Have you ever been surrounded by humans, but felt alone? Me too. Have you ever been questioned as to how you feel alone when you're physically surrounded by humans? Yep, me too.
**I do not own the rights to this image**
Every day I am so thankful. Thankful to have woken up another day. Another day with my three, beautiful children and the man I love and have spent the last nearly 12 years of my life with. I am thankful for our health, our home and our love. I am thankful for my job, our car and my husband's as well as my opportunity to farther our education and pursue degrees that will hopefully set our children up for life. I am thankful for our financial situation, as we have been so fortunate to provide for our children and some extras too.
But I still have those days. Those days I feel sad. I feel alone. I feel stressed or overwhelmed. Not many people understand. Not many people want to understand or wish to try to understand. People see the bigger picture and miss all the details. They see a happy home, what looks like a happy life, but in reality the signs are there. The circles around the eyes are there. The exhaustion is there. The pain is there. But we continue on. Because honestly, most of us don't have a choice. It's to continue or to lose the progress you have already made. I have felt progress. I feel progress, but I am only progressing. I am still growing. Still self discovering. Still learning. Each and every day about myself. About my mind, my behaviors and my emotions.
Society says that things could always be worse. And that they can, but who is society to take away the pain we feel? Who are they to tell us that things could be worse? Are they telling us that we should not feel sadness? Not feel pain, anger or confusion? Because I am saying that all emotions are okay. Each and every emotion and feeling we have as humans is normal. Anger. Frustration. Disappointment. Even happiness. These feelings are all valid. Your hurt, your sadness, your pain is valid. Things could always be worse, sure, but things can always be better. You deserve better. You are not alone.
What isn't valid is the unhealthy behaviors, choices or responses. I know it's challenging. It's even more challenging when people tell you things could be worse. To keep your head up. That things will get better. That things get worse before they get better. That everything happens for a reason. These are difficult things to hear. Especially when you're caught up in your emotion and feelings. Validate why you feel this way and then express these feelings and emotions in healthy ways.
**I do not own the rights to this image***
I know it sounds silly, but MINDFULNESS. Mindfulness, in my opinion is a very valuable tool to carry with you throughout life. That and empathy. And kindness. But let's talk about mindfulness. What is mindfulness? You're probably thinking of mediating right off the bat. And you're not wrong. Mediation is used a great deal when it comes to mindfulness. But it's more than mediation. It's taking a peak inside your mind. It is accepting life, accepting the journey for what it is. It is developing an action plan and then acting upon it. It's rewiring your brain. It is convincing your mind that this is a hardship, but the ship will continue to sail if you continue to steer it. It is finding peace in your mind. It is validating your emotions and feelings and then expressing them in a healthy way to benefit you, as well as those around you. Mindfulness reduces stress. And there are many ways to reduce stress, which I will include a post a little later on with some helpful self-care and stress reducing tips!
In the meanwhile, tell me what mindfulness means to you?
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