My Journey with Mindfulness

Hey guys! I’m so excited to share with you my own journey with mindfulness. I felt like this is an appropriate first post for this blog, as I want to preface my research findings with a story of my own. I intentionally describe this as a “journey” for a reason: mindfulness can be easier at times and harder at times, yet throughout it all, appreciating and accepting wherever you are on this path is truly the greatest reward. For some context, I have been incorporating mindfulness into my life since about half way through 9th grade. At first, I was reluctant to devote time to something I did not even know would work. It was uncomfortable to confront my thoughts and feelings, when I could just as easily be pushing my emotions down by scrolling on my phone. What made me decide to try meditation was a revelation I had one night when I couldn’t sleep—I was done sitting by and letting my anxiety run my life. I was going to be the one to take control! I decided “taking control” meant devoting intentional time to focusing on my mental health, even if it was only five minutes out of my day. Despite my hesitation, I downloaded an app (HeadSpace) that would guide me through some meditation. The first guided meditation I tried was only five minutes, and labeled as the “introduction to mindfulness.” So pushing through my fears about confronting my emotions, I did one session. It was surprisingly hard, as my body did not seem to want to give in to my deep breaths. However, I was assured by the narrator that it will get easier with time. So, after 1 week, I began to get the hang of it. I even noticed myself implementing some of the techniques into my everyday activities. When I felt overwhelmed in a social situation, I focused my attention on the feeling of my feet against the floor. When I turned in a test and felt immediate regret about how I answered a question, I took a deep breath and pictured my attachment to this feeling of regret simply floating away into a vast, expansive sky. Suddenly, my five minutes of meditation before bed turned into 10, then 20, then I began mindfulness in the mornings! When life gets busy, sometimes I resort back to the 5 minute sessions. However, they have begun to feel short!! Since starting meditation, I have kept with it, which has been a fabulous experience. Ultimately, I would encourage anybody who often feels overwhelmed, stressed out, or simply wants to improve their wellness to begin mindfulness (in whatever form that might take). Even though it may feel unnecessary or difficult at times, if you stick with it and appreciate the journey, you’ll find the rewards are plentiful!