Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Mindfulness is not just hip shit

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Mindfulness is not just 'hip shit' 

Two years ago, the unimaginable happened. It turned out that I didn't have an endless amount of energy. I was doing all this stuff. I organized an event, I coached youngsters, I worked a temp job with children, I was a babysitter on the side, I did volunteerswork, I helped out distressed friends, I did a course for counseling kids and of course there was homelife.
I was just so superbusy.

Then one day, just like that I felt like I couldn't take one more step or otherwise I would just crash and burn right on the spot.
That day I called the office at work and told them what was going on and that I required to see the company's doctor.
I remember standing at the busstop and having a complete panick attack. I was crying my eyes out on the side of the road because all the busses that I had seen come and go were too busy for me to get on to.
I just wanted to get home, but I didn't know how anymore.
It was like the wires in my brain just got disconnected.

In the coming week I started to notice different things that were happening.
Right after someone had said something to me, I gazed at them in complete despair because I couldn't remember what they had just said. I was so tired, but failed to sleep. It was like when I was falling asleep somebody would poke me, and I was wide awake. My body started playing tricks on me.

After seeing the company's doctor and hearing that I was having a burn out.
Couldn't believe it. 28 years old and already?
I went into therapy, and that helped for a while, but I experienced fall back just a year ago.
So I went into a center and followed a program that would teach me about balance, time management, the importance of exercise and mindfulness.
The people from this center have been life savers in the last year of my life.
I used to think that mindfulness was just this big trend in our world, but it has truly transformed my way of life.

So mindfulness to me: an open and accepting attitude to whatever is at this very moment.
I learned how to apply this in my life. Because I was always just rushing to get to the next place, I stopped feeling how I was really doing.
It seems to be such a trend that everybody is just so busy.
It is almost like there is a competition that is going on in our society today. The one who is most busy takes the price.
Well let me tell you that there is a price. An ultimate price. A burn out.

It is so important to feel how you are really doing. And this is what mindfulness is so perfect for.

A quick exercise to help you get started. It will only take 3 minutes of your time.
That is not too much to ask for in your busy life. Trust me.


Whatever you are doing...
STOP.
For 1 minute: pay attention to the things that you see around you wherever you are.
For 1 minute: pay attention to the things that you hear around you wherever you are. Even the most subtle of sounds.
For 1 minute: Close your eyes. Notice the things that you feel inside. Whatever it is that you feel, it is okay. Even if you are feeling uncomfortable. Stay with this feeling. Be curious about it. This feeling is an important radar for what is going on. Accept this feeling inside. Send yourself some love.

And that is it.
You are done! You can now move on with your day.

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