Sometimes you just have those days where nothing seems to go your way.  Or you just don’t like where you’re at in life right now. We’ve all felt like this at one time or another.  The mistake we make is wishing we were at some other point in time.  Sometimes we wish we were younger, while sometimes we wish we could just skip over a certain part of our lives.

There’s nothing wrong with reminiscing about your childhood.  However, I know there have been times where I wish I could go back to my childhood.  I didn’t appreciate how simple life was.  I also have my moments where I wish I could fast forward to a different point in my life.  This is usually at a point where everything seems up in the air.  For example, right now I have no idea where I’m going to be a year from now and it’s extremely frustrating.  I wish I could fast forward to that time so I could just have it all figured out.

There’s a problem with this way of thinking.  We are either dreaming about the past or wishing our lives away, neither of which brings a good result.  What can we do about feeling this way?

Well if you know anything about this blog, you know I’m going to say that mindfulness can be extremely helpful with this.  Mindfulness is all about being in the present moment.  You are supposed to focus on how you are feeling in the moment.  This not only alleviates worry but can also help you become content in your present situation.

Back to my situation, rather than longing for my childhood or wishing away my senior year of college, I need to just live in the moment.  I need to accept the fact that I’ve done all I can so far in regards to planning my future.  I need to enjoy where I am in life right now, because I’m never going to be at this exact point in my life ever again.

There’s always going to be something that we long to get to in life, it’s only human nature.  But if we keep wishing life away, we’re going to get older and realize that it’s almost over and we didn’t enjoy any of it.  What’s the sense in that?

Here’s a few ways you can incorporate mindfulness during moments like these.

Appreciate Nature

The world is changing all around us every day.  Take a moment to appreciate it and notice the little things.  Take in the vast sky and the beautiful plants nearby.  Enjoy the smell after rain or when the lawn is mowed.  Sometimes when we take time to enjoy these things, it can really give us an appreciation for the present moment.

Get active

Be in the moment and get moving.  Runners high is a real thing, and believe it or not, you can experience it too!  Dance, do aerobics, hula hoop, play your favorite sport, even if it’s just walking get moving! Breathe through the hard work and feel good about the fact that you’re doing something right now to better your life.

Spend time with family and friends

I hate to be blunt about this, but we all have a limited amount of time on this Earth.  Spend time with the ones you care about and really actually spend time with them.  Don’t be on your phone or just mindlessly watch tv.  Sit down and have a conversation or do something else together.  Whatever it is, be in that moment and spend time with them.  Later in life you will thank yourself.

Meditate!

When in doubt, I always find meditation to be a good way to gain some appreciation for the present!  There are many different kinds of meditations that are suitable for this.  One could be a gratitude meditation.  It allows you to be thankful for what you have in your life right now, and it can really put you in a better mood if you’re feeling down about your current state.

It’s human nature to wish time away, but being mindful can really make life worthwhile!  I hope I’ve inspired you to be more mindful in your day to day life.

Remember: Everyone starts out as a beginner, if they can do it then so can you!

Mindful Musings

A mental health journey through mindfulness