HEALTHY HABITSâ—½ YOU
Do trends and media and advertising and must-haves get to you, some days? Seriously, there’s a new hair vitamin, or a way to stave off the gray, reduce belly fat, or something…every single time we open our screens. If we visit the store, some dressing rooms have signs hanging in them that say “Must have” on a hook, where we can hang our pieces, and be reminded that we “need” them all. My goodness, every single commercial (if you watch live TV) draws us in to medicines, new cars, the lawyer that rights all wrongs, and more.
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While all of this might be interesting and cool to note and be mindful of, it’s not healthy or wise to go mad over it.​
How do we stay mindful, but not go mad, over being bombarded on a daily basis?
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We like what we like. Sure, try a new trend if you want, but don’t do it because you feel less-than if you don’t.
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We avoid panic. Panic buying or grabbing isn’t healthy. It causes us to spend more, place our hopes in another remedy, and feeds our fears.
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We consider common sense. If it’s the one super food that will cure all, it’s probably not. Maybe we should just eat in moderation all the good things.
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We change the conversation. If we’re in a group with others that are discussing the latest and we start to feel shamed or less than, because we don’t know about this topic, let’s bring up something of value to talk about! Maybe, talk about grateful happenings in our lives, instead…
We enjoy, but we don’t obsess. Maybe you love to stroll the aisles of Target and Marshalls, or the outdoor malls, and feel this obsession to purchase something that’s way over budget. Why can’t we enjoy what we see, and wait for sales or buy the same style elsewhere? If you can splurge, go ahead, but don’t rise up with the “must haves” and feel bad, later.
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We delete and ignore. Maybe that one Instagram account stirs up something in us and makes us feel pressure, or what she says is so annoying and make us want to lash out. Be mindful of these accounts but don’t go mad over these folks.
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We give thanks instead of giving way… Maybe we just feel we’ll never figure out how to look good, feel good, be thin, have hair like her, figure out the best diet, you name it. Sure, there are times to see a doctor or make healthy changes, but that’s not the topic of this story. There are many times we don’t need to do anything at all, but give thanks for where we are, and what’s happening in our home and family.
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Being mindful is listening and deciphering whether we need to listen more, or turn away and focus on something else deserving of our time, thoughts and energy. I’ve wasted many a day pining and wishing and looking and hoping, instead of living. I must have been mad! And those days when I’m mindful instead, well I see the sunrise and the sunset, and everything in between…in the light of both.