as chants, songs, or repeated verses

These practices were rarely about immediate transformation. Instead, they emphasized consistency, patience, and presence.

Repetition as Ritual

Repetition turns language into ritual.

Saying the same phrase daily — or hearing it woven into music - creates familiarity.

Over time, familiarity builds safety, and safety creates space for change.

The Science Behind Mantras and Positive Affirmations

Modern research helps explain why mantras feel effective.

How Repetition Affects the Brain

Peer-reviewed studies in psychology and neuroscience suggest that repetition can:

• Strengthen neural pathways associated with specific thoughts or emotional states

• Reduce stress by engaging areas of the brain linked to self-regulation

• Improve focus by limiting cognitive overload

Functional imaging studies have shown that repetitive vocalization and affirmations can calm activity in the brain’s default mode network - the area associated with rumination and self-criticism.

The Role of Positive Affirmations

Research on positive affirmations indicates they can be especially effective when:

• The statements feel believable or emotionally resonant

• They are repeated consistently

• They are paired with calm or positive emotional states

Affirmations aren’t about denying reality. Instead, they act as gentle counterweights to habitual negative self-talk.

Why Music Makes Mantras More Powerful

Affirmations in Song

Music adds rhythm, melody, and emotion - elements that significantly enhance memory and emotional impact.

Studies on music and cognition show that:

• Lyrics set to music are more easily remembered than spoken words

• Melody can intensify emotional response

• Repetition in music reinforces language without feeling effortful

This is why affirmations embedded in songs often bypass resistance.

You’re not "trying" to believe the words - you’re simply absorbing them.

Emotional Regulation Through Sound

Listening to music has been linked in research to:

• Reduced cortisol (stress hormone) levels

• Improved mood regulation

• Increased feelings of connection and safety

When affirming lyrics are paired with soothing or uplifting sound, they act as both mantra and emotional support.

The Soft Spells Sound Playlist

The Soft Spells Sound playlist is curated with this in mind.

Each song is chosen for its ability to:

• Reinforce gentle, positive messaging

• Create emotional warmth and steadiness

• Offer repetition without pressure

Rather than forcing confidence or optimism, the playlist supports subtle internal shifts - the kind that happen quietly over time.

How to Use Mantras in Everyday Life

Simple, Grounded Practices

You don’t need a formal meditation practice to work with mantras.

Try one of the following:

• Choose a phrase from a song and repeat it softly while walking

• Let a playlist play while getting ready in the morning

• Write a short mantra and place it where you’ll see it daily

• Hum or repeat a phrase during moments of stress

Consistency matters more than duration.

Mantras as Everyday Magic

Mantras don’t change life overnight.

They change the tone of the inner conversation.

Through repetition, sound, and intention, language becomes a tool for steadiness - especially in seasons that feel uncertain or heavy.

This is the quiet magic of mantras: not control, but companionship.

Good luck out there✨