Take Control by Moving Mindfully

Have you ever experienced an emotion and not know what is causing it? I have. Yesterday I was irritated. Everything that happened served to further increase my irritation. So, I took myself offline and gave myself a break. Today I am back, bolder and stronger than ever.

It could have easily turned out so differently. I could have taken my irritation out on others, those closest to me and on prospective clients. However, I was able to identify the irritation. I reflected on my thoughts and feelings and listened to my body. Sometimes the most important form of self-care is to relax. It turned out that I was irritated at myself. I had my first COVID immunisation and had been unable to perform my usual self-care routines and found myself unproductive. This irritated me. If I had not identified this, I could have caused far more problems for myself that would only have served to irritate me further and potentially elevate into anger.

It is so important for us all to be self-aware. However, like with so many other things in life it is a skill, and all skills can be learned. Don’t let your emotions control you. Regain control of your emotions, your thoughts and your behaviour. One of the most effective strategies for becoming more self-aware is to practice mindful movements.

Mindful movements can range from anything you do, to the most effective strategies such as yoga, tai chi and qigong. Being mindful means focusing in detail on what you are doing. So mindful movements are basically being fully conscious of your movements. Ancient practices such as yoga can be an amazing way to learn to become more mindful. If you don’t, you could risk injury. However, if you do, you can train your mind to become more aware of what is going on beneath the surface, our subconscious minds.

Another method could be to keep a journal of what you are thinking, feeling, doing, and how others are responding to you. Also take into account those things that you are not doing. It may be you’re sleeping too much, or it may be that you’re not sleeping enough. Keep track of yourself. Monitor and adjust accordingly.

In our subconscious minds, all manner of emotions, thoughts and beliefs lie waiting to make life harder for ourselves. It is important to reflect on these beliefs, thoughts and emotions in order to ensure we make the most informed choice possible for ourselves. It takes practice, but it will become like second nature once you have mastered the art of it. Become more self-aware. It will only serve to make life easier for yourself.