So, I was speaker at an awesome event last week, with a fantastic group. I was speaking about Mindfulness and how this can be incorporated into our everyday lives. I find myself reflecting on how I incorporate these aspects into my life. I am not the best or the worse. I am me, and incorporate these aspects in my own way.
Mindfulness originates from ancient meditation practices and was brought to the US in the 1970s by Jon Kabat-Zinn, the creator of the original Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program. There are seven aspects to mindfulness: Non-judging, Patience, Beginner’s Mind, Trust, Non-striving, Acceptance and Letting go. This is my version of mindfulness and how it impacts my life.
I find myself feeling under the weather. This I don’t like one bit. Whenever I pick up a virus it triggers old symptoms that lie dormant the rest of the time. Having had autoimmune diseases since my early 20s, (too long ago to remember) I am reminded of times when I was not well. Viruses trigger familiar and unwelcome visitors into my body. I know myself now as being well, and successful in being well. Mindset has a big role to play in my life.
So, as these symptoms give me pause and are reminders of a time that once was, I cling to mindfulness all the more. I employ beginner’s mind – just because somethings are triggering earlier feelings and memories doesn’t equate to being ‘ill’. I remind myself today is a different time, I am here and not back then. I am well, with some increase in symptoms. I am grateful for being in this time, and not back then. I know it will pass and the symptoms will abate. I use patience and trust. I trust it will pass and the unwelcome visitors will once again go back to the shadows. I employ patience. I cannot control when I get sick and the symptoms that are triggered as a response. I can control how I perceive them and what to do about it. I no longer retreat into full blown panic mode. I observe the physical feelings I don’t like and let them be. They will go. I don’t judge myself for having these physical reactions to viruses. It is what it is! I accept that I have symptoms, I believe they will go and I let go of the attachment I previously held onto around the physical symptoms and their past meaning. I meditate and visualize being healthy and strong and free from the unwelcome ones. I fly into the sky, floating like a butterfly – maybe I do have my husband’s fever after all, maybe it’s a choice how I choose to BE in life, maybe it’s a bit of both!
I am now grateful for this time of reflection, for the unwelcome ones and all they have taught me about resilience and mindset and how far I have come. They really are just a gentle nudge, with a very wet, dog-like nose, reminding me to take care, stay grounded (with the occasional flight of a butterfly) and be grateful of being here and not back then.
Laura is a professional life coach, with her own experiences of autoimmune disease. If you feel you would benefit from a new way of seeing and feeling about your challenges, then reach out to Laura for a free discovery call. Start thriving and not just surviving. For more information, or to schedule your free discovery call, go to www.laurahaywoodcoaching.com