Ok, People! Tell me how YOU do mindfulness!
Ok, People! Tell me how YOU do mindfulness!
By Jed Foster, MA, LMFT
Behavioral Health Specialist
With coronavirus anxiety in full-swing, there is a huge number of people out there that aren’t well-versed in how to handle anxiety and stress that rightfully feel like Chicken Little right now. Those of us that have lived with anxiety for years have a bit of a leg up, so let’s share some of our secrets with the newly initiated. But first…we need to let them know why we HAVE to do what we do. Tell them what you get out of self-care. Tell them why you meditate. Tell them why exercise isn’t optional. Introverts…UNITE…tell them why you NEED to curl up, solo, with a favorite book, puzzle, canvas, journal, etc. These people need our help!!!
This is my meditation:
- Go Fish.
- Watch a fire.
- Plant a garden.
These are 3 of my favorite “Walking Meditations,” and I did all three of these things in the last 10 days. The result? Positive Emotions. Engagement, Positive Relationships (because each activity was shared with friends and family), Meaning and Purpose, and Accomplishment. Those, my friends, are the bedrock categories of overall Well-Being. Don’t take my word for it, head to https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu and hear it from the father of Positive Psychology himself, Dr. Martin Seligman. At his site, you will find links covering topics from Authentic Happiness, to Learned Optimism, and even some tips on how to deal with Coronavirus anxiety. So click, read, and learn. You NEED this!
And for those of you that are already putting some of this work into practice, please share your meditation. Share your mindfulness. Share your re-charge secrets. Everyone could use a helpful tip right now. Let’s pull together as a community and come up with 50 activities that make us feel better…even if it’s just for an hour or two…so that we can face the challenges facing us with a calm, fresh perspective moving forward. And CGH teammates…this means you too! Post some pics. Post some vids. Let’s hear it! What are YOU doing to make life better in the coronavirus era????