In these times, we see too much of what’s going on in the lives of those around us, even illusions. This has the tendency to make one feel like nothing great is going on for them. ‘God when’ has become an anthem in our society.
[ad]
Even though we throw the slang around with our teeth on full display, it stems from a place of admiration for the goodness we are beholding. There would be no need for this article if admiration is the only feeling in the picture; there’s a little bit of resentment in the mix. It is not far-fetched to infer that there is a straight line between social media ‘lifestyle’ and the rate of depression, suicide and even crime. Remember the decisions you made as a teenager without this much exposure? Now, imagine its tremendous effect on teenagers who are part of the audience, all thanks to their access to mobile phones.
The villain in this story is not social media because there are events happening outside the internet in the lives of the people in our communities that can make one feel left behind, it can even be more hurtful cos it is a real-life event. The actual villain is the lack of awareness of the blessings in one’s life. Think about this, have you ever boarded a bus with other passengers and felt left behind because they alighted before you? Of course not. You would never feel left behind because your destination is different; it is home, however, farther it may be.
There is so much beauty going on in your own life even on a bad day, but you have not been paying attention. We spend so much time viewing the status of others, be it on WhatsApp or Instagram. It is more important to view your status on a daily status. This can be done in two ways:
1. Mindfulness
According to Great Good Magazine, Mindfulness is defined as the act of maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. Mindfulness is so powerful because it makes you appreciate the now. When you are mindful, you are not thinking about the past, the future or an imagination; you are only thinking about what is going in the present.
Mindfulness is the prerequisite to peace. As you are reading this article, try to focus only on the alphabet that makes up the words and its meaning. Notice how you are no longer thinking about your worries. There is peace in this very moment. The moment we allow our thoughts to wander, it has the tendency to go astray into the arms of negativity bias.
Practicing mindfulness is a present continuous way of viewing your own status and it is as simple as paying full attention to what you are doing at every point in time. Cultivating the habit of mindfulness requires time and conscious effort. You can start by increasing your awareness of where your mind is, and then refocusing your attention on what you are doing at the moment. It could be washing the dishes or watching a movie or taking a walk or even listening to who is speaking to you.
2. Gratitude
What are you grateful for? This question should be asked and answered at the end of every day. It may seem like things are not looking up for you right now. It could be much worse, but it isn’t. A good meal is something to be grateful for, a soft bed to lay in is a huge flex. How
about perfect health? Or having a job even though it might be stressful? It could be your finances, but how about being grateful for having a sane mind to worry about money in the first place? The list is endless.
Practising gratitude has proven to be the fastest mood improver. Make a commitment to answer the gratitude question daily, especially when you are unhappy and experience its soothing effect. You can start by setting a reminder every day, preferably at night. List the things you are grateful for, as many that come to mind, spend some time thinking about them and observe how your mood improves.
[ad unit=2]
