"The richness of present-moment experience is the richness of life itself. Too often we let our thinking and our beliefs about what we ‘know’ prevent us from seeing things as they really are."
- Jon Kabat-Zinn
I don't know about you, but I find mindfulness extremely hard! With so many people, events, responsibilities, and stresses crowding for attention, finding the space and time to sit and be mindful feels downright impossible at times. For caregivers especially, practicing mindfulness can feel particularly difficult as we navigate the needs of our loved ones, often prioritizing their needs over our own.
However, as we emphasize at Courage to Caregivers, we cannot care for our loved ones without also caring for ourselves. MINDFULNESS is the practice of being aware of and accepting our thoughts, emotions, senses, and environment. (Source)
The benefits of mindfulness are plenty, ranging from improving our immune systems and sleep to helping us concentrate and cope with stress to strengthening our relationships and resilience (Source).
Mindfulness can be particularly helpful for caregivers in processing a wide range of emotions, as well as for enhancing our patience and compassion and ability to manage tasks and decisions (Source).
This month, we learned how to REGULATE EMOTIONS, BE PRESENT, and FIND HAPPINESS AND LAUGHTER. So how can we continue to practice mindfulness in our lives?
3 TOOLS FOR MINDFULNESS
Notice what exists vs. what we imagine. When we are stressed and overwhelmed, taking a moment to recognize what is our reality versus what we are worried might happen is vital to acknowledging our own emotions.
Sit with what actually is here. This could mean taking the time to notice our environment and surroundings or accepting what we can and cannot control in our situation.
Notice your thought patterns. What feels difficult about grounding yourself in reality? By recognizing how our mind is affecting our thoughts and emotions, we can feel more accepting and in control of our situation.
(Adapted from "Three Ways to Manage Dread" by Beth Kurland, Ph.D.)
Check out our entire March 2025 Newsletter focused on Mindfulness here.
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