I began to invite peace into my life, the moment I surrendered to it. I like to envision peace as an invisible force field that is always around— just waiting for us to acknowledge it.
Practicing mindfulness helped me slow down my body and racing mind. In between the deep breaths I was taking, I became more and more aware of the psyche. When I first started meditating, I thought the end goal was to have a quiet mind. I learned that nothing can be farther from the truth. Do not be too hard on yourself if you have thoughts pop up or if you can't get your mind to sit still. Just allow the thoughts to flow through you; like gentle clouds passing by a pale blue sky. Meditating is a practice that strengthens your self-esteem and allows you to practice the art of compassion and self-compassion.
When we are at peace with who we are, we are able to show up as the best version of ourselves. Be grateful for the blessings that occur in your day to day life; like how ecstatic your dog gets when you get back home. Or the best parking spaces you come across when you get to the mall. Small blessings like these are constantly overlooked because they're not life-altering and don't propel us towards our dreams and aspirations. Practicing mindfulness has allowed me to dive deeper into understanding who I am. I began to "study" myself and find the blessings that exist in my life. I noticed how much my sleep had improved when I would drink lavender & chamomile tea before bed. I became aware of how flexible and grounded I felt after a session of yoga. I also took note of how relaxation would instantly overcome me when I was around water. In these moments, I was experiencing my true essence. I realized that all I had to do to experience peace was to slow down.
Try to take it one day at a time. It can be easy to get lost in the chatter of the mind, but know that you have the power to shift your focus. When overwhelmed with a lot of thoughts, I like to step into my garden and place my feet against the grass. I inhale for 6 counts, hold for 4 counts, and then exhale for 6 counts. This breathing sequence is just one of many that you can try out. Mindful breathing allows me to direct my focus to my body and less on my thoughts. I also like to use the aromas of lavender and basil as tools to further relax my body. There are thousands of ways to practice mindfulness, you will just need to see what practices aligns with who you are. Try taking up a yoga class to see if that resonates with you. If not, that’s fine! Maybe you’re someone who prefers to relax by going to a sauna. Or, maybe your idea of mindfulness is cooking a nourishing meal for yourself. The possibilities are as endless as the stars!