Tag: connection

Mindfulness in Life Experiences

To be present in life requires mindfulness.

Mindfulness is being aware, paying attention without attachment by choice.

Choosing to be present in the moment.

Mindfulness is a state of being where body and mind are in the same mental and physical place at the same time.

In that moment, thoughts of past or future don’t exist.

It is so easy to go through daily routines or just “go through the motions.”

Mindfulness would be to step outside that pattern and be aware of the actions, things you are doing throughout the day.

The Benefits of Being Mindful

It can reduce stress by having awareness of thoughts and emotions that are occurring in the moment. There is an opportunity to process them.

Situations are no longer just reactionary.

What this means is having self control and not reacting  with a response of impulsive behavior. In addition, mindfulness allows for mental calmness in a state of composure. Within that composure is mental clarity and concentration.

You place all focus on what you are doing with aligned action. Awareness for where you are in the moment. Living into who you are choosing to be with intention and discipline. Functioning from a conscious thought process. This could be referred to as “the higher self” or “divine self.”

There is one important attribute that mindfulness offers in life. It is the ability to relate to self and others. In this space, kindness, compassion and acceptance are visible in awareness. Mindfulness can offer other perspectives. The perspectives offer other opportunities and choices.

There is a choice to step into the intentions of who you are being.

From my own personal experience, mindfulness has helped me with connection.

Mindfulness helps bring me back to a neutral operating state. Release from the dominating thoughts of judgment.

Letting go of the worries, the doubts.

It is a place of focus and intention on the present.

It breaks moments down into observable pieces.

You notice things start to slow down.

There is an appreciation for all that is right now.

Unhappiness turns into depression

The moment when prolonged thoughts of unhappiness turn into coping with depression.

What do the prolonged unhappy thoughts feel like?

They feel dark. They feel painful. The feel suffocating. They drain energy from within.

Major life events can be the trigger of these thoughts. When the thoughts are created they project an emotion of helplessness, hopelessness that accompanies the thought.

This is the pivotal point when a decision is made to attach to the emotion of what is being experienced.

Over time a pattern of thought and emotional connection continue when it is triggered.

The warning signs may show being tired frequently, not having a restful sleep, sad, loss of interest in life, withdrawn and isolated.

Constantly “going through the motions” each day. Walking around numb to experiences and emotions.

Frequently feeling stuck with limited options. Everything just seems so difficult.

The belief forms, “I can’t.”

Every effort seems like a GIANT step.

Suffering in silence is then chosen as the best option. There is shame and guilt for feeling like this, being this way.

The Role Of Presence

Presence plays a major role in navigating through depression.

Taking the time to process feelings and emotions. One way to allow this process to take place is through self compassion. This will help to relieve the shame and guilt.

Daily habits contribute to the thoughts and emotions. Are the chosen daily habits serving or fueling the state of depression?

Self care is crucial to aid in producing energy, calming, and giving self comfort during the healing process.

Depression is a form of disconnection. A belief that there is minimal possibility or choice to transform what is being experienced.

The shift happens when the power to change is acknowledged within yourself.

Therefore, connection is important to begin facilitating hope, faith, trust and possibility.

Implementing ways to connect with self and others.

Are there support groups or communities that have people experiencing similar things?

Can you connect with them to share in the experience? This will help to connect back in life.

The choice is eventually made, it doesn’t have to be done alone.

Unhappy thought patterns are slowly converted into outlooks and perspectives that offer love, hope, possibility.

Clearing the way for thoughts of being in the presence of compassionate, mindful and inspired living.

Accept

Struggle is something that can’t be avoided at certain times in life. 

There are two choices that can be made when struggle appears.

It can be accepted or avoided.

Accepting the moment of struggle means seeing it as it actually is in the moment. That could be subjective, but what it really means is to accept what is being experienced in the moment.

Once resistance is chosen as the actionable thought, the struggle continues to evolve.

Avoiding can take the form of denial, repressing or blame.

Imagine avoiding who you are being, who someonelse is being, or what the situation is in the moment?

What is being created by avoiding?

Permission for irresponsibility and disregard for choice.

Accepting of “what is” in the moment gives permission for accountability and allows for personal ownership of the experience.

Accepting the moment filters down to fear. A subconscious thought may be, “if I avoid, repress or deny what is being experienced I will stay out of feeling hopeless and helpless.”

This may work for a brief time, then the resistance and struggle compiles.

You cannot change what you do not accept.

It doesn’t mean you have to like what you are accepting. That is when the power of choice is is presented. 

Acceptance can turn into action. You can lead yourself to be in charge of the choices.

It is not about giving up and quitting. 

