Mantra
S.D.J. Lyrics

Lost in a sunset, dripping with shame
Feeling ashamed and trapped as the sun sets in the horizon.

How lonesome it is to know life will never be the same
Feeling lonely and hopeless in the face of inevitable change.

Twisted in knots, skipping beats, seizing with heaves
Experiencing physical and emotional distress, feeling paralyzed and unsure of how to move forward.

Terrified to continue on like this for even one day longer
Feeling scared and overwhelmed at the prospect of facing another day of this pain and confusion.

Knowing that this will be every day from here on out
Resigning oneself to the fact that this is the new normal and things will not be getting better.

Beaten to the floor, once again you're on all fours
Feeling defeated and powerless in the face of a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

Is this all you have left, anger and a fog of doubt
Feeling like all that remains is negative emotions and uncertainty.

Is this all you can be, afraid
Feeling like fear is the only thing defining one's identity.

Life is now empty time with no purpose at all
Feeling like life has lost all meaning and purpose.

There's still that line repeating in your head: I feel so alone
Continuing to dwell on negative thoughts and feelings of isolation.

Is it time to give up or run away?
Contemplating whether to give up entirely or escape from the situation.

You can simply pack up your bags and leave town
Considering the option of physically leaving the current circumstances, but recognizing that this may not solve anything.

But you know no matter how far you run you'll still be stuck with yourself
Understanding that the problems and emotions will follow regardless of geographical location.

3 AM and wide awake
Awake and anxious in the middle of the night.

They say the night is darkest just before the dawn but dawn is hours away
Recognizing that there is still a long way to go before things may start to feel better.

So how can you distract yourself today
Seeking ways to cope and take one's mind off of the struggles in the present moment.

Find something small to focus on for hope: a healing ball of white energy
Looking for something to hold onto and believe in, even if it is something as small as visualizing a ball of healing energy.

A mistake that you once made
Reflecting on past mistakes and regrets.

There's closure in other places
Recognizing that some wounds can heal and closure can be found elsewhere.

Eventually, it sinks in: you've been here before
Realizing that this is not the first time experiencing this pain and that it may happen again.

Not even this pull into hell feels new
Feeling like one has been through the worst before and it is not getting any easier.

You look all around to find that the problem was always you
Acknowledging that the root of the problem may be internal and something that needs to be addressed within oneself.

Now tell yourself anything to keep away from the shame
Trying to avoid feeling ashamed and guilty by any means necessary.

You did everything you could and gave all you had at the time
Reminding oneself that they did their best with the knowledge and resources available to them at the time.

Let it cover you like oil paint
Allowing oneself to feel and be consumed by the emotions, like covering paint.

Repeat, repeat
Repeating affirmations or mantras to oneself in order to cope.

In an endless circles, you just draw shapes
Going through the same cycles and patterns again and again.

Forever telling yourself one day you'll be okay
Holding onto the belief that someday things will get better.

Why the hell not today
Questioning why one should wait for the future when they can start making changes today.

You're so sick of the revolution of days, of Counting Stars and casting blame
Feeling tired and frustrated with the monotony of daily struggles and negative thought patterns.

Your little mantra will take you to your grave
Believing that this repetitive phrase or affirmation will be with them for life.

Do you remember staying up all night polishing off a jug of wine
Recalling a specific memory from the past involving drinking alcohol.

sitting on your mother's front porch chain smoking cigarettes
Describing the setting of the aforementioned memory.

Trying to figure out if we were really in love or just too young to tell the difference
Reflecting on past romantic relationships and questioning their validity.

As mysterious to me today as the day we met
Feeling unsure and confused about the emotions and experiences from that time.

Do you remember that line
Referring back to a previous line or thought that has been on the artist's mind.

I got stuck there for so long
Dwelling on a specific phrase or thought for an extended period of time.

It never did feel right again but it did feel right then
Acknowledging that while past circumstances may not seem right in retrospect, they were once valid feelings and experiences.

I've been running from it ever since
Avoiding or attempting to escape from something associated with that memory.

It's been a long time since I've felt so close to someone
Reflecting on a past feeling of intimacy that has not been replicated recently.

Laughed till my jaw was sore at nothing at all
Recalling a specific moment of pure joy and happiness with someone.

Just the passing of time and one more line before we close our eyes
Recognizing that time has a way of healing and that every moment is an opportunity for growth and learning.

People go their whole lives telling themselves their injuries are permanent
Acknowledging the tendency to hold onto past pain and trauma as a permanent part of one's identity.

What about all those other days spent running in place, losing count of the miles
Considering all the other days spent feeling stuck and unproductive.

What about the days and the nights spent counting down the minutes
Reflecting on time spent wishing for the future or waiting for something to change.

What happens when the time runs out
Questioning what will happen when there is no more time left to wait or put off change.

The tragedy is having to run from yourself every day when there's help waiting
Recognizing the pain and difficulty associated with avoiding one's problems and emotions, and the importance of seeking help.