It was amazing!
It was magical!
It was heavenly!
After 10 days there, I feel like a new person!
Old weights are gone, my body and soul are smiling, and I feel refreshed!
(This is a rarity for me.)
But, alas, I knew the trip was destined to end.
As our departure date rolled around, I thought about the many things I loved about this trip – the ocean breeze, the rainbows, the time with my spouse, and more.
And then I realized something: this would be my last morning of drinking espresso on the comfy furniture on the balcony. My last time looking at the lush, tropical paradise. My last time at the beach. I so loved it here, and now it was time to go.
As a twinge of bittersweet emotion enveloped me, a thought struck me:
You’ll always have the memories.
I’ll always have the memories? I thought to myself.
But what about the espresso? And the rainbows? And the ocean breeze?
You’ll have those, too. It said. In your memories.
Humph. I thought to myself. A lot of consolation that is! (Okay, I’m being a bit dramatic, but you get the picture.)
As I pondered it more and tried to detach from the negative chorus in my head, I realized something:
Having amazing memories is a consolation! It’s a huge one, in fact.
I mean, having the ability to call up spectacular moments of the past, at any time, whenever I want? That’s pretty cool if you ask me.
Sure, thinking of a place you’ve been or another happy memory isn’t exactlythe same as being there – because, well, you’re not physically there – butfortunately for us humans, it’s difficult for our brains to tell the difference.
Don’t believe me?
Give it a try right now.
Think of a time when you felt spectacular. It could be anything: a favorite vacation, spending time with a loved one or animal, or watching your favorite movie.
Got it?
Now, spend 20-30 seconds really immersing yourself in the memory.
For example, if you’re thinking about the last time you got a pedicure, think about how good and relaxing the warm water felt on your feet. Think about how wonderful and refreshed you felt while receiving the foot massage, and how much better you felt once it was over.
Take 30 seconds now, close your eyes, and run through your memory.
Welcome back.
How do you feel?
Happy?
Relaxed?
Something else?
And then pat yourself on the back because you just used your mind to your benefit. You also participated in something called Mindfulness Meditation, which is consciously using your memories to change your state of being.
Besides feeling good, mindfulness has a host of other positive benefits – everything from increasing a person’s happiness and health to improving their relationships. It’s being used in prisons now to cut down on violence and aggression, and it’s also used by Olympic athletes for training. On a practical level, it’s great for detaching from heated situations if you find yourself emotionally triggered, or to center yourself during a hectic day. It’s also a powerful Law of Attraction manifesting tool. (Mindfulness is not, however, meant to be used as a means of denial or escaping.)
I love mindfulness so much that I even created my own mindfulness meditation albums. I have one for busy moms, and another for kids with anxiety or ADHD.
The good news is, you don’t need to buy anything to practice mindfulness. You can do it all by yourself! A great way to do it is by thinking of your favorite memories.
One of my favorite memories on Maui
During this coming week, I’ll be thinking about some of my Maui experiences – especially the times I spent with my husband on the beach!
The next time you find yourself frustrated or stressed, I challenge you to take 30 seconds out of your day and replay one of your favorite memories. The simple act of doing so will shift your energy – leaving you happier, more relaxed, in a better energy.
As always, I LOVE hearing from you (it really is a highlight of my week) so please take a moment RIGHT NOW and tell me about one of your favorite memories! How does it make you feel?
CLICK HERE NOW and tell me!
Until next time, have a great week!