Dear friends,

Let’s be honest. We’re going crazy. It’s 2016 and our brains are on the brink of exploding. We are over stimulated, living fast paced lives, over scheduling ourselves, over thinking what we see on social media, conspiring theories about the world, trying to achieve more at a faster rate and bla bla bla…I mean, just writing that makes my head want to explode.

Depression is at an all-time high. What’s even more alarming, is that childhood depression is on the rise because of things like social media, lifestyle pressures and over scheduling. As a teacher, I’ve noticed that children are maturing much faster these days.
There are some mental practices that can help prevent or deal with depression and anxiety. It’s not a quick fix but a life skill. You know how I always go on about “soul fitness”? It’s pretty much that. It might not work straight away, but the more you work your brain, the stronger it will get and the more inner peace you will feel. Mindfulness is a powerful tool in life. It is a mind set, or a skill set, that is worth practicing. This leads me onto Buddhism and how mindfulness is strengthened through strategies that Buddha taught.

There is a common misconception that Buddhism is a religion. Buddhism is actually not the worshiping of the man called Buddha. It is just like-minded people who practice Buddha’s outlooks on mindfulness. Mindfulness is basically inner reflection and living in the moment.

Through meditation and other experiences to strengthen mindfulness, you focus on your breathing and body and you become completely present in the moment. This leads your focus away from your thoughts. Why do we need to get away from our thoughts? Because your unguarded thoughts are more dangerous to you than your worst enemy! I should know. If I had a dollar for every time my partner said to me, “YOU’RE OVER THINKING THIS!” I would be bloody rich, mate!

The following paraphrase has really resonated with me. It is something that I really, really, really, really, (for the sake of myself and the people I love), need to remind myself of; about a hundred times a day:

We should adopt the concept of staying present in the current moment and not following the mind’s habit of constantly reflecting on the past or imagining the future. Have awareness of the current moment and only that.

My biggest ‘over thinking’ line replaying in my head is, “What if.” What if this, what if that, what if I jinx myself, what if I fail..Etc. So, trying to not imagine the future is something that will really help me live a less anxious life. Reading about Buddhism and mindfulness is giving me some food for thought and it’s nice to be reminded of philosophies and strategies to help strengthen my ability to just live in the moment and let whatever will be, to be. I will write another article about in depth strategies for us to practice, but for now let’s just remember to be present.

 

I hope reading this has reminded you how important it is to live in the moment. Don’t worry about the past, it’s all behind you; it’s irrelevant now. Worrying about the future will not change what will happen. Let it go and let it be.

‘Til the next mental breakdown my loves. Hehe.

Lot’s of love,

Magda xx