Wellbeing & Mindfulness

I have been attempting to be mindful and develop  my wellbeing for quite some years.  Always a working progress, please remember that. 

The other day, well I was not really owning up to how I was really feeling which was like this little dude.  I was trying to be all mellow, chilled, I have to walk my talk, right!.  Well nah, not happening.  I was ready to take anyone out, well slightly exaggerating for effect but seriously that hammer was ready.  I was surprised why I was feeling that way, using my poor head, which definitely was not mindful, present.  I was in the past, the future, reminding myself that I should be grateful, blah, blah, blah.  Oh I did try to get present and do some breathing, focus and nah!

And then it hit me, not the hammer!  The meaning of mindfulness, being present.  It means with ME, no matter what I am experiencing.  No where does it say it has to be for only pretty emotions.  Ah!  Not that I wanted to go here I certainly did not and honestly the more we do this the better.  So I decided to just sit in my agitation, whatever it was and be with it.  And I did.  I used some Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Techniques.  Just got this a previous post;

I allowed my thoughts to be and tried to let them pass on a cloud which worked for me this time, last time it was on leaves in a river.  I really did accept that I will continue to have thoughts and tried to let them go peacefully, and not judge if I don't manage that.  Did not manage totally but certainly made a big difference.

I did sit with my feelings and breathe (know this happens quite naturally - sorry had to put this in again, it makes me smile - I am easily pleased)

I tried to breathe and notice the breath - 3 - 5 times, trying to enjoy it and I did

I did connect to the feeling, and breathed into it, made room for it

I did not try to change how I feel, although it felt uncomfortable, but thats all

I did not try to make it ok, well, just a little bit but got back to not making it ok 

I did accept that it was there and it started to feel better already, just stopping the struggle, I guess as ACT would suggest, switching off the struggle switch.

Then I asked myself these questions;

• what shape is it?
• is it moving?
• is it solid, soft, heavy, light?
• what colour is it?
• what temperature is it?
• where in the body is it?
• how is it feeling?
• as suggested noticing the breathing and just sat with it

Honestly it really did help.  Later I went for a walk, which was brilliant.  Now I have to say that the walk alone may have worked, being outdoors, by the ocean, in the garden is so powerful and just being with nature. 

I guess overall it was a great reminder for mindfulness is that it is about being present with what ever appears and honestly the thoughts and what we attach to them are far worse then the actual situation. 

How would it be to give the techniques above a try, even if it is going for a walk or being in nature.   Enjoy