Mindfulness: Short-Term Pessimism, Long-Term Optimism (194)

Bombardment, Energy Imploding

We all suffer from problem blindness sometimes- we do not see the problem. Other times we are so hyper focused on the multitude of problems bombarding us- we have problem freeze. We simply cannot see past them. They feel like a ripple of space/time, locking us into a state of perpetual panic. We can get through the day, we can function in society, but we do so with the heft of this, holding us down like a paperweight.

We are so overwhelmed with the situation, the only way we can come to terms with all of it is to pass blame. A lack of ownership is the first symptom of complacency. “It’s not my problem to fix the…,” Insert here. All we can do is focus on what we can change. What we can see our reflection in. When things get amplified, magnified- we are more likely to see ourselves in it. The louder the voices, the more we pay attention.

So here we sit with all of the world’s problems, all of our country’s upheaval, all of our community’s circumstances and we feel like the tunnel is collapsing.

So, we pick and choose what we feel is important. We have to. We can’t deal with everything right now. We are only one person, but we are constantly feeling like we need to be more, do more, say more, march more. But we simply cannot. We are tunneling and our jackhammer and shovel are in our hands and we must dig night and day just to keep moving forward.

Awareness, Safety Huddle

When we are frightened, we huddle. WE might run away from the situation, or we might stay and fight. But we tend to seek refuge with other people who are experiencing what we are. Who believe what we believe. Who have the same opinions, ethics, and values as we do.

This is our nature as humans. This is why and how a mob mentality takes hold. Why some get easily swayed- because they do not feel a part of a community. When we feel alone- we will do almost anything not to.

Mindfulness is an energy. It is positivity particles, awareness atoms, calm collisions, and molecules of mental acuity. It is a flow of optimism and acceptance. It is an understanding of how we think, how the signals of input are interpreted. It is an understanding of what motivates us, engages us, scares us, and leads us to transformation and transcendence. Mindfulness is not instant or permanent.

The saying goes “We can’t think ourselves into recovery or happiness. We have to do the work.” Mindfulness is the work. Before we can find happiness, we have to define what it looks like for us. We have to feel it, recognize it, not just in the big moments, the excitement in life. But also, in the quiet, uneventful seconds of the day, where we feel content. We have to create them sometimes- other days they are plentiful, but either way we have to recognize them.

Awareness, Mind’s Eye

Satisfaction for some is a natural feeling. They do not suffer from anxiety or doubt. They find joy in simple things. They enjoy a good meal without overeating. They do not obsess or worry. But I have a feeling these people are few and far between, the rest of us who struggle a bit, with finding the contented moments and satisfying experiences. They are temporary and well, when they end, some people panic a bit, they worry the next opportunity for satisfaction will not appear.

But we have a minds eye. We have a mental meter that if we give credence to it, acknowledge it, accept it- will help us notice the next moment of contentedness. We might need to wait for it, work for it, accomplish it, but its out there. This awareness of our mind’s eye is necessary for mindfulness. It is our Geiger counter, our dowser. It will only start working if we are open to its signal. This is the most difficult step of mindfulness.

Accepting that we are in control of our emotions and thoughts- that our brain is a machine and it spins, and its gears are in constant motion. We often let the machine take over. We often remain unaware because its easier. But these days with social media steering the conversation, covid-19 determining our fate, public opinion, and things out of our control weighing us down- we need to be aware; we need to listen to our mind’s eye- its voice gets muffled. We need to clear the clutter and find a way to see past the muck.

Pessimism and Optimism

Most of us alternate between pessimism and optimism. Some tend to feel comfortable in the negative spectrum, others seek the positive. But its impossible to remain in one forever. Outside forces redirect the energy of mindfulness. Most of us have sleep overs in a temporary, short-term pessimism and reside in a long-term optimism. But these days its hard not to have a lot of sleep overs. It is difficult to unpack from a trip, when we do not recognize we are home.

I feel like my luggage got sent to the wrong destination. I wake up and for a moment or two I feel content. Then I remember. Then I remember our jobs are not what they were. Society is strained. Humanity is at the mercy of a microscopic entity. I know I never imagined something like this happening. I never had an emergency plan in place for this. But now that I have been having  a lot of sleep overs, in 2020, I know how to pack an overnight bag.

Short-term pessimism is understandable. Frustration and anger is understandable. The only way to combat it, however, is to stay long-term optimistic. To use mindfulness for what it was intended for, awareness of how you feel, strategies to cope with uncertainty, recognizing the satisfaction you feel on a daily basis and how it adds up to contentment. Even though they are temporary, they can be lengthened with mindful awareness.

There is no one on the planet who hasn’t felt a moment of despair and restlessness in the last few months. Everyone has felt estranged, empty, subjected to someone else’s control. But most people are pivoting and adjusting to the shift in ‘normalcy.’ How are some people remaining hopeful while others are so buried beneath pessimism and negativity? They are forward-thinking and emboldened because they are aware of their thoughts. They are mindful of their emotions and they are discovering ways to redirect the flow of energy to suit their needs.

They find satisfaction in daily activities; they sit in a contentedness knowing it will need to be charged by their actions. They are listening to their mind’s eye to see the long-term optimism and cope with the short-term pessimism. It is impossible not to feel anger, sadness, and frustration. Our emotions model our circumstances. But it is also easier to find joy, happiness, and release when we do not take them for granted. When we do the work.

Mindfulness to Me, Why it Works

Mindfulness is a term I have been using for years, as others have been. Recently it has transformed from an ideas of meditation and yoga, lava lamps and peace signs (Yes, I have heard someone equate mindfulness to all of these in the past), to one of wellness and self-motivation. Mindfulness is not, as I have said earlier, permanent, or quick. It is not easy or a simple fix to life’s problems.

It is a state of mind, I guess. A map of sorts. A feeling, a process to recognize how you think. Why you think what you do. It is full of signposts- satisfaction, contentedness, short-term pessimism, long-term optimism. It is listening, observing, acting and discipline. It is writing, reflecting, practicing meditation and maybe yoga. It is pausing to think before you speak. It is consideration and kindness.

Mindfulness is a flow of energy, a new form of energy many have never tapped into. It’s always been there, but it felt somehow too magical and mystical and for some that feels like hogwash (Yes, I have been told this too). But it is tangible in the actions we take. It is corporeal in the relationships we form and the compassion we share with others. What comes from mindfulness is expansive and almost immeasurable- for we do not always see it.

Mindfulness helps us overcome doubt and fear, because it allows us, if we listen, to understand why we are feeling the way we do. I see it being similar to having a stomach-ache, thinking about what you ate and why it might have given you the pain in your gut. Then remembering to avoid that meal in the future. We adjust when we feel pain. Mindfulness is the acceptance of how we are feeling, what we are feeling and how to use our emotions to make our lives better.

Our brains are complicated. They try and trick us. They form habits. They misguide us. But they also warn us, prepare us, stabilize us. Mindfulness is the framework, the instruction manual, the audiobook. If we learn to respond not react, own our pessimism, and celebrate our optimism- we will find that the moments of satisfaction, joy and contentedness will become more frequent. We can actually make them happen.

Nowadays everyone needs more moments of joy and happiness. But we also have to keep our mind’s eye on the necessity, to pivot and shift, in a circuit- not of our design. Our energy flow fluctuates. Our optimism wanes. Our anger mounts. But with mindfulness, with reflection, awareness, and focus- we will be able to stay self-motivated, healthy, and forward-thinking. We will problem-solve, take risks, and learn to really listen- to others and ourselves. Listening is the key to mindfulness and mindfulness is the key to positive change and transformation.