July signifies the halfway mark of the year, which means we have successfully made it through half of 2021! This is a perfect time to take a step back and reassess your New Year’s Resolutions and reflect on the last six months. It is also a perfect time to ground yourself and focus more on your well being. It has not been easy for most of us, so now might just be the perfect time to take a deep breath and practice mindfulness. The pandemic has been a source of stress for most of us and mindfulness can help us stay grounded. Taking some time out of your day-to-day routine and stepping away from daily stress to practice mindfulness can remind us of what truly matters in life!
So, what is mindfulness? According to Michigan Medicine, mindfulness is the gentle and kind awareness of our present state of mind and noticing without judgement when the mind becomes overwhelmed with stress and other hard emotions. After a moment of mindfulness, we can re-engage in our daily life with more compassion towards ourselves and others, knowing that this hardship will pass just like all the other hardships that have passed before.
In order to formally cultivate mindfulness you can follow a guided mindful meditation or meditate in silence. This can be done for a few minutes to an hour by sitting quietly and being aware of the breath. To informally cultivate mindfulness you can pay attention to whatever you are doing throughout your day. For example, you can wash the dishes mindfully by noticing the warmth of the water and the sensation of your hand scrubbing the dishes. This is very different from how most people live their lives. Most people live life on autopilot, while their minds wander over stress and other day-to-day tasks on their never-ending “to-do” list. Most people don’t allow themselves the time to properly engage in what they are doing and absorb every second of what they are feeling. Mindfulness teaches us to pause and reflect.
Check out the Mindfulness Toolbox recommended by Michigan Medicine:
S.T.O.P. (Stop, To breathe, Observe, & Proceed): “Take a breath, and observe what is happening inside you, noting your emotions and thoughts in this moment and acknowledge their presence. With gentle awareness of such presence, proceed.”
R.A.I.N. (Recognize, Allow, Investigate & Nourish): “Recognize what is here, allow it rather than fighting against it or pushing it away, then investigate where in the body you are experiencing this difficulty, and soothe and nourish yourself.”
Remember, mindfulness is something we can all cultivate. Simply remember to pay attention to your experience at the present moment; this includes your body sensations, emotions and thoughts. After some practice, you will be better equipped to manage all of life’s experiences; some pleasant and others…..well not so much! Mindfulness teaches us to develop healthier thoughts and relate to our life experience in a wiser way. Take some time this month to pause, focus on the breath and be mindful and present to achieve a healthier You!
Comments