Our Busy Lives!
In today’s fast-paced world, we are all living our own busy lives filled with different activities. Especially as teenage girls who are balancing school, extracurriculars, and working our way into college, all while discovering who we are as people, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and disconnected. What if there were a simple practice that could help recenter our thoughts, bring us back to the present, and improve our overall well-being? Well, mindfulness can do that! Mindfulness is the art of intentionally observing and absorbing the present moment without judgment. Rooting from Hinduism and Buddhism, mindfulness has continued to be practiced from ancient to modern times and has consistently been praised for the benefits it has on people’s lives. Within the last five years, especially with quarantine, it has gained an increasing amount of attention as people have begun to appreciate the little things in life. This article will explore the magic of mindfulness, what it is, and the profound impact it can have on each of our lives!
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is often described as being considerate of the things around you. However, being mindful not only means being considerate of yourself and others, but also being aware of what you are doing, feeling, and experiencing right now!
For example, when you are sitting in the dining hall eating your lunch, do you truly taste your food, or are you chatting with friends, scrolling on your phone, or thinking about the quiz you have next class? Mindfulness would encourage you to focus on eating, noticing the taste, texture, and smell of your food, enabling you to fully engage with the present moment.
Mindfulness is also about observing your thoughts and emotions without putting a “good” or a “bad” label on them. Especially at Marymount, we are constantly having quizzes and exams that play a large part in our semester grades. If you are feeling anxious before a big test, instead of panicking, mindfulness teaches us to notice the feeling, take a breath, and remind ourselves that it is okay to feel that way! We are humans with feelings that are always changing within our bodies and it is normal to have big emotions during eventful times in our life. What is most important is that we take time to observe, validate, and manage our emotions instead of letting them stop us from living life!
How can you incorporate mindfulness into your life?
Incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. You can do simple little practices like taking 5 big breaths before doing homework, taking 5 peaceful minutes before starting your day in the morning, or journaling any feelings you want to remember at the end of the day! Mindfulness can also encourage you to have self-compassion. During times that you feel overwhelmed, instead of criticizing yourself, mindfulness can guide you to acknowledge your feelings without judgment! This gradual shift in perspective can improve mental health and build resilience which will help you in the long run as you begin to take on more responsibilities. The next time you start feeling overwhelmed, remember that the magic of mindfulness is always one breath away!