[Tweet “”When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” Elbert Hubbard”]
Last week my life took a completely unexpected turn. While I choose not to divulge the details of this life-altering event, I can assure that this was one for the record books. Let’s just say my husband came home around 9 am while I was working from home, without his work vehicle.
As my mind raced with all of the things that could have happened, the look on his face told me it all.
At first I was in shock. Something so drastic happens and you feel this punch of disbelief right in the gut. Next my mind raced. How will we do this, that and the other? After the mind races, multiple emotions surface. Anger. Fear. Resentment. Disgust.
And then one of two things can happen. You can either continue down the path of anxious and fearful monkey mind OR you can become aware of the thoughts as they come and go.
Present moment awareness is the single greatest tool for stress reduction in nursing. Without the awareness of where our mind is taking us, what do we have? Other than pain and anguish, absolutely nothing. A mind on auto-pilot is one that creates the perception of lost control. A racing thought process creates exhaustion and overwhelm.
So what can we do to take back control in our lives? To be freed from the self-imprisoned barriers we create.
We can practice conscious awareness. We can choose to regulate our thoughts. We can observe our emotions, reactions, feeling and beliefs without judgement or criticism. We can learn from every single experience and look for the positive outcome underneath every challenge.
Yet this won’t happen on its own. It takes practice.
So I urge you, if you do not yet engage in a mindfulness practice- now is the time. Start today. Take five minutes to watch the breath. Use this YouTube video as a guide. Commit in one way or another to starting with a mediation practice of your choice.
If you need help, have any questions, or would like suggestions leave a question or comment below. Or feel free to contact me at support(at)elizabethscala(dot)com or (410) 929-0081. Enjoy your health today.
I started doing a mindfulness practice ( nearly every day) a few months ago- the benefits have been better sleep, vastly improved cognition, and consequently better problem solving and ability to cope with competing issues in my busy work days. I recommend it to everyone – including my patients!
Hi Marion,
Thank you for coming by, reading the article and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. Yes, having a mindfulness practice is the foundation of all good health and well-being. So glad that you do this and recommend to others. Enjoy the weekend,
Elizabeth
For nurses, you have two choices actually to reduce stress, its meditation and running. Meditation relaxes one’s mind while running keeps your body active and mind as well.