What is being mindful?
Are we supposed to empty our minds or focus on one thing? Do we have to have a yoga mat, candles and whale music? No is the simple answer. You have the ability to connect to your body in any given moment; reconnect, feel your breath, the sense of being grounded, bring your awareness to the present moment.
“The awareness that arises from paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment and non-judgmentally”.
(Kabat-Zinn, in Purser, 2015).
Mindfulness is not a barrier to being overwhelmed, there are always going to be times when some news or event leaves us feeling that way; this is natural. Mindfulness can help you re-center and manage your reactions and feelings in a positive way. Remember it is ok not to be ok for a short time; it’s ok if HAPPY is not what you feel right now.
So how do we learn this superpower?
The answer is everybody can do it; sometimes it gets lost in the daily stresses, challenges and barriers life throws at us, but, the good news is you can access your superpower; it’s there inside you. Once you know where to look and how to use it you can pretty much do it anywhere, anytime.
What does it do and why do it?
Mindfulness allows us to observe our own mind, reducing stress, enhancing performance and gaining insight and awareness. Mindfulness allows us to suspend judgement, be curious, and approach our internal examination with kindness and love for ourselves, which by default allows us to do the same for others.
In such challenging times, it is useful to be able to reground yourself, focus on what is important in the moment and not allow external stressors to overwhelm us. It is a great way to regain some control.