Hi there

[Mischa]

Hi there, I am new to the forum.

I am not quite sure yet what my exact question is, but hopefully it will become cleas as I write this down.

The last 7 months, I read a lot about mindfulness and I practive everyday. I made a resume of the book Mindfulness for Dummies and everyday I read a part of this resume to stay connected to the content as I find it quite complicated at times.
In about one week, we will be getting the keys to our new house and even though we planned everything very well, all the arranging for this gives me a lot of stress.
I was able to understand and practice mindfulness quite well during a more stable time, but now with the busy time ahead of me it is getting difficult for me. The daily formal meditation goes ok, I am just sometimes searching for my mindset throughout the day.
I quess I find it hard to arrange so many things for the 'future' and to be in the present at the same time.

I'm sorry , I still don't have a very clear question but maybe someone can give me some tips?

[MiM]

Hello and welcome Mischa,

You are about as long into mindfulness as I am, but seem to be somewhat further with your discipline. What I believe is that you need to give yourself some slack. It is quite natural that mindfulness will be harder in stressful and busy times. When your life calms down, you will be able to find your pace again, and next time you get into more stress you will have this experience to look back on.

Good luck with your new house. Enjoying it is but another way to be mindful.

[Mischa]

Hi thank you and welcome to you as well

You are right, I don't give myself enough slack. I kind of got frustrated that my move and everything that goed with that, interferd with my daily 'feeling ok'. And I do realise that in 'normal life', we don't know so much in the future and with the move now we have so much planned and stuff. I also realise that when life is somewhat calmer, it's easier to stay in the present.

[Peter]

Hi Mischa,

For all of us it is more difficult to be aware in times of stress.
It is normal that your thoughts pull you in much stronger than in calm times.
It seems like you have more success in those calm periods, but you cannot measure your success in time being mindfull. Just like you cannot measure the success of biking only by the time. You have to take into account the terrain. If you are riding uphill, it would be much tougher.

You shouldn't fight these stressful times. See it as an opportunity. It can be very rewarding to examine yourself (mind and body) with mindfulness, in these stressful times. You'll also notice that paying attention to it, will often soften the stress or even devolve it. However, that shouldn't be your goal, because then you're in essence still fighting it, and it doesn't work.

Also, the mind might be hard to 'watch' in times of stress, but the body is much easier. The body is reacting strongly to the stress and that makes it very easy to sense..

I hope this helps you somewhat..

[Gareth]

Also, the mind might be hard to 'watch' in times of stress, but the body is much easier.

Excellent advice.

[Mischa]

Thanks!

[Caralouise]

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Thank you!

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[JonW]

Hi Caralouise,
Welcome to Everyday Mindfulness.
I don't see a link to your survey.
All best wishes,
Jon