So, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted much of anything online. There are many reasons for this, some I may share over time, some I may not. I mean, it’s been a helluva however many years! I’ve felt torn between wanting to be in the present moment because I know that’s where life happens, but also wanting to NOT be in the present moment because that’s where life is uncomfortable.

I know I’m not alone in this. Everyone seems to be feeling more than the usual amount of sadness, anger, fear, overwhelm, disappointment, helplessness, and hopelessness. Politics, climate change, greed, lack of love and respect, absence of connection and purpose, people are struggling. Of course, pain and suffering will always exist. We can't live in a world where everything is always going to go exactly the way we want. And we'll all deal with injury, illness, and death, so loss is a natural part of life. However, extra, unnecessary cruelty is a hard pill to swallow.

Through it all, I’ve kept coming back to mindfulness practice. Because it’s what I need, it’s what we all need. Whether we want it or not. It might seem counterintuitive to be fully present when going through difficult, painful times, but it’s actually how we decrease pain and suffering. Remember being told that the only way to overcome a fear is to face it? Feeling our tough emotions is facing our fear of being uncomfortable, which ultimately, is behind nearly every problem we have. When we’re fully present with our emotions they actually lose their power over us. The anger, sadness, and fear become more comfortable, so we can pause and learn from them, then make choices that support our goals and values, which in turn, helps us feel more calm, satisfied, and happier.

Now, I’m not saying this is easy when faced with near constant negativity. It’s actually really freaking hard! I’ve done my fair share of doom scrolling, binge watching, emotional eating, blaming others, and even got hooked on this ridiculous game on my phone. All to distract myself from feeling the feels. Of course I could have chosen even more problematic distractions, but it’s still time I’ll never get back. It finally got to a point where I felt more uncomfortable distracting myself than facing the original discomfort. I was frozen with the world moving forward seemingly without me. I didn’t want to miss out on anymore of my life – comfortable or uncomfortable.

So, I went back to practicing mindfulness, being aware of the present moment. Each time it slipped away, I’d come back to it over and over and over again. Hey, we’re human and our minds wander. But to be able to bring ourselves back whenever we recognize we aren’t present is a magic trick, and the more we practice it, the more we’re in the present moment and the longer we stay aware. When I’m able to be mindful, I heal shit, take responsibility for myself, and trust myself more. While I’m still going through it, it feels less painful. I’m experiencing more peace, clarity, and even joy in the midst of it all. It’s led me to start taking small steps again toward dreams and goals. Mindfulness isn’t just being aware of what’s going on within and outside of ourselves. It’s also about taking thoughtful, inspired action.

Hence, why I’m here, putting myself out there. Sharing myself, my thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Being vulnerable is terrifying. But I’m trying because I know how important it is. Not just to me, but to us all. We want to take risks when we see other people being brave. Whether it’s something that seems small like being honest or something big like pulling people from a burning building. It inspires us to be better versions of ourselves.

Everyone wonders what they can do in the midst of personal or collective chaos. At times, finding that answer can be overwhelming. But really the only action we need to take is to be present, take it all in, slow down, observe our senses and what’s going on around us, and make a wise decision. All you have to do is make that next best choice and act on it. It doesn’t have to be big. We think we have to do the big thing. But really all we all have to do is show up with curiosity about this very moment and big things unfold naturally. With far less stress and difficulty.

All of this to say, I want you to know that even amidst uncertainty and suffering, we don’t need to be stuck. We don’t have to be avoidant or reactive. Or miserable and mean. We can have more peace, more joy, more clarity, deeper connections (with ourselves and others), and make wiser choices that benefit ourselves and the world as a whole. We can take personal responsibility and communal accountability. We all need one another whether we like it or not. Who knows what we can accomplish from all of us being even a little more present? I’m hoping you’ll join me on this journey of great bravery, compassion, and presence. Should you choose this adventure, I’ll share mindful practices, thoughts, inspiration, and other resources through this Mindfulness IRL blog, my YouTube channel, social media, and “A Mindful Minute” weekly email reminders. Sign up so you don’t miss any more of life.