Have you ever been in a situation where you felt out of control or disempowered? Where no matter how much you tried to be resourceful, you felt trapped and without choices? When encountering such situations “mindfulness” (the process of observing what your mind is thinking or saying) can be a great tool to help us go back to a state of balance and empowerment.
Our place of power is anchored in our ability to choose how to feel regardless of the external circumstances and on how others behave. Observing our mind and understanding that we create our own choices allows us to react in an empowered way. We can then disengage from the perceived discomfort by realizing that it is not caused by the circumstance itself but by our own thoughts about the circumstance we are currently facing.
Therefore, following the 5Rs can help us shift to a mindful state and regain balance:
REMOVE the connotation and contexts from the situation. React to each situation based on new thoughts, not with thoughts which were used to solve previous circumstances. Deconstruct thought.
RELENT do not overanalyze the current situation and the causes that led to it, accept it as it is.
RESPONSIBILITY we need to hold ourselves accountable for the part played in the current situation. By taking responsibility we are in charge.
REGAIN control by emphasizing on the positive things that can be addressed.
RESHAPE the situation once the feeling of control and balance has been attained.
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