Everyday Wellness in Brecksville: Learning to be Mindful

Lately, I’ve been getting on my own nerves. I find myself rushing through life trying to get it all done, so that I can relax. But it never all gets done, so I never really relax. I feel impatient, anxious and flustered.

But the universe keeps throwing this word at me and I think I better start paying attention. The word is “mindfulness,” which I was put off by at first because it brought to mind an image of a new-agey guru. But the more I learn about it, the more intrigued I become.

According to the Department of Veterans Affairs website, mindfulness can help you become more aware of your present experiences and increase your ability to cope with difficult emotions, such as anxiety and depression. There are two key parts to mindfulness practice, it says: paying attention to the present moment, and experiencing your thoughts and feelings without judging them.

Brecksville resident Tracy Rhinehart teaches yoga at Nishkama Yoga in Independence and Yoga Bliss in Akron. She defines mindfulness as simply paying attention and “being a witness to your own experience.”

Rhinehart said that you can practice mindfulness through or just by becoming joyful in the simplicity of any activity, like walking your dog or doing the dishes.

“Mindfulness helps us to leave the past behind, recognize that the future isn’t here yet and see that the only power we have is in the present moment," she said.

John Cunningham of Insight Meditation of Cleveland, who heads up the Brecksville Meditation Group, said that when we are mindful, we learn to observe our thoughts and feelings as they arise.

“We take them less seriously, give them less energy, and they move away more easily,” he said.

He said that as we practice mindfulness, the agitated mind becomes peaceful. 

Cunningham recommends practicing mindfulness through . He says that through meditation, our reactions begin to soften, and our thoughts become less stressful.

I tried out being mindful while getting my kids ready for school. I stirred the oatmeal with purpose. And I actually sat down with them while they ate, instead of running around the house, trying to get it all done. It was fun, and there was no yelling. 

So I’ve come to the conclusion that trying to get it all done is my excuse for not really enjoying it while it’s happening. And that peace is so much better than perfection.