In that moment, accept the experience for what it is without the need to blame or avoid no matter what the fear may be.

Acceptance shifts the experience. It opens the door to welcome new ways of being.

New ways of being create opportunities and possibilities. 

Acceptance can be thought of as a mirror reflection of what’s possible.

  • Frustration – Satisfied
  • Irritable – Patient
  • Anger – Calm
  • Mistake – Learning

A realization needs to develop through the choices of accepting what is happening. It makes it easier to accept the fears that are being avoided because accountability is formed from being present in the moment.

 

Photo Credit: Jeremy Yap

Acknowledge

The constructs of life are moments and experiences.

Within those experiences are the moments that accompany a choice. The choice to be present with them or let them pass by without acknowledging them.

It requires acknowledging them for what they are. Acknowledgment gets lost when they are viewed as what they are not or what they could be.

The experiences could be made from interactions with others or how a situation is presenting itself.

To acknowledge something means to admit it’s existence, to admit something has been received.

There are many aspects in life that can be acknowledged. It is part of the process of presence.

Acknowledge yourself. This could be through appreciation of who you are being in life or what you are doing in life. What you have in life. 

Allowing ourselves to acknowledge all our feelings and thoughts in their true form. With or without judgement. Simply acknowledging they exist.

It could also be accountability. Acknowledging mistakes or short comings. It helps to move from a place of fear and opens the window of possibility.

Most importantly, acknowledge where you are, in any experience. Being present to what is happening or the people you are connecting with in that experience.

Choose to acknowledge the gratitude for the experience. Then it will be present in the experience.

This means appreciating yourself, appreciating others and appreciating life. 

Celebrating all the elements that contribute to the moment you are living in.

It can mean shifting focus and changing the narrative. A perspective that creates hope and possibility.

It can mean admitting what is real and then deciding how to acknowledge the moment as it continues.

 

 

Photo Credit: Marcos Paulo Prado

Awareness

Life has a way of showing us things. It has a way of revealing what we need to see. 

What is the purpose for the need to see what is being revealed?

It provides choice and opportunity. That could mean many things for each person.

It could mean growth. It could mean love. It could mean trust. It could mean forgiveness.

What is being revealed is seen because of the way we are being present with ourselves to see it.

In order for any change in life to occur requires awareness to make the change possible.

Awareness is a piece of presence that offers choices. 

It is a form of self reflection. Being present with thoughts, emotions, behaviors.

Without awareness, the same patterns will continue. The same outcomes will continue to unfold. Those outcomes may not be the ones that are desired.

It helps to move away from “always reacting” or feeling like, “things are constantly out of control.”

Being able to shift perspective through awareness aids in the process of desired change.

The internal changes support the external changes to occur.

Our self awareness impacts the way we interact with thoughts, which influence emotions and dictate our behaviors.

How might this affect our daily interactions? How might this affect our daily decisions?

Only presence can bring awareness. Without it, things are distorted and perception becomes misaligned.

How can awareness become part of daily living?

Try to get in tune with listening to yourself and others. Remove the judgements and attachments to thoughts and emotions. 

This can be achieved through disciplined activities such as yoga, meditation, journaling, taking time to reflect.

Awareness is the first powerful step in the process of transforming your life and making an impact in the lives of others.

 

Photo Credit: Varun Gaba

Hello,

My name is Kristin Larsen.

You might be wondering, “What brought me to this moment?”
My journey has not always been easy. There were many years of struggle filled with self-judgment, perfectionism, self-doubt and worry. They were fueled by the feelings of inadequacy; not feeling worthy or enough. This mental suffering created a world of depression and anxiety, which made every day seem hopeless. It made me feel helpless…

Eventually, a moment came where I made a choice

I could continue living in suffering or begin taking steps to change the situation that I was creating. It was through health habit change, dedication to personal growth, and self-compassion that I chose to transform internal suffering into a new way of living. This journey helped me live into my core values of:

 

integrity, courage, connection, giving, creativity, growth & compassion!

 

On this journey there were many small steps that created change and brought clarity to my life. This revealed more opportunities and challenges. With self-compassion and going within, I was able to overcome those challenges and step into the opportunities which molded me into who I am today. That was when the realization came, I was forging a new path. 

At that point I realized, my journey is never-ending

To continue growing as a person, as a father, as a husband and as a friend, I decided to make an investment. That investment was in building my awareness and becoming more present. I asked myself, “who am I in my life?” I chose to embrace inner peace and awaken to a new source of love and acceptance.

 

From the source of “I AM” enough,

I am capable of being exactly

who I want to be,

I am worthy of

Whatever I Choose,

I am

Blessed

& I appreciate

My Life