Finding Presence: My Journey into Mindfulness
Before I embarked on a journey of discovery and wellbeing, I found myself caught in a constant cycle of overwhelm and stress. I had too much to do, not enough time to do it, and even small tasks started to feel like mountains. Just thinking about everything was exhausting, without even doing anything.
Late at night, I would scroll aimlessly, too tired to keep working, too wired to sleep, searching for something that might help. That’s when I stumbled across mindfulness.
At first, I was sceptical.
I thought, “I already notice things. I’m observant. Isn’t mindfulness just fluffy nonsense?”
But when I looked closer, I couldn’t argue with the science. Study after study showed that practicing mindfulness, consciously pulling yourself into the present, can reduce stress and anxiety, improve focus, and help regulate emotions.
So, what is mindfulness?
Simply put, mindfulness is about noticing:
- Noticing your feelings
- Noticing your thoughts
- Noticing physical sensations
- Noticing your surroundings
And doing so without judgment or over-analysis.
Mindfulness can take many forms. It might mean:
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Mindful breathing
- Mindful eating
- Body scanning
There are countless techniques to explore, and the beauty is, there’s no single “right” way.
Like all wellbeing practices, mindfulness takes time.
It’s not about quick fixes, but small consistent actions. Over time, being present becomes a habit, rewiring your brain to be calmer, more accepting, more self-aware.
Mindfulness helps pull you away from worries about the past or future, and into the only place where life is actually happening: right now.
“But I’m overwhelmed. How can I practice anything consistently?”
I hear you.
You might feel like you don’t have the time. That’s why starting small matters.
Instead of setting a goal to meditate for an hour a day, what if you simply practiced mindfulness while doing something you already do, like washing your hands, making a cup of tea, or stepping outside?