Most of the time, the content I share on this blog doesn’t go far beyond what you can gain from face-value. But lately, I’ve been focusing a lot less on painting a pretty picture of my life. The season of life I’m in right now is full of change, and even though it’s all positive and exciting change, it’s still emotionally draining. In order to stay afloat, I’ve tried to shift my focus in ways that will help me better navigate the wild mix of events we have on our horizon.
Today, I wanted to share these four thoughts on mindfulness with you guys. Hopefully this little list of reminders will bring some calmness to your life if you’re feeling spread thin. These are just a few things I’ve tried to remember in times when I’m feeling overwhelmed, stressed, tired, or anxious.
M I N D F U L N E S S
None of these statements are revolutionary by any means, and perhaps that’s what makes them so easy to forget.
O N E
There’s nothing wrong with saying “no”.
Saying “no” sounds so simple; after all, it’s only two letters. But actually saying “no” can be quite difficult – especially if it’s to someone really important to you. If you’re feeling overloaded, don’t forget that it’s ok to dish out a few “no’s”. It won’t always be easy, and sure, there’s always going to be that one friend/family member who will try to guilt-trip you into changing your mind. Simply ask for a little extra understanding and hopefully the people in your life will be able to adjust their expectations.
T W O
Accomplishing “everything” doesn’t always create a sense of accomplishment.
I think that it’s human nature to try to accomplish as much as we possibly can in a single day. And even if it’s possible to cross off every nagging item on your “to-do list” in the span of 12 hours, the feeling of sheer exhaustion you might experience after all is finished could completely overshadow any sense of accomplishment you might experience. The reality is that there will always be more “to-do’s” to add to the list. Don’t forget to relax a little while enjoying what you’ve already accomplished before moving on to the next thing.
T H R E E
Expressing how you feel does not make you weak or demanding.
Of all the items on this list, this might be the hardest one to remember. So I’ll say it again. Expressing how you feel does not make you weak or demanding. I think we live in a time where we are expected to be easy-going and breezy about everything, including our feelings. But the truth is that everyone has feelings that need to be vocalized and understood. Another truth is that we often make mistakes without even realizing it. I know this is true because I myself do it all the time. Sometimes, the unintentional mistakes we make lead to the hurt feelings of the people around us. And sometimes, we’re on the other side of that equation. Misunderstandings can create a lot of relational stress, but open communication is the easiest way to prevent this from happening. So go ahead. Speak about your feelings. They don’t make you weak or demanding – they make you relatable. They make you human.
F O U R
It’s ok to have nothing to show.
We live in a time when it seems as if every single day should be orchestrated as a picture-perfect event. Don’t believe me? Hop onto Instagram and you’ll quickly see what I’m taking about. I of all people would know considering my involvement in the perfectly curated world of social media and “lifestyle blogging”. But some days, I have absolutely nothing to show (at least with the rest of the world) and I’m completely ok with that. In fact, I’ve learned to embrace those day. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending an entire Saturday stretched out on the sofa in your most unbecoming sweats – dirty dishes in the sink, laundry in the hallway still waiting to be washed, Netflix streaming in the background, and absolutely no one to impress.
