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One Word Makes All The Difference

Posted on by BEST Admin Posted in Self-Care & Mindfulness Leave a comment

Today our mindfulness activity is going to focus on one word.

Choose one of the words below and write it on an index card, piece of note paper, post-it, or even the back of an envelope. Then place the paper with with word on it somewhere you will see it (refrigerator, bathroom mirror, computer monitor). You can also use a word of your own that isn’t included in our list.

Inspire, Calm, Heartfelt, Focused, Grateful, Dream, Simplify, Imagine, Wonder, Blossom, Brilliant, Capable, Abundance, Courageous, Deserving, Dynamic, Vital, Triumphant, Overflowing, Peace, Joy, Grateful, Grounded, Possibility, Worthy

If you have a busy day planned carry the word with you and pull it out of your pocket, purse, or wallet to remind yourself that this one word makes all the difference in how you see today.

Happy Mindful Monday!

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Slow Down! Here Comes Some Wabi-Sabi.

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Wabi-Sabi? What the heck is that?!

If you’re not familiar with wabi sabi, it’s a traditional Japanese concept derived from two verbs; wabu and sabu. From a Buddhist perspective, it embodies the impermanence and imperfection of life. The Japanese take it one step further to see the beauty in the imperfection. Think of it as the patina brass or silver gets over time or a garden bench after being out over the seasons.

I’ve written about this before as a way to take care of ourselves, especially after a brain injury. But it’s also a great way to be mindful – present in this moment – and see the beauty we might be overlooking as we move through our day.

For today, take a moment and appreciate yourself. Whether you brush your teeth and later forget only to check the toothbrush to see if it’s wet (whew) or you realize while sitting in the waiting room for your doctor appointment that you have mismatched socks on (at least you’re wearing socks), just breathe and focus on accepting ourselves in this moment.

For today, let us accept who we are as we are. We aren’t perfect. We never were. There isn’t any right or wrong. In the spirit of wabi sabi there is only the truth of who we are in this moment without expectation of something else and without judgment.

 

 

 

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4 Ways To Hear What Your Body Needs

Posted on by BEST Admin Posted in Brain Health & Healing, Self-Care & Mindfulness Leave a comment

Last week our #MindfulMonday piece focused on listening. This week we’re sharing exercises to help you listen to yourself. Give them a try and let us know in the comments what worked for you.

Listening Exercise #1

Your body will tell you what it needs to be healthy so long as you listen to its messages; heed the signals. For the next few minutes listen to your body and think of three things you can do that would help you stay healthy.

Listening Exercise #2

How are you feeling right now? Take a moment to listen to your emotions. What are you feeling? Are you anxious? Or are you feeling peaceful? How is your body telling you something about what you are feeling?

Listening Exercise #3

Sit quietly for a moment. Relax and listen to your heart. What is your heart telling you?

Listening Exercise #4

This exercise is a mental station changer to help you identify and control your thoughts.

Step 1 – What are you thinking about right now?

Step 2 – How do those thoughts make you feel?

Step 3 – Can you redirect your thoughts to something else?

Step 4 – Repeat steps 1 through 3

Try changing the stations in your mind several times and pay attention to what you’re thinking and how it makes you feel each time.

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Mindful Listening? It’s Easier Than You Think

Posted on by Posted in Brain Health & Healing, Self-Care & Mindfulness Leave a comment

Our second mindfulness feature in our #MindfulMonday series is about listening.

I’ll bet there have been times you felt like the person you were talking to was so busy thinking of their response they didn’t listen to what you were saying. Or you’ve been interrupted mid-sentence. Perhaps you noticed that someone was distracted while you were speaking. 

You’ve probably even missed what someone was saying to you because you were so focused on your response. You’ve probably even interrupted someone mid-sentence with your own thought that may not have even been related to the conversation. Since we’re being honest, your mind has wandered on occasion and you’ve missed all of what someone else was telling you.

These things are common. They’re even more common after a brain injury as we navigate social situations, business meetings, school lectures and more. Listening is difficult. But there are benefits to mindful listening.

Benefits include

Self-awareness – Mindful listening helps you to become aware of your physical and mental presence throughout a conversation and is a critical part of being mindful because it allows you to be present in the moment.

Empathy – When you are practicing mindful listening you increase your ability to best relate to how the person you are speaking with feels. Taking the time and energy to share what the other person is feeling give you a sense of being in someone else’s position and to really listen to what they are saying to you.

Focus – It takes a lot of attention, and intention, to focus on listening to others when they are speaking. Did you know that the habit of focus will affect other aspects of your life, too? As a result you will gradually become able to focus on tasks, learn how to slow down racing thoughts, and even block out distracting noises to pay attention only to what is being said to you.

The exercise for this week is a little “self-listening.” As you learn to listen to your inner voice, the beat of your heart, the thoughts you have at any given moment, you’ll begin to be a better listener when you are in conversations with others.

Step 1 – Sit upright in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor and your hands resting in your lap.

Step 2 – Center your attention on your heart beat.

Step 3 – Listen to your heartbeat. What is it saying to you?

This exercise can be done at any time and is a great way to get in touch with how your body feels, what messages it is sending you. You can listen to your heart today, your breathing tomorrow, your stomach on another day, and so on.

 

Gloria has enjoyed a career as an independent nonprofit consultant, trainer, and writer. She has a deep passion for sustainability, both environmentally and organizationally. Enjoy her perspectives on community, development, and tales from her virtual world travels.

 

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2021 MindfulMonday Challenge

Posted on by BEST Admin Posted in Brain Health & Healing, Self-Care & Mindfulness Leave a comment

Best has offered you many #MotivationMonday images, quotes, and other encouragement over the years. Throughout 2020 we continued to offer these messages and learned that the most important topic of conversation has been self-care.

Hand in hand with self-care is the notion of mindfulness. Mindfulness is more than just being aware of what is going on around you at any given moment, but what is, also, going on inside of you. What are you thinking? What are you feeling? What are you doing “right now”?

When you embrace the moment, allow your thoughts to be just what they are – thoughts – and give yourself time to slow down you are taking care of yourself.

Our goal is to help you carve out a moment of self-reflection, a time to ground yourself and reflect on what’s happening in the moment, what’s good in your life, and how you are feeling. Each week for the rest of 2021 we’ll post an image, video, or article to help you on your journey to living a calmer, healthier, more mindful life.

Here is an exercise you can do anytime you like and as often as you like. This exercise takes about 5 minutes:

Step 1 – Sit in your favorite chair or someplace comfortable.

Step 2 – Breathe in. You don’t have to count. It doesn’t have to be deep. Just breathe in. (Remember to breathe out. Don’t hold your breath)

Step 3 – Pay attention to whether you are taking long breaths of air or short breaths. Neither is better than the other. At this moment you are simply paying attention to the breath entering your lungs and releasing.

Step 4 – Feel your breath as you inhale. Notice if the breath fills your lungs or if it is more shallow and mostly in your chest.

Step 5 – Shift your focus and listen to the sounds around you where you are. Notice if there Is there a breeze you can hear. Perhaps it is outside your window. If so you might see a tree swaying or branches rustling.

This is the earth breathing. Feel her breath blend with yours.

The two become one as you breathe in and slowly breathe out.

How do you feel? Do you feel more relaxed than before you did this exercise? If so, bookmark this page and come back often.

 

 

 

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