Practicing Mindfulness
This year, I learned about Mindfulness which is the art of bringing one’s complete attention to the present experience and accepting your thoughts without judgement. Mindfulness interventions are about awareness that emerge through paying attention to the unfolding of experiences in the moment. Mindfulness and acceptance go hand in hand. Acceptance where you are and what is going in the present moment without judging it as wrong or right is critical. Mindfulness is also a form of meditation. Sometimes, saying, “It is what it is” and taking a deep breath is all you can do to prevent yourself from overreacting to every situation. You cannot always control what happens in your environment, but you can control your attitude and how you reach to it.
“You are responsible for your own emotional well being”
I practice mindfulness by focusing on where I am in the present moment instead of worrying about my future or reminiscing about the past. 2018 has been a roller coaster year for me and I have overcome many obstacles. I cannot wait for this year to be over because it signifies the end of a rough season. I had a moment when I allowed myself to feel sad about the things that did not go well in the past, and my discomfort in this in between stage I am in makes me fantasize about my future.
Though I look forward to next year when I graduate and finally be in the place that I have worked so hard for, I feel convicted to stop thinking about my future but be grateful for the present moment. Through mindfulness, I can be present where I am, without viewing it as something bad but as a necessary stage that I have to endure to get to my end goal.
I want to share a few mindfulness strategies so that you can also accept the current place you are in your life without judging it.
Ways to practice mindfulness
1. Yoga
2. Journaling
3. Going for a walk
4. Focused breathing
5. Meditation
6. Listening to calming music or worship music
7. Prayer (Thanking God instead of asking for something)
