By Marcia Eager, LCSW, CEAP, Solutions Program Coordinator

So, how did it go giving yourself two minutes a day to do a simple mindfulness exercise? Is it hard to do? We can spend hours worrying about someone else, but it is always more difficult to give ourselves a little time. I encourage you to find those two minute blocks of time and make it a habit. If you miss a day, don’t fret just do it the next opportunity.

PsychologyToday.com gives us this definition: Mindfulness is a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience. Go to http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness for a variety of articles and instruction if you want to learn more.

Learning and practicing “Mindfulness” is a paradoxical exercise - The more you let go the more in charge you are. Think about something that is difficult for you to do. Maybe getting up in front of a group of people to give a talk or sing or dance sends you into a heightened level of anxiety. Why is that? Worried about what people will think? Will they judge you? Will they disagree with you?

Part of practicing “Mindfulness” is learning to let go of what we cannot change and changing what we are in charge of. For instance, when we take a job with a particular company we agree to follow the policies of that company and we accept the conditions of the job. If you find later that you disagree with some of these, what do you do? Using mindfulness, take some time to sit quietly and explore the situation. Is it a policy that you don’t agree with? Is it something you don’t like because you don’t want to do it that way? By spending some time practicing ‘Mindfulness” you may discover some solutions for your dilemma. Perhaps you come up with a suggestion to improve the situation. Maybe you find that you can make adjustments yourself to adapt to the situation.

Now think back to a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and ended up enjoying the experience. You got out of your head and became more connected with the world around you. You might say you practiced a form of “Mindfulness.” This week take a few minutes to do something you really want to do but have been hesitant to do and see what happens.

Call Solutions EAP at 1-800-526-3485 for assistance for all of life's challenges.
It’s free, confidential and open to your family members.
Check us out on-line at
http://www.solutions-eap.com

George "Bud" Wassell, MS, LPC, CEAP
Director, Solutions EAP
883 Paddock Avenue - Suite 2
Meriden, CT 06450
800-526-3485
fax: 203-379-2048
www.solutions-eap.com