Guest Blog Post - Amy Polly, Founder of The Mama Kind Club
/Mindfulness - accepting the moment
Mindfulness is all about being in the present moment, focusing on the here and now, practicing awareness. But what if it's all a bit shit? Hard? Emotional? What if right now doesn't feel very good? Well that's what a lot of us are experiencing right now. We are experiencing uncertainty and change on a mass scale. So how can mindfulness help?
Well, our fight or flight response is being triggered because our brain wants to protect us and keep us safe. The reason this happens is because we feel threatened. Because things are changing. Because we are experiencing some fear. Because we feel a lack of control.
So these are the questions I ask myself every day and I invite you to do this now and then regularly, you can start by writing it down as this helps to empty your mind, but after some practice you can do this mentally with yourself:
1. How am I feeling? Acknowledge and label how you feel. Understand why you feel that way. Take note of the thoughts that are making you feel that way.
2. What can’t I change/control? Now that you understand how you feel and why, note all the things that you can not change/control. These are the things that you need to kindly accept and then let go. I like to imagine them floating away on a cloud. I often say out loud “there is nothing I can do about it”.
3. What can I change/control? Now have a think about the things that you can change/control to help you let go of the unhelpful thoughts and feelings. Things that make you feel safer. Things that make you feel positive. It could be planning your day. Getting out in the fresh air. Doing something everyday that you love.
4. Finally practice gratitude. For each thing we are worried about or feel a lack of there will likely be ten things to be grateful for, if we could just afford ourselves time to think about it.
Mindfulness also teaches us to step out of our mental chatter and into our body or breath. Take deep breaths. We forget to really breath. Honestly think about the last time you really filled up your lungs, relaxed your shoulders and exhaled completely. Do this often throughout your day. Breathe in for four, hold for two and out for seven. Do this three times over whenever you need to calm your mind or catch a break.
We can get through this. We are all in this together. You are stronger than you know. Stay safe.
