Mindfulness in My Life - SB-2ST2

I have always had a passion for sports and fitness, so diving deeper into mindfulness is something that I have been interested in for a while now. Since mindfulness coincides with my main interests, I am excited to continue to learn more about the practice and how it can benefit my life in the future.

Mindfulness is extremely hard to define, as it can be interpreted in many different ways. However, the historical background of mindfulness is one way in which it can be defined. Mindfulness stemmed from Buddhist beliefs and practices of clear knowing and right way of life. This traditional approach to mindfulness focuses on concentration, wisdom, and ethical conduct to free oneself from greed, hatred, and delusion. Since many of these beliefs are outdated, mindfulness has more modernly become more of a therapeutic lifestyle choice focused on being in the present moment. Ways that someone can achieve mindfulness include being in the present moment, freeing yourself of any attachment, being non-judgmental in everyday situations, and through various other mindful practices such as meditation, for example.

Since mindfulness, again, can be understood and practiced in many more ways than one, it is important that people can interpret it and apply it in ways that make sense for their lifestyle. My personal definition of mindfulness consists of being focused on the present moment, free of any outside distractions, thoughts, and negative energy. The way that I interpret mindfulness is similar to the modern definition because it involves letting go of any outside distractions in order to focus on my current surroundings and feelings.

Overall, I have noticed many personal benefits through practicing mindfulness in my own way. Likewise, many people who actively practice mindfulness start seeing similar benefits over time. Some of these benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, more satisfaction in relationships, reduced emotional reactions, better focus, and better quality of life overall. Perhaps the greatest benefit of mindfulness is that it can be very easily incorporated into life, since it comes from within. Essentially, if you can focus, think, and are willing to try, practicing mindfulness is something everybody can do. I do believe that mindfulness is something most everyone could benefit from, however that does not mean there are no downsides. The greatest downside for me would be that it was difficult to fully understand and grasp at first. However, once practiced in a way that makes sense in your own life the benefits should still outweigh the challenges.

In my current life, I have started to practice mindfulness throughout my day when I can find the time to do so. Since being more mindful, I have noticed benefits such as reduced stress and anxiety levels in many situations. Currently, the greatest challenge I am facing is finding time to incorporate mindfulness into my everyday routine. Typically, my day is packed with classes, lacrosse, and homework, so when I do have down-time I am always quick to just rest and do nothing. However, after learning about how mindfulness can benefit my life, and becoming more aware of my current emotions, during this downtime I think it would be important to set aside a few minutes just to practice mindfulness. Planning out time to practice mindfulness, likely through meditation, will continue to push more mindful decision making into my life. Taking the time out of the day to just focus on the present and forget about any other stressors that are occurring will significantly benefit my overall happiness and well-being.

When I look deeper at my current life situations, I would like to apply mindfulness more towards planning my future. Since graduation is nearing, I constantly find myself stressed about finding a job or figuring out what I’m going to do once I graduate. Instead of stressing about the future, taking a more mindful approach by focusing on the present moment would for sure benefit my life and stress levels in the immediate short term. Taking the time to appreciate where I am at and how far I have come, all while enjoying my last few weeks of college seems much more mindful than stressing about finding the perfect job right after graduation. By taking this mindful approach, and approaching the situation lightly day by day, I believe that things will find a way of working out. Focusing on the present and mindfully re-assuring myself that everything will be fine will make for a much more positive end to my college career.