While the term mindfulness may be new to some, the concept is more than likely something you practice or are in need of practicing more often. The terms ‘depressed’ and the ownership of ‘anxiety’ are more prevalent these days as I dialogue with many of my sister friends (this includes me). So, what exactly is mindfulness?

According to mindful.org, mindfulness can be defined as “…the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.” As a woman, wife, mother, full-time employee, independent contractor, budding entrepreneur, daughter, sister, friend and more, mindfulness is a necessity. How often do you find yourself physically in a space, but mentally running down your to-do list? Do you find yourself reacting abruptly (and sometimes quite negatively)? What about feelings of overwhelm? If you can relate to any of these, please continue reading.

Being fully present

We live in a world where distractions have become the norm.  When was the last time that you sat still to focus on a task without checking your phone, social media or being interrupted by a loved one? I’ll wait.

That is my point exactly. As women, we must carve out the time to commune with our higher selves and/or the Creator. We are nurturers and relied upon for so much. It begins with us. Once we master the art of mindfulness for ourselves, we can then share that experience with others. It is concerning to reflect on the countless times where my thoughts and mental space have not been focused on the moment right in front of me.

Reactive and Overwhelmed

As you contemplate being fully present and aware of the moment, it is easy to understand how a lack of this practice breeds negative responses and feelings of overwhelm. Think about your cell phone. As smart as it is, it requires connection to Source (the charger) on a regular basis. The best charge happens when we leave it alone with the Source (the charger). That means no emailing, social media checking, calls, etc. It is just the phone and the Source. Are you following me?

Without connection to Source, the phone begins to lose power, generate errors or perhaps shut off. The phone is responding to your activity, use and possible neglect respectively. It is my humble opinion, (as the random woman not trained or licensed in the area of mental health) that these types of responses feed into the proclamation and ownership of depression and anxiety. I come to you from a place of experience and real life.

Practicing Mindfulness

It took me a while to adopt mindfulness as a practice and to be perfectly honest, I have my spans of time where I fall short. You may recall my Mornings in March or the lovely event hosted by Malikah Karim. Faith without works is dead. Taking action was my way of doing the work  necessary to reclaim my life.

If you are interested in exploring the concept or practice of mindfulness, consider joining us on January 4, 2020 for 2020 Vision: Mindfulness, Makeup and Manifestation. We’re bringing in the new year on another level. Stay tuned for more details about the facilitators, features and more.