What is Mindfulness?

Where is your mind? Are you focusing on what you are doing? 

Have you had an experience where you just did the laundry? The same day later, you are unsure if you have completed the task. Or maybe reading a book page after page, but you don’t know what was going on? 

According to Harvard Study – Wandering mind not a happy mind, 47% of an American adult is NOT paying attention to what they are doing, and this mind-wandering typically makes them unhappy. 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as more than the absence of disease but a state of complete physical, mental and relational wellbeing. The evidence suggests that we have the power to train our minds. The human brain is a remarkable tool that can cultivate, develop, and attract positivity and negativity.

Mindfulness practices can help us to increase our ability to regulate emotions and manage stress and anxiety. Since I started practicing mindful living, it has changed my life and grown me more confident as an individual and a single mom. Mindful living allows me to speak to myself without judgment and make more accurate decisions. This process can also avoid hurting others and myself. 

TAKE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN BRAINS

Mindfulness is a way of living in the present moment and being fully aware of our words, feelings, and actions; The process of looking and observing within without judgment.

Practicing mindfulness is not about crossing your legs, lighting a candle, or staying in a peaceful corner. It does not need a ceremony or an official setup. All you have to do is listen to yourself, pay attention to your soul, and let your wisdom guide you through. It is an experience where you must enjoy being in the flow with a focused mind. Mindfulness living is like running a marathon, and it requires long-term practice. It often presents different results to different people.

Check-in with yourself, align with yourself. 

Be Present. Live in the moment.

I used to hear about living in the moment, but in fact, it is these five years that I have truly experienced mindfulness. Life was moving so quickly during the pre-kid time, adding to caring too much about what other people think. My mind had never stopped; the phone constantly receiving notifications felt like many things needed to be done. Consequently, I overlooked the feelings and what was happening at that very moment; After practicing mindfulness, I realized that life isn’t too fast or slow. It is always us who have to maintain the speed! 

Present moment awareness is a focal point within mindfulness. Living in the present moment means not fretting about the past and not fearing the future. Fully in control with the only time we have, which is Now! When our attention is on the present time, we push fear and distraction from our minds. 

Pause and Reflect

Life’s a marathon, not a sprint. It is a competition not with others but with ourselves. Pausing to self-reflect is not a privilege — it’s a must. We all need to be able to sit in the present moment, reflect on what has happened, and on any learning we can take away from the experiences.

Pause and reflect requires us to take a step back from each experience. Pausing can create a space where you authorize yourself to take a break. This process helps to reduce stress and anxiety, allowing you to focus better. Reflecting involves channeling the inner feelings and studying the meaning, which enables us to create a healthy conversation with ourselves. Consequently, drawing more accurate conclusions benefits our personal growth. 

Be the Flow

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. The flow and shape of life are all about the mindset. Don’t just go with the flow. Mindfulness is being the flow, meaning having control over your mind and feeling instead of being influenced by the outside world. It is a journey to train yourself to get to a point where your mood doesn’t shift based on the insignificant actions of someone else. 

Being in the flow helps you to face the challenges with the right mindset and the ability to adapt to the challenges with a healthier attitude. Embrace uncertainty, accept changes, take what life gives you, and make it your own rather than trying to force life exactly as you want it to be. 

Listen to Yourself & Others

When we examine ourselves, we want to employ a higher power self to look within. Practicing listening to yourselves can help you learn how to observe thoughts and feelings in a calm, honest, and accepting manner. Mindfulness can help you be less judgmental about your self-worth, which creates a strong base for self-awareness and confidence.

Always listen to yourself. You are the sole person responsible for your life. Hear, do not simply listen! Same to other people, always analyze those hearing, interpret in your own way and then again listen to your interpretations. Do not blindly listen to anyone, even if the person is more talented, reputed, and experienced than you. Every person will give you advice based on their knowledge and expertise. It is not necessary that it will fit into everyone’s life. 

Surround Yourself with the Right People

Be aware of the energy or people you are inviting to your life. When we surround ourselves with positive energy, people consciously (and subconsciously) challenge us to be our best selves. Surrounding yourself with the right people is not only important. It is essential. Negativity spreads quickly, such as gossiping. Life is too short to be part of this judgemental negative energy.

A good person wants to help others succeed and make people feel good about themselves. People often experience blessings being around those individuals. It could be in the workplace, with a teammate, friend, or partner. A good person will try to understand that everyone is different and has different needs. Most importantly, respect their needs. Negative people, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. They tend to use their energy to pull you down to their level. Being around negative energy is depressing and stressful. 

Identify positive people and let go of negative relationships. This way, you can create a strong support network of people who are good for your mind and soul.

Practice Being Alone Without Feeling Lonely

Studies show the ability to tolerate alone time has been linked to increased happiness, better life satisfaction, and improved stress management. People who enjoy alone time experience less depression and have stronger mental strength.

Although we are all interconnected, many people suffer from loneliness. According to Harvard research, a taggering 61% of young adults aged 18-25 and 51% of mothers with young children reported serious loneliness; women across all ages and stages of life report higher loneliness levels than men. Loneliness can leave people feeling isolated and disconnected from others. Recent studies show that loneliness is a more significant predictor by more than the twofold magnitude of early mortality compared to obesity. 

The narrative in our head is critical. It can be negative and positive. Negative self-talk cultivates depression. Learning to enjoy being alone is a sign of healthy self-esteem. Try to develop a relationship with yourself.

The best self-care time!

Show Appreciation

Appreciation is powerful. 

In positive psychology research, appreciation is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Appreciation helps people feel more positive emotions, enjoy good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build stronger relationships.

One of the most effective ways to create a sense of peacefulness before sleep is to reflect on the things in life that you are grateful for and the positive things that happened that day. Make it a habit to practice gratitude. 

Explore mindfulness living

The Wellness Journey explores holistic wellness: body, mind, and spirit. To look within means you’re willing to embrace both the best and worst aspects of yourself by accepting who you truly are in this life.  Mindfulness is not a destination. It will always be a journey.