Mantras are power words -- personal chants we repeat to gather our strength and strengthen our courage. They center us on what's important. Mantras can be deeply spiritual connections between you, your words and your actions.

Working Diva member bluey_1 recently sent us one of her favorite mantras, written by Samuel Beckett: "Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." Mantras resonate in your soul and empower you to take risks and do more. Try one of these inspirational mantras or come up with one of your own.

• "One of my mentors years ago told me this one: 'Fake it till you make it.' For example: If you want to become an executive, act like one, even if you aren't one yet -- you are conditioning yourself to become one. The second one: 'If you believe it, you will achieve it. If you continuously think about your goals, you will eventually reach them.'" --kandrosko
• "It may be silly, but when I think of a mantra or 'words to live by', I always think of a saying my mother and grandmother always told me when I was whining about something: 'Can't never could.' I never had a comeback for that one! And now when I find myself pouting because some project isn't going the way I think it should, that saying pops into my mind and gets me going. --fisheymommy
• "Don't remember who said this, but here it is: 'The greater the artist, the greater the doubt. Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.' It helps me remember that my talents are worthwhile, even in my moments of self-doubt. --chorusgirl