By Lisa LaBelle for Hope After Divorce
Relationships and love begin at a young age for many of us, long before we are adults. Luckily, there are words of dating advice, guidance, and wisdom we can share to help each other through these sometimes murky waters. After all, we are all navigating our way through relationships — whether they be family, romantic, or platonic — in one way or another.
The Importance of Mindfulness in Relationships and Love
One specific word I find essential, helpful, and a miracle worker when it comes to relationships and love is “mindfulness.” Why? Here’s a broad definition that will hopefully answer this question:
Mindfulness means to consciously paying attention to what you are experiencing (feeling and thinking) as it’s happening. You must be in the present moment within your mind. It means to be fully anchored in the moment, leaving what has happened in the past or what’s lying ahead in the future. To be mindful means to be aware of your thoughts and emotions and then to choose how to behave and respond through your words, actions, body language, etc. It means to recognize others around you as they are without judgment.
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A positive consequence of being mindful is feeling peaceful rather than overwhelmed by your thoughts, memories, emotions, worries, concerns, fears, or distractions. In addition, mindfulness gives you the authentic feeling that you are the captain of your own ship; you are responsible for your own life and the choices you make. You gain your own power, which is essential to living an authentic life. This includes making positive decisions when dating, whether you’re playing the field or in a romantic, committed relationship.
Celebrity Exes Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey
Unfortunately, Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey weren’t able to practice mindfulness in order to rebuild their marriage. After a lot of ups and downs, the comedian filed for divorce. Now, the celebrity exes will begin a new and significant journey of co-parenting. Hopefully, they will realize the importance of working together, supporting one another, and doing their individual parts to raise their children peacefully. It will be essential for them to be mindful of their own thoughts, actions, behaviors, responses, decisions, and choices for their own well-being and that of their beautiful children.
Mindfulness is naturally becoming a common practice among health and wellness professionals, counselors, relationship experts, and life coaches. You can clearly see why in the description above. If you wish to have a healthy relationship and love, choosing to be mindful of your own thoughts, actions, and feelings each day will be a significant benefit for you and your partner. Remember, you are 50 percent of a relationship. Your other half must also do their part to mirror your practice of being mindful. When we are mindful of what is going on around us and how we are choosing to respond, feel, think, and behave ourselves, we are likely to feel more connected. We engage in healthier and happier patterns of behavior. These positive patterns will serve us well if we will do our part to practice mindfulness, so make it a daily choice.
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Our brains are powerful. It is up to us to guide them in a positive direction. We each have the innate power to literally change the way we think. Hopefully, celebrity exes Cannon and Carey will choose to be mindful as they become co-parents for years to come. Begin to be more mindful, and see how your own relationships and love life will evolve and change for the better. It starts with YOU!
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Lisa LaBelle is co-founder and co-executive director of Hope After Divorce and DivorceSupportCenter.com. She holds a B.S. degree in Education, and is completing her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling with an emphasis in marriage, child, and family therapy. Lisa is a family and child advocate. She is co-author and co-editor of Hope After Divorce and Divorce Experts Weigh In. Lisa is the co-host of the Life After Divorce CL3 Agency blogtalk radio show. She is a contributing expert for DivorceSupportCenter.com, FamilyShare.com, CupidsPulse.com, and Newport Lifestyle Magazine. You can contact Lisa by visiting www.divorcesupportcenter.com.
