Life is full of so many things, including ups and downs, twists and turns. And that’s something most of us know as fact, not just opinion. But today, I’d like to talk to you about being ok with the fact that sometimes life can be difficult. Difficulty, growth, struggle, and change are all a part of life, and it’s ok. It’s ok to drop food on the floor. It’s ok to make mistakes. It’s ok to not get it right the first time.

There are some incidents, situations, and people in life that we simply can’t control. When these incidents happen, it’s best to assess what part of the situation is out of our control and what part we can control, and how to manage our part in the healthiest way possible.

Of course, managing things in the healthiest way can become a bit more nuanced, but it involves breaking out of the habit of trying to control other people. We must get more in the habit of controlling ourselves.

Did you know there is no such thing as a “negative” emotion? It is no wonder so many of us get anxious about being stressed or sad about being depressed. There are times when we may experience these feelings and again, that’s perfectly ok! But all emotions (i.e. happiness, sadness, contentment, anger) are temporary and will eventually pass if we ride them like a wave or, in some cases, like a labor pain.

It’s important that we first acknowledge our feelings and then decide what to do with them. Will we wallow in them, or simply shake hands with them, allowing those feelings to soothe or distract us as they move on by?

What’s most important is not how we feel, but how we choose to respond to those feelings. This is where mindfulness comes in. This simply means we label our feelings and thoughts in a kind, non-judgmental way, and then redirect our attention to notice and practice something else. For instance, noticing our breath or surroundings, immersing ourselves in a favorite smell, or any other intentional activity are all good examples of practicing mindfulness.

The important part to remember, is that should that feeling or thought pop up again, we acknowledge it in a kind and non-judgmental way, and then redirect ourselves back to our mindful practice.