Don’t make yourself miserable.

February 22, 2021

“A disciplined mind brings happiness.” - Buddha

Why do our minds wander so easily? More importantly, why do our minds insist on revisiting negative experiences, perceived slights, or irrelevant what-if situations? When we let our minds wander, it’s easy to dwell on the negative emotions of an event long since passed. This is true for any person - mom or not - but it can ring especially true in a climate of ultra-involved parenting and social media. Am I doing enough? Should I have handled that situation differently? Worries, regrets, and self-comparisons are amplified by a wandering mind.

A disciplined mind, on the other hand, can be diverted away from a spiral of negativity. Don’t make yourself miserable by ruminating on the past or imagining future catastrophes. This week, try to catch your mind when it wanders and bring it back to the present moment or task at hand. Your happiness is at stake.