Ep.4/Mindfullness and why it Matters
From the outside it may appear that I am cool, calm....even collected. Always referred to as patient and grounded. But on the inside.....it's like a volcano on the verge of "the big one".
From the outside it may appear that I am cool, calm....even collected. Always referred to as patient and grounded. But on the inside.....it's like a volcano on the verge of "the big one".
For years, I have worn this mask like a badge of honor; priding myself on "not letting things get to me". All the while not realizing that the effort of pushing everything down in exchange for a brave face was actually exhausting me to failure.
So wrapped up in keeping everything on the inside.....my calm demeanor has (at times) turned to more of a stone-cold exterior; unable to be penetrated by such things as pain and sorrow....but equally as unable to experience true joy and fulfillment.
What others (and even myself) did not see is the inner turmoil keeping me from living; in a clear plexiglass container thinking that I was protected, not realizing I was suffocating.
The worst part, the all-consuming act of wearing this mask, kept me from being preset....being in the moment....from living.
Have you ever felt like that?
In a desperate search of something better....before I end up on an episode of "Snapped".....I began my Mindfulness Journey.
If you do not currently practice Mindfulness, your initial response might be similar to mine......a reaction that was two-fold:
This is woo-woo junk for yogi's and people with a lot of extra time on their hands
I simply cannot settle my mind and just sit there...too much going on up there in my head.
When I finally put those pre-conceived notions aside and dipped my toe in, my eyes were opened to the world and my surroundings. Albeit, not entirely comfortable in acknowledging my thoughts and feelings (don't judge, we are all works in progress), I was finally able to start letting go of the anxiety within.....like opening a window and receiving fresh air into my lungs....finally.
One thing I've learned so far is that not all mindfulness is about achieving blank thoughts sitting cross-legged for two hours a day.
Instead; it's about noticing small joys throughout the day. Its about giving your mind space to rest. Its about acknowledging stress and anxiety - and learning ways to calm those times. It's even about truly feeling how different foods, thoughts, and even relationships, effect your body.
Mental Health Benefits
Research shows a strong connection between a Mindfulness Practice and Mental Health....like decreased stress, increased ability to concentrate, lower anxiety levels, decrease depression symptoms, and feeling more connected.
The gift mindfulness has given me, is that I still have a calm and patient demeanor (most of the time 😉), but now it's real and honest rather than that mask I had to keep holding up.
Its freeing.
Aside from supporting our mental health, practicing mindfulness is good for physical health too. Here are a few biggies:
Lower's Blood Pressure
Increased Ability to Handle Illness and Facilitate Recovery
Reach or Maintain a Healthy Weight
Improve Energy
Sleep Better (um, yes please)
Studies even show that practicing mindfulness can be linked to less smoking, more physical activity, more pro-active wellness protocol (like getting checkups and pre-screening), and improved eating habits.
Wanna give it a try?
Here are a few ways you, too, can dip your toes in the Mindfulness Space. Try one for a week and see how you feel, then try another one. These are NO COST ways to improve your health and happiness, so there's nothing to lose....plus; your calmer, more joyful, healthier self is waiting.
Meditate for just ONE minute each day, for 7 days. Take this short period to focus on your breathing patter and be in-the-present.
Start using a Gratitude Journal, make a list of things you are grateful for today. Repete for 7 days.
Take a short walk each day for a week and focus on the colors of the buildings or trees, read sighs, study details, listen to sounds and acknowledge the smells.
Eat without any distractions, no TV, no Phone, no multi-tasking. Take the time to actually taste and chew your food. Try this for just one meal each day for a week.
Give Breath Work a try by taking 20 deep breaths - the kind that is from your diaphragm, when your stomach inflates rather than your chest.
There are a lot of different ways you can implement Mindfulness in each day, practices that don't require intense time commitments and can seamlessly fit into your routine.
If you haven't already, I encourage you to sign up for my Everyday Mindfulness Challenge. This is a great tool, to learn more about the mindfulness practice and how to incorporate it into your life. I'll send you one Mindfulness practice to try for a week, then another one each week for 8 weeks. It's a fun and easy way to dip your toes in and see which elements might fit well into YOUR Mindfulness Practice.
Looking for some "Light" Reading? Check out these resources used in researching the topic. PubMed Central - Effects of Mindfulness on Phycological Health, American Phycological Association - Research Proven Way to Reduce Stress, Mayo Clinic - Mindfulness and Our Men