About 2 and a half years ago I had had enough. My head just wouldn’t stop! My personal life and professional life was a mess. I felt like I wasn’t sleeping at all. I felt anxious all of the time. I was drinking every night after feeling beaten up by each and every day. Let’s just say things weren’t great.
This is where Mindfulness enters my story. I knew I had to come to terms with myself and where I was at. I knew Meditation would help. So I started to try to practice sitting with my thoughts. I found this pretty tough. I still find it tough some times but I keep doing it. Why? Because it has changed my life. It has changed me. It has changed me in so many ways and more importantly it has helped in so many ways. From my experience over the last 2 and a half years here is 5 reasons I think you should start.
The Thinking Part Does Get Quieter
You know that voice in your head that’s always talking to you about everything? The one that tells you things about each and every person you meet? The ones that tells you all the things about you? Mindfulness teaches you to observe the voice for what it is. A voice. It teaches you that you don’t have to encourage the voice to keep talking. You can listen less. The less you listen to the voice the more you can be here.
You will feel the Emotions that you don’t like feeling less
Mindfulness taught me that there is nothing wrong with being emotional. Human beings are emotional beings. It’s not the emotions that are the problem. The voice adding to emotions is the problem. Telling us hurtful stories over and over again which makes the emotions even stronger. After noticing the voice through Mindfulness we can listen less so that we can be present for the physical sensation of the emotion and let it pass through.
You will enjoy the simpler parts of life way more
Mindfulness teaches us to be as present as we can in each moment. The awesome thing about this is that the more present I am the more grateful I become to be here. When I’m not all wrapped up in whatever stories the voice is telling me I can be here enjoying the Moon in the sky. How a tree looks. How walking down the street feels. It’s amazing.
You will become so much more grateful for each and every thing in your life
Mindfulness teaches present moment awareness without judgement. Judgement comes in the form of that voice. The voice will always be there. When we stop listening to it so much the space that it allows is incredible. When space is created without labelling and judgement there isn’t much left than my awareness in the moment. When this arises I feel gratitude for everything. When the labels and judgement are gone I can feel my shoulders and I’m super grateful that I can. I can feel my feet and I’m super grateful for that too. The more I practice Mindfulness the more grateful I feel. A sense of gratitude for the simplest of things is a space where I can feel joy. This to me is something I didn’t think I could feel so easily before I started practice.
Your relationships will vastly improve
Mindfulness taught me to be present while sitting. I have a formal practice of sitting (Meditation) so that I might be more mindful in as many moments as I can until I have no moments left. Can you imagine what it would feel like to be present for any one of your relationships without any labelling, stories or judgements? I’m not saying I’m there yet but I’m a hell of a lot more present than I was. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to give your absolute present self to another human being. My stories and my voice was so loud all of my life. I feel I’m only beginning to really see people properly. It feels so beautiful.
So how to begin? You can start by practicing Mindfulness towards one breath. Feeling your inhale as much as you can. Then feeling your exhale as much as you can. Just for one breath. You can repeat as many times as you like. Or not.
