What is mindfulness to you? Is it a common practice or just another trendy buzzword?
For me, mindfulness is not just a concept but a practical tool. It's especially useful during midlife transitions like starting a new career, navigating relationships with adult children, or dealing with an empty nest. By honing your mindfulness skills, you can effectively manage these major life changes with grace and ease.
What is Mindfulness?
Rooted in Buddhist meditation, mindfulness is a mental practice that focuses on being present and aware in the current moment, accepting one's thoughts and feelings, and connecting one's body with one's mind.
Mindfulness is easy to work into your self-care routine. All you need is the space to think, breathe, and relax your body.
Why Mindfulness is Important During Life Transitions
Mindfulness is helpful at any point in your life, but it’s especially important when things around you feel chaotic and out of control. When your life feels this way, it can be easy to get wrapped up in things that don’t matter and lose faith in yourself.
Practicing mindfulness will help you relax and re-center, allowing you to break away from the chaos. When the chaos is loud and overwhelming, it can be hard to see your next step clearly. However, when your mind is clear and calm, you can develop a plan to respond to your life changes and develop a strategy to accept your new reality.
How to Build Your Mindfulness Skills
It’s never too late to adopt mindfulness strategies. But, just like anything else in life, if you want your skills to become strong, you must practice them often.
Start by finding a calm, quiet space. It can be inside your home or outside in nature. All that matters is that it feels right to you.
Next, set a time limit. It doesn’t have to be long. In the beginning, practicing for just a few minutes can be helpful. You can extend your time as your body gets used to the practice.
Once your timer is set, sit in your safe space. As long as you’re comfortable, it doesn’t matter if you sit on the floor, chair, or pillow. Calmly, start to notice your body. Be aware of how your legs fall and your arms rest. Push your shoulders down and relax your tongue.
As you start to feel centered in your body, slow down your breath and feel its sensation as it goes in and out of your body.
Next, notice where your mind has wandered. Don’t become obsessed or ashamed of where your mind is going. Just acknowledge and honor your thoughts and feelings. When your body is calm, your mind will focus on the things that mean the most to you. Some people will feel called to journal their thoughts, while others will just embrace the stillness and clarity of the practice.
Embrace Mindfulness in Your Next Transition
Mindfulness may seem simple, but it’s also a powerful tool, especially when life feels out of control. The next time you aren’t sure what step to take or how to respond to a situation, I encourage you to sit quietly, focusing on marrying your body, mind, and breath. Chances are, the clarity you’re seeking will come to you.
If you need help navigating your relationship with an adult child, accepting a new career opportunity, embracing a divorce, or any other big life transition, reach out to learn more about my private, one-on-one coaching opportunity. Throughout my career, I have helped many people find the clarity they need to navigate difficult situations, and I’d love to help you do the same!
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