Mindfulness & Acceptance

When you’re living with chronic health issues, the pain and symptoms that correspond with those health issues are often at the forefront of our minds.  As a result, we often lose sight of the beauty around us - vibrant flowers, a crisp blue sky, a child’s smile.  

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Practicing mindfulness has helped me recenter my thinking with the added benefit of encouraging neuroplasticity, or rewiring of the brain.

You may be wondering, what is mindfulness? I define it as being present, purposeful, and non-judgemental. It creates a space for us to deliberately take a step back from the day-to-day and view the world like we’re seeing it for the first time.  The practice of mindfulness has been an important piece in my healing puzzle and has also helped bring greater awareness to my daily life.
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Here is an example of a mindful walk that I enjoyed this spring:

Walking through the park, the warm rays of the sun caress your skin. It’s one of the first days of spring.  Tulips are starting to open, brightening the landscape in a rainbow of colors.

You walk slowly, deliberately – as if to make this moment a screensaver in your mind.  After all you’ve gone through, you start to feel yourself becoming overwhelmed with emotion: you are so profoundly grateful to be alive!

You “check in” with your body, and notice that you. feel. good!

No red, itchy welts running the length of your forearms, no tingling lips warning you of another reaction, no stabbing stomach pain. Your body feels, dare you think it, “Normal?”

Your inner cheerleader is doing a backflip.  Or multiple backflips.

Awareness is celebrating these moments.

Because it wasn’t always this way. You know better than anyone that you’ve been through a lot.  

But you’re here, you’re living your life as bravely as possible. And that deserves to be honored.

For more on Mindfulness

Check out Mindfulness guru Jon Kabat-Zinn and his 7 minute description of Mindfulness here.
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Wishing you health and happiness,
Elisha