Mindfulness

Finding Stillness in a Hectic World: My Mindfulness Journey

If you’re anything like me, the idea of slowing down can feel almost impossible. I’ve always been a doer—a person who thrives on a packed schedule, ticking off tasks, and keeping the momentum going.

Reflecting, breathing, and just being? Those have never been my strong suits. So, when people would suggest that I meditate, I’d always brush it off. “I already pray,” I’d say, “I don’t need meditation. And besides, who has the time?”

But then, something changed. I stumbled upon mindfulness, and my perspective shifted in a way I never expected.

The Origins of Mindfulness

Before diving into my experience, let’s rewind a bit and talk about what mindfulness actually is.

The practice of mindfulness has its roots in ancient Buddhist traditions, where it was a key element of meditation and spiritual development. Fast forward to the late 20th century, and mindfulness was brought to the West by figures like Jon Kabat-Zinn, who developed Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in the late 1970s. The concept is simple yet profound: mindfulness is the practice of paying full attention to the present moment, without judgment or distraction.

My Unlikely Beginning: Coloring Mandalas

My journey with mindfulness began in the most unexpected way—through coloring mandalas (USA) (EU). I know, it doesn’t exactly scream “mindfulness,” but it was the first time I made an effort to carve out time in my day just for me. When I was coloring, I wasn’t thinking about my to-do list, I wasn’t worrying about tomorrow—I was just focused on the patterns and the colors.

It was a small step, but it was my step, and it taught me the value of taking time to slow down.

The Turning Point: A Friend, a Coach, and a Lab Rat

Not long after, a friend of mine who was training to become a coach asked if I’d help him practice. Little did I know that this “experiment” would change my outlook on mindfulness. Through our sessions, I realized something crucial: I was very self-aware, motivated, and persistent, but I never truly took time for myself. Even when I did something enjoyable, I’d try to multitask, to be efficient.

This friend introduced me to some basic mindfulness exercises. We started with simple breathing practices—just focusing on the breath going in and out of my nostrils, paying attention to the sounds around me with my eyes closed. It felt so foreign to me. Why should I waste time on breathing, something my body does automatically, when I had a million other things to do?

Embracing Mindfulness: Small Steps, Big Changes

At first, it felt silly.

But slowly, practice after practice, I started to push away the voice that said I was wasting time and began to see where mindfulness could take me. I began reading about how mindfulness was benefiting great athletes, leaders, and everyday people I admired. I saw colleagues take five minutes to rebalance their breathing at work. I realized that mindfulness was all around me, subtly influencing those who seemed to have found some inner peace amidst their busy lives.

Curious and eager to explore more, I picked up Mindfulness in Plain English (USA) (EU), a book that offers a straightforward introduction to the practice. I also invested in a few things to make the experience more enjoyable—a home fragrance diffuser (USA) (UE) that changes colors, some essential oils (USA) (UE) that brought back memories of childhood and security (and were masculine enough to pass the boyfriend test), and I began to practice at home. Before I knew it, I was doing mindfulness exercises on the subway, at work, even while walking.

The Benefits I Never Expected

Here’s the truth: mindfulness has made a difference in my life. It helps me stay calm, focused, and more connected to myself, even in the chaos of my daily routine. It’s not a cure-all, and it doesn’t work for everyone. But if you’re open to it, mindfulness can help you discover a new version of yourself—one that’s a little more grounded, a little more present, and a lot more at peace.

So, if you’ve ever been curious about mindfulness, maybe now is the time to give it a try. Who knows? You might just find that the calm you’ve been searching for was within you all along.