MINDFULNESS MONDAY
I am not sure how many of you need to hear this, but you are doing a GREAT JOB and you are going to get through this.
We have been quarantined for a month now. Yeah, I can't believe it either. We have learned new things about ourselves and the people around us. Our patience, our habits, our tempers, our irritabilities, and our indulgences have reared their heads at us and for me at least, where I have let those things get the better of me, I see an opportunity for improvement.
I personally believe that this time, although stressful, can be a time that we are able to reflect on ourselves and commit to excellence.
I get it, our situations are all different... Some of us are still working. Some of you have been promoted to teacher. Kids are running around like crazy demanding all of your attention. Chores are piling up… You name it.
Personally I feel more busy than I have been since we first opened our doors at Ampersand. Squeezing in extra time for things may be difficult. So I encourage you to pick ONE thing you know will make an impact on your daily mood. Mood dictates EVERYTHING, and we have the ability to choose our mood and attitude.
Easier said than done, I know, so here’s an idea…
This week I encourage you to take time for yourself… wake up early, journal, pray, meditate, get your workouts in, plan your food, and take on this week full force. Prove to yourself that when the chips were down you continued to hammer at your goals and refused to let something like COVID-19 derail your focus.
Over the weekend I asked the coaches to share a mindfulness practice that they personally do to re-center and focus on their personal values. Mindfulness practices refer to the deliberate acts of regulating attention and focus through the observation of thoughts and emotions. Taking time to remind ourselves WHY we do what we do. A way to align our thoughts and our intentions and reconnect with your values.
Research has shown that people who participate in regular practice have experienced:
Reduced Stress: Improved ability to manage stress
Increased Focus: Improved ability to pay attention, focus and concentrate
Improved Emotion Regulation: Reduced impulsiveness, improved child behavior (rowdiness, suspensions, expulsions)
Increased Emotional Intelligence: Improved conflict resolution skills
Increased Empathy and Respect: Increased empathy and understanding of others
Increased Resilience: Increased capacity to overcome challenges
Improved Physical Well-being: Increased engagement in physical activity
Improved Creativity & Collaboration: Improved expression of creative arts.
Sounds great right? So let's start off this week with yours.
Do and Share your mindfulness practice below in the comments! Maybe you don't have one, that's OK... Borrow someone else’s. But if you do, I would love to hear what your practice is and why you chose it.
My hope for you this week is that you overcome stress, declutter your mind, keep habits, and come out of this quarantine better than when you went into it. When this all ends remember, life is going to take off. It won’t be gradual.
Work will start, it’ll be time for catch up, and everything is going to be moving at 100 miles an hour. Your MINDSET will be what carries you through.
CrossFit is all about preparing for the unknown and unknowable. That includes MINDSET.
Not sure what to do?
5 Simple Mindfulness Practices for Daily Life
https://www.mindful.org/take-a-mindful-moment-5-simple-practices-for-daily-life/