Who hasn’t made a New Years’ resolution? I know I have. Perhaps, you’ve vowed to eat better, get more sleep, study harder, or exercise? But, have you ever considered making a resolution to take care of your mental health? I want to take a moment and explain how practicing mindfulness and meditation can transform your life and become more than just another resolution you give up after a few weeks.
What is Mindfulness Meditation?
As an Asheville therapist who specializes in treating anxiety, I help my clients implement mindfulness and meditation into their daily life to help them find relief from their mental health concerns and the symptoms that cause them distress. Very simply stated, mindfulness meditation involves intentionally being aware of the present moment and accepting what arises in a non-judgemental way. Meditation is most commonly done in a seated position. The goal of meditation in this context is to let go of the untrue and painful stories you have about yourself and your life. Once you do this, you are able to clearly see what’s really happening. You can learn to better manage your mind and thoughts, which ultimately lets you heal faster and feel happier. Remember, true mindfulness practice doesn't feel good all the time. Once you become more mindful, that could mean realizing that you've got a difficult feeling calling for your attention. This is good! You can finally deal with that feeling at the root rather than continuing to ignore it.
Meditation is a Long-Term Game
Meditation is not something you can practice for a short period of time, feel relief, then quit. To truly experience all the benefits of meditating you have to be invested in practicing this long term. Although you’ll experience benefits soon after implementing this practice into your daily routine, if you are focused on the short term then you will give up once you encounter challenges. You must stay in touch with why you are doing this. If you have chosen to pursue mindfulness/meditation then there must be something you were trying to change/improve in your life. Stay in touch with that motivation and be patient. Improving your life takes work and there is no quick fix.
Furthermore, meditation is best practiced every day. So, it’s much better if you can practice 10 minutes every day than just one hour a week. Yes, this is a commitment, it requires discipline. But, your body and your mind will thank you for it.
Patience Grasshopper. Enlightenment Doesn’t Happen Instantly.
When you meditate, you have to be patient. Let me be clear, you will not become enlightened the first time you meditate. It takes time, practice, and patience. Furthermore, as life changes and you change so does your meditation and mindfulness practice. People who truly practice meditation are always growing in their quest to find enlightenment. Allow this to be a lesson in delayed gratification.
Ride the Waves and Accept that Your Goals for Mindfulness will Change Throughout Your Practice
Don't get stuck on a goal. You might want a quieter mind, less stress, or one of the many other benefits of mindfulness. Or, maybe you just want to be more in touch with your spiritual side. These are all great goals to have, but true mindfulness means having a non-judgmental attitude. So, you must recognize that you can't fully control the outcome of your mindfulness practice. There will be ups and downs, learn to ride the wave. Meditation is not a simple fix-all approach to mental wellness.
Be Kind to Your Mind!
You must be compassionate towards yourself. Let’s be honest, do you ever lose your focus, does your mind wander? Mine does. Listen, no one is perfect. Therefore, meditation is not always perfect either. When this happens, don’t get upset with yourself. Use this opportunity as a chance to learn and grow and experience the things your mind has to show you when you’re busy or active. Assume positive intent, even when it applies to yourself and your mind. This isn’t a stopgap preventing you from further growth, it’s your mind giving you a chance to grow and develop even more enlightenment.
When You Meditate, Do It For Yourself, Not Your Image.
Lastly, please remember that meditating for social media attention defeats the purpose. Are you really paying attention to your own thoughts if you’re concerned with the image you’re portraying to others on social media? That is a trap that will always lead to feeling worse at some point down the line.
Learn More About Meditation In Therapy at Strive On Counseling
I am a firm believer in the power of mindfulness and meditation as well as the transformative power of quality mental health care. If you are struggling and think meditation might be something you’d be interested in starting in 2021, then I would love to talk to you. I offer therapy in Asheville and online therapy in North Carolina to help teens and adults overcome their mental health concerns. When you work with me, you will learn more about mindfulness and meditation. Together, we will practice some techniques that you can easily incorporate into your day to day life. This will help you manage the symptoms that are causing you distress and pain so you can find relief that is long-lasting.
Begin Counseling in Asheville, NC:
Let 2021 be a year of transformation and healing. If caring for your mental health is a resolution you want to make, I would love to speak with you. Follow these steps to begin therapy in Asheville, NC, or online therapy in North Carolina:
Call or email me to set up a free consultation
Begin anxiety treatment and start finding relief.
Other Mental Health Services at Strive On Counseling
Anxiety treatment isn’t the only service I offer at Strive On Counseling. I would love to see you in our Asheville, NC counseling office. I treat a variety of mental health concerns including substance use or addiction, and PTSD. To learn about the many other mental health concerns I treat during individual therapy click here. I use many different modalities of therapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), therapy for chronic pain/illness, support for families of addicts, EMDR and trauma therapy, and meditation and mindfulness practices. To learn more about all the therapies I provide, please click here. Contact my office for more information on how I can help you!