You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn how to surf.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
Can you think of a time in your life, perhaps it’s even right now in the midst of this pandemic, when you felt depleted or out of control, burdened by responsibilities and stress, and feeling like you were drowning? For most of us, that feeling of being overwhelmed is quite common, and it can leave us exhausted, anxious, and unhappy. When we’re underwater, we lose our perspective and the ability to think clearly about our circumstances. We may let the waves perpetually crash over us, or feel like we’re adrift, our negative thoughts carrying us out to sea.
As Jon Kabat-Zinn, the father of the modern mindfulness movement suggests, it is possible to learn how to surf the seemingly endless waves of challenges in the oceans of our lives, and ideally even enjoy the ride. Skilled surfers are balanced, strong, focused, and patient. They observe and are attuned to their surroundings, keenly aware of what is happening around them, responsive to their environment, but not swept away. Sometimes, they wipe out, but they are resilient enough to get back on their boards again and again, seeing each new wave as an opportunity to practice, learn, and fully engage in the experience.
Learning and practicing some fundamental mindfulness techniques allows us to better navigate the ebb and flow of our own daily experience. Mindfulness teaches us to be more fully aware and dialed in to the present moment, which in turn gives us a stronger sense of control in our lives. When we practice mindfulness, we have more agency over our thoughts and behavior, allowing us to respond more skillfully to specific situations, instead of being mindlessly carried away by habitual reactions. We feel less stressed, and generally more content, blissfully riding the waves.
Over the next few weeks and months, we’ll be delivering more information on mindfulness and meditation techniques. If you’re interested in learning more about it, Meredith Tedford, our in-house Mindfulness Coach, is available for one-on-one training and instructional sessions. Contact her here for more information.