Hello friends,
Have you ever noticed that you can be in one place physically, but your mind is elsewhere? Here is a simple exercise to help you stay focused on the present moment, no matter where you are.
Imagine that,
You are at the beach on a lovely summer day, surrounded by loved ones. The strawberry ice cream you're enjoying tastes amazing, and you’re about to take a swim. Everything feels great.
But then, you start to think about the math test coming up next week. Suddenly, all the joy fades, and worries flood your mind.
"What if I'm not as good with those quadratic equations as I believe?"
"What if everything goes wrong?"
"What if I mess up and everyone thinks I'm not smart? It’s going to be a disaster!"
In an instant, your thoughts drift far from the beach, and the strawberry ice cream no longer brings you pleasure.
When worries and heavy thoughts overwhelm you This ability of ours to be physically present while mentally elsewhere is quite remarkable. It allows us to explore different ideas and possibilities.
However, this skill can also feel burdensome.
For many, negative thoughts and worries take away too much energy and focus.
If you relate to this, mindfulness might be beneficial for you.
So, what is mindfulness?
Ease heavy thoughts There are many myths about mindfulness. The main one is that it requires emptying your mind entirely.
That isn't really possible, as thoughts naturally come and go.
What you can do is practice stepping back and quietly observing your thoughts.
This won't erase your worries, but it will help you manage them better and stop them from controlling you so easily.
Mindfulness is about returning to the present moment and noticing what is happening around you as thoughts pass by.