Mindfulness
I have had mindfulness meditation training, and this helps to cope with stress immensely. One primary coping technique that is taught is to live in the present. Worrying about things in the past or future is a waste of energy. Thinking about this really puts things in perspective and not let my thoughts run wild with worry.
I wish this weren't such a difficult skill to learn! I live near a Buddhist learning center, and am considering contacting them to find out what options they offer to the public. Of course, this will add one more task to my never-ending list...
Sounds like a great approach Patricia and one that is working well for you. Yes, it's a good idea to stop when we're feeling overwhelmed and reorient to our situations.
Mindfulness is easy to talk about, but hard to practice when you are juggling the days events. I am learning to stop, take that needed deep breath when feeling stressed and remind myself that I am in control of me and I find this very calming to my mind.
Yes, panic really can lead to shortness of breadth. And limited breathing really does limit oxygen to the brain Kristine!
Melinda,
I love that you posted something about mindfulness. I often talk to my students about being mindful, especially when listening. It's hard to not worry about the past or present or all the duties that need to get done, but you are right, if you focus on the present, break tasks down into bite sized pieces, and breathe, that helps tremendously. I believe that we panic because the brain doesn't have enough oxygen, so that's the first place I start! Thanks for the post about mindfulness!
