Making Some Sense

You hear this word a lot these days. This recent fascination with mindfulness has been mentioned in almost every major publication, has experts and leaders raving about its benefits, and even inspired a large population to take up a journey into personal development. But what is mindfulness and what does it do for you and those around you?

In an age of over-stimulation, being constantly connected, and occupying the mind with whatever is available, many of us tend to go through the motion as the day progresses. Whether we like it or not, we’re always a little distracted with something or the other. I’ve been there, we’ve all been there – subconsciously scrolling through a newsfeed during class or work is the most common example. Some distractions seem harmless, but in reality, being even momentarily disengaged from your thoughts, your friendships and your relationships can potentially lead to a whirlpool of negative emotions and consequences.

Think about the last time you forgot to do something, you said something you didn’t mean to or simply looked back at your behavior and actions, and didn’t understand what was going through your head. For some, it’s thought of as a small blip, which won’t happen again and for others, it’s a dreadful feeling of being internally disconnected. Mindfulness can be perceived in many different ways, but at its core, it is just being aware of the present moment. Focus on what is in front of you, understand how you are feeling, enjoy whom you are with and immerse yourself in what you are doing at this very point in time – you’ll be surprised by the results it yields.

My journey into mindfulness started very recently and I’ve already seen progress that I have been yearning for. When you are mindful of the present moment, you are more capable of creating a positive impact on yourself and those around you. Don’t block out thoughts or emotions, rather let them naturally flow in and out of your mind but consciously acknowledge them. When you’re facing a barrage of overwhelming emotions, recognize that you can only control the present moment. When you ask someone “how are you”, don’t just “listen” for an answer. Look them in their eyes, see how they actually respond and show them you understood what they said.

By simply being mindful, by taking a few minutes and a few deep breaths, by being a little more aware of your thoughts, feelings and actions, you will allow yourself to simultaneously step back and take in the present. It’s a nice place to be, you have a lot more control than you think and trust me, it has a lot more to offer than we all realize.

Want to talk about it? Contact me!

Want to practice more mindfulness? Check out the Headspace app.

“Are you happy?”
“I’m alright.”
“Why just alright?”
“Oh it’s nothing…Just really stressed about school/work”

This is a conversation I’ve had too often with peers. A conversation I’ve had with myself a little too often as well. Millennials are constantly surrounded by success stories. From the struggles and hardships that our parents and previous generations overcame to the inspirational achievements amongst friends and immediate communities; Generation Y is almost too familiar with the glamorous end results. Whether it be through the blossoming grapevines of social media or through the constant gossip of success, our newsfeeds and minds are filled with everyone’s most recent achievements. Tremendously so, the focus on success has created a generation where the obsession with achievement almost dictates one’s feelings. However, this generation’s biggest strength has also become its biggest problem; the hunger to achieve, our near-extreme obsession with checking off accomplishments has had a large impact on clouding the difference between the pursuit of happiness and the pursuit of success. Understanding that happiness can be a product of achievement, but that achievement doesn’t always bring happiness is imperative to remember as we all look to lead meaningful, fulfilling lives. Here are a few tips that I have found useful to make sure you can “check-off” happiness as you lead your busy, goal-oriented lives:

Becoming Self Aware
Self-awareness is the first step towards leading an impactful life that can leave you feeling accomplished and content on a regular basis. Understanding your own strengths and weaknesses will help you find your edge at work and allow you to maintain a balanced lifestyle, leading to happiness both professionally and successfully. The process of understanding yourself, what you excel at and what frustrates you requires time, effort and patience as you experience and learn from different situations. The ability to understand your own capabilities and setting your ambitions accordingly, will allow you to manage your expectations more accurately as you become less frustrated with circumstances and more encouraged by your abilities.

Controlling the “What if?”
As a finance student, I have always found myself questioning the opportunity cost of every social and professional decision. From the college I chose to attend and the career choices before me to deciding between two items on the lunch menu, I have always found myself lingering on the mind-wracking question of “what if?” Not only does this take away from living in the moment, it forces you to think about the hypotheticals that you have no control over. Taking that decision, sticking with the choice you have made, and focusing on it will only allow you to take the natural and quickest path to finally arriving at the point where you would like to be. Moving forward with reality is in your control; decisions of the past are not.

Believe in Yourself
Everyone always says it, but very few people understand the true power of it. Having the inherent belief in your abilities, having the resilience and strength to push through obstacles will help quell the anxiety and the fear of possibly not reaching your achievements. The trust and confidence you have in yourself is one of the very few variables that are under your total control and it is vital for your happiness when situational circumstances just don’t work out. Everyone around you may seem to be progressing with their lives with their new job, new promotion and new house but at one point of time, all they had was the belief that they could do it. So, when things get tough remember to never give up on yourself.

Happiness and success may have become more intertwined over the years but it is always refreshing to take a step back and separate them to enjoy the bustling world and plethora of experiences around us. Hustle on but remember to check happiness off during each day.

This post was originally published on Linkedin.