mindfulness-matters

[mindfulness-matters]

have you ever tried to put yourself in the mindset that you are the ‘powerful one’ instead of the ‘target’? instead of worrying about what others might think of you, imagine that you are a powerful person that other people should worry about. that might help if you are being self-conscious in public.

[mindfulness-matters]

[mindfulness-matters]

𝔰𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔞𝔱 𝔲𝔫𝔦

[mindfulness-matters]

it’s crucial to learn how to take control of your thoughts. when anxiety strikes, try to recognise that you’re creating it in your mind. remind yourself that you’re in control and your mind should be clear. you need to focus on the present moment, rather than worrying about the future of the past. avoid dwelling on negative thoughts and negative emotions.

[mindfulness-matters]

I sincerely hope your Christmas holidays have been more joyful than stressful. this year, I decided to treat myself to a two-week break from work, which I desperately needed. so now I'm just trying to recharge at least a bit and not to think of anything.

I've been listening to quite a lot of music lately and I realised I started listening and truly appreciating calm songs. I mean, I'd listened to them too, of course. but before I had loads of upbeat songs in my playlist and whenever I went outside with my headphones on, I listened to only them. mostly. now it's different. I deleted many songs I liked before but I don't now and added some new ones.

some things has changed in me over the last few months. not only my music taste. but also what I like eating, drinking. it feels like a new mindset in a manner of speaking, even though not completely new. but it's something positive, and I can even say it feels exciting.

[mindfulness-matters]

[mindfulness-matters]

it’s tough when our thoughts and worries just keep swirling in our heads, even if we don’t know what triggered them. but you don’t have to hide it or pretend everything’s alright when it’s not.

[mindfulness-matters]

it can be difficult to decipher why you feel anxious. it’s not always about a specific thought or situation. sometimes it’s just a culmination of everything. maybe it’s just your brain being overactive. but it’s important to take time to step back and be kind to yourself. you are allowed to feel overwhelmed and unsure.

[mindfulness-matters]

you are not perfect, but no one is. we all have good and bad traits. but none of your flaws make you less of a human being.

[mindfulness-matters]

Details: Portrait of Urania, 19th century, British School.

[mindfulness-matters]

there are several steps you can take without professional help to address your anxiety.

practising relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness to help reduce some of the physical and emotional symptoms.

seeking affordable mental health apps or resources that offer guidance and techniques to manage anxiety.

reaching out to your family or friend for support. they can provide comfort and practical advice to help you navigate and overcome your anxiety.

[mindfulness-matters]

Pain and suffering are always inevitable for a large intelligence and a deep heart. The really great men must, I think, have great sadness on earth.

— Fyodor Dostoevsky

[mindfulness-matters]

journalling is an excellent way to express your feelings. it can be helpful to focus on writing down your thoughts in a non-judgmental way, without trying to analyse or label them. you don’t need to have a specific format or structure for your journalling sessions. you can focus on exploring the different aspects of the anxiety you feel and identifying its triggers and effects on you.

[mindfulness-matters]

here are two strategies to cope with social anxiety.

firstly, practise deep breathing. deep breaths in for 4 seconds and then slowly out for 5 seconds. focus only on the breathing as you do it. this can help keep you in the moment and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed.

another good one is positive self-talk. remind yourself that whatever happens, it will be okay. remind yourself to try and be brave and give yourself credit for things you do.

[mindfulness-matters]

work on being less judgemental of yourself. often when people have social anxiety, they are worried that people around them are judging in a negative way. however, it is often true that we judge ourselves in a much more harsh way than we judge other people.

[mindfulness-matters]

a few tips when feeling anxious

get enough sleep and eat healthy. bad sleep or an unhealthy body can just make anxiety so much worse.

don't drink caffeine or do drugs. if you have any anxiety disorder, don't make it worse by messing with your brain chemistry.

exercise, meditate, take deep breaths if you feel your anxiety rising. all of these things can help you relax.

stay away from negative people. if people around you stress you out or make you feel bad, do not hang out with them.

[mindfulness-matters]

Made a short list of some of the reasons a person may be emotionally unavailable, so that you can realize that you can’t change them and it has nothing to do with you

• They have learned to suppress their feelings, making it difficult for them to connect emotionally with others

• Unresolved pain from past experiences that they haven’t worked through prevents emotional openness

• They fear closeness and may push people away to avoid getting too attached

• They prioritize work or personal goals over emotional connections

• They prioritize their own needs & lack empathy

• Fear of losing independence leads to avoiding commitment

They will still try to get affection from others because they seek validation or attention to temporarily fill a void, or they might fear being alone or abandoned, so they seek affection without committing to avoid emotional intimacy (if it isn’t obvious, this is wrong).