By: Bruce Yungblut, M.A.CP
Many people come to therapy looking for some support and new tools to help lower the intensity of their emotions. Some people experience this as stress, worry, or anxiety. Others experience a low mood or feelings of depression. While there are many ways to approach these common challenges, a helpful starting point, common to a wide range of therapeutic approaches is to begin to learn about mindfulness.
The suggestion to begin a mindfulness practice may appear to be a daunting new request. I have heard from those who say they can’t possibly sit still. Others have told me their minds are so full of busy thoughts, mindfulness isn’t going to work for them. For clients with busy active lives, the idea of adding in one more task can seem impossible.
The first step is often to push through the myth that mindfulness is about being still or achieving a moment when our minds are clear of thoughts. In contrast, mindfulness is about paying attention to the present moment. By clearing away this myth, we learn we can be mindful at any moment of the day, with our eyes open, just noticing the many, many things that are constantly changing around us.
Even if the definition of mindfulness is new to you, I am confident you have already had a mindful experience. Think of a time you were walking on a beach, enjoying the feel of the sand, noticing the movement of the waves, feeling the sensation of the breeze, and perhaps noticing the smell of the air. Far from being a moment of stillness or silence, a walk on a beach can stimulate almost all of our senses at once! And, by allowing ourselves to just notice the many things we see and hear while walking on a beach, we find ourselves paying attention to the present moment and enjoying a break from our typical worries.
While we won’t always have the opportunity to spend time by the beach, glimpses of nature are always available to us. Take a moment to look for the colour green outside your window. Notice if there is only one shade of green, or can you see variations of colour? Finally, look for movement. Nature is always moving, be curious and look to see where the wind or the breeze is today. If you notice thoughts have returned, simply notice the thought, and perhaps look again to see if you can discover any movement in nature today.