Mindfulness

The first time someone told me I need to be more mindful, I chose to ignore them. The second time I heard it from a different person and I began to worry a bit. When a third person mentioned it I was finally concerned enough to at least try and figure out what they were talking about. As always my first reaction is to define it. Here’s what I found.

“a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique”

What? Three different people think I need therapy. Could that be right? Well, maybe not quite many things are comforting and therapeutic without actually being “in therapy”.  I had to stop typing.  My inner dialogue took over. 

“Do I have negative feelings about being “in therapy” and why would that be? Therapy is what saved my husband’s life. I know there are things that are “wrong” with me. Why did that word stop me right in my tracks? Do normal people share their inner dialogue with virtual strangers. Oh wait, very few actually read it, so maybe this is a safe space. Wait, did I just say I needed a safe space? This is obviously a slippery slope. I better take a step back and think this through.