What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being fully aware of what you're feeling, thinking, and doing. I've been practicing mindfulness for a few years now, and I have to say it has helped me a lot. It's brought me a lot of peace and happiness in my life. That said, it's not always easy to do! There are times when things get tough (like they do for everyone), but there are many ways to help cope with those hard times. For example: deep breathing exercises; chanting; or simply talking about how you feel. I hired an accident attorney after I got in a car crash, and it really helped me deal with my emotions.
When you're feeling angry, sad, or anxious (like I was when I got in the accident), deep breathing will help you feel more relaxed. It'll give your body more oxygen, which will help your mind to relax. Deep breathing exercises are very simple to do: close your eyes; put one hand on your stomach; and take some slow breaths (in through the nose, out through the mouth). If you want to make sure you're doing this right; use an app like Spire or Calm! These apps will guide you through different breathing exercises if needed. Check them out!
That's just one way mindfulness can help. Another big thing is talking about how you feel! Sometimes people get embarrassed when they get sad or anxious because they don't want other people to think that they're weak or crazy for feeling that way. That's understandable—nobody wants that kind of attention—but sometimes it's necessary for us to talk about our feelings with someone else so we can understand what we're going through better. We all feel things, and it's okay to feel sad or angry once in a while. It's not okay if you're sad or angry every day! If that happens, you should see someone about it.
If you ever need to talk about how you feel, please don't hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. You can also text CONNECT to 741741 or find ways of coping with your feelings here. They'll be glad to help!
Is Mindfulness for Everybody?
Mindfulness is great for everyone—no matter who you are! People practice mindfulness for many reasons: some people do it because they want more energy; others want better focus; and some just want a healthier mind and body overall (which I think is awesome!). Everyone has their own reasons as to why they do something like this, but I think we all have the same goal: wanting a happier life (even if we don't always know how). That said; there are definitely some people who shouldn't practice mindfulness—these include those with anxiety disorders or those with severe depression. People with these disorders might find it difficult to concentrate on themselves or their breathing if they're feeling anxious or sad. That's okay—these people should find another way of dealing with their emotions until they feel better.
How Can I Practice Mindfulness?
You can practice mindfulness anywhere, really! It doesn't take long at all; you just need to be able to focus on yourself for a few minutes. You can do it when you're walking; driving; or even working (if they allow it). If you're not sure how, my best advice is probably taking walks outside (weather permitting). Not only does this help you focus on yourself, but it also helps your body relax and enjoy the beautiful world around us! You don't have to go very far; just go outside and sit down somewhere (or walk if that's easier!). Take some deep breaths and think about things like: what are some things I'm grateful for? What am I looking forward to today? Am I happy right now? How do my thoughts make me feel? What sensations do I feel in my body right now? Are there any other thoughts going through my mind right now that might be helpful/not helpful/harmful/etc.? Are there any other thoughts going through my mind right now that might be helpful/not helpful/harmful/etc.? Are there any other thoughts going through my mind right now that might be helpful/not helpful/harmful//etc. I am not mental health professional, and I am not diagnosing or prescribing treatment for any mental health conditions; I'm just writing about my own thoughts and experiences with mindfulness. If you think you might be suffering from a mental disorder, please seek professional help!
I like to think of these questions more like "self-quizzes" that help me understand myself better. Sometimes we can get caught up in our thoughts and we don't know how we're feeling—we're too focused on what's going through our heads.
Mindfulness is a great tool for dealing with life in general. It helps with your emotions and how you feel. I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven't already! There are lots of fun ways to practice mindfulness: walking; breathing exercises; and talking about what you're feeling (if that's okay with you). It really is one of the best things we can do to help ourselves feel better, and I hope this post will help bring some insight into how it works—and why it's great! If anyone would like more information on mindfulness or any other mental health issues (like anxiety or depression), please don't hesitate to reach out! I'm always happy to talk about these topics, and I'll be sure not to judge anyone for whatever they're going through. Everyone gets stressed, sad, anxious, etc. sometimes—it's just a part of living in today's world—so let's all work together on taking care of ourselves so we can have happy lives going forward!
