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Wellness Wednesdays: Mental Health and Well-being Tips for All

Breath by Breath

During difficult times, we often worry about what is coming next, remembering or regretting something in the past. It is very difficult to understand what we need in the moment, what our hearts are saying about our environment, and how we should respond when we are thinking about regrets or harms from yesterday. 
 
Remember, mindfulness is purposely paying attention in the present moment, non-judgmentally, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.
 
Today’s Wellness Wednesday will teach you a mindfulness strategy that you can try anywhere, anytime.

Try this:

This mindfulness exercise can be practiced anytime in your day when you find yourself ruminating about the past or worrying about the future.
  1. Take three soft, slow, mindful breaths and watch life flow.
  2. Your breaths help you pause and notice where you are and what is going on right now, in this moment.
  3. You are never in yesterday or tomorrow. You are only here now. If something from yesterday upsets you, now is the time to notice your thoughts or feelings about it and work with them or let them go.
  4. Breathe in. Breathe out. Let memories of yesterday fly away from your heart and fade away. Notice this moment, now.
  5. If something about tomorrow worries you, remind yourself that you can only change what is happening now. Tomorrow is not here yet.
  6. Remember that everything in life changes. In each moment, you can start over. In each moment, with each breath, everything is fresh.
– adapted from Mindful Kids, Stewart & Braun

Ask yourself, there is no wrong answer:

Since practicing this mindfulness exercise, what did you notice about the moment you are in?
Have you ever noticed that you get caught up in past moments or worry about the future? How do you think the Breath by Breath exercise you just tried might help you next time?

Connecting to Our Faith

Father in heaven,
Thank you for family - watch over my loved ones
Thank you for play - help me to be happy and free
Thank you for my school - teach me to listen and learn
Thank you for food and rest - you give us lovely food and peaceful sleep
Thank you for all these wonderful things,
Amen.

Further Learning

Children’s Resource:
Four Breathing Exercises for Kids (3:27)
 
 
Adult Resource:
 
 
 
Employees of LDCSB checkout WorkLifeHealth from EAP Provider Morneau Sheppell
 
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