The Role of Mindfulness in Your Life

understanding and developing coping mechanisms are vital

Author

Lane Kennedy
August 29, 2024

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Hello Friend.

This month we can celebrate the closing of summer and the return to school, for those of us who have children. For those who are childfree, what does it mean for you?

The other day, I met someone, and she said, "Wow, I'm so grateful that you have a kid, and not me!” I wasn't sure how to take this statement, so I just looked at her and smiled. Yeah, sure, I thought.

People often surprise me with how unthoughtful, disconnected, or unskilled they are in communicating. I'm fascinated by this. As a mindfulness teacher and a person who lives in long-term recovery, I'm often asked questions like:

* How do I not lose my mind over my kids not listening to me, how can I use mindfulness to help?

* Why do I get so upset when my partner(wife/husband/GF/BF) doesn't… unload the dishwasher? Yes, this one comes up a lot, but it could be anything—you could fill in the blank.

* What can I do when I disagree with my husband's statements about politics or any other subject matter?

Here's a little excerpt from Sobriety For Dummies to support these questions:

The Role of Mindfulness in Coping Mechanisms

Mindfulness equips you with the ability to confront rather than avoid the emotional turbulence often encountered in recovery. As you develop mindfulness, you learn that resilience isn't just about enduring hardship but also about growing from experiences without reverting to old, destructive habits. This readiness to face life’s ups and downs head-on is a crucial coping mechanism that sustains long-term sobriety and personal growth.

As someone in recovery from addiction, understanding and developing coping mechanisms is vital. Coping mechanisms are automatic psychological processes that help you manage stress, emotions, and thoughts that could lead to relapse. Mindfulness enhances these mechanisms by fostering a non-reactive awareness of the present moment, allowing you to notice and acknowledge cravings, stressors, or sparