A Reminder About Mindfulness
Life isn’t always all rainbows and butterflies, and that’s okay.
Remaining mindful is not always as easy as it seems. We all lead busy lives that include some combination of our careers, family, relationships, hobbies, maintaining our homes, self care, and more. When we try to juggle too much at once, it creates disharmonious vibrations that disconnect us from our true needs and sense of self.
It can be confusing when feelings of stress arise. No one wants to feel these negative emotions, but yet, we are so often consumed by them. This is very human of us! It is in these times when we experience intense feelings that we need to practice mindfulness the most.
We start by pausing and looking inward—try it with me now, if you feel called to do so. Ask yourself, “How do I feel in this moment?” Allow those feelings to surface. Acknowledge them, but do not act upon them. Instead, take a few deep breaths. Accept your feelings as they are, knowing they are a valid part of your journey. Hold on to positive emotions, such as happiness or hope, and release anything else that does not serve you.
When you're feeling down, also ask yourself if the situation you are facing is the true root of your problem. Perhaps it goes much deeper. It is important to be honest with yourself and realize that you may be repeating old patterns or belief systems that you have yet to break. Knowing where these issues stem from is the first step toward resolving them.
The next imperative step is to practice grounding yourself by focusing on the present moment. My father, who is a mental health professional, taught me an exercise known as the 54321 grounding technique. It is specifically intended to target anxiety. During this exercise, don’t worry about being too specific, just pick the first things that resonate with you.
To begin, place your feet firmly on the floor and continue your deep breathing. Now look around the space you’re in and name five things that you see. Next, find four things that you can touch. Then, listen for three things that you can hear. This is followed by describing two things that you can smell. Finally, pick one thing that you can taste—I often have to get creative with this last one, but it always leads to a little laugh. (If you have any impairments, nix the senses that do not apply to you and rearrange as needed, counting down from a lower number.)
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can, and wisdom to know the difference.
—The Serenity Prayer
What the concept of mindfulness truly comes down to is being aware of how you feel as well as how you act based on those feelings. Coming back to your center is what will allow you to realign and rebuild stability within yourself. Only then can you go forth and practice mindfulness in other aspects of your life, including the incorporation of sustainability into your daily routine. It all starts within you.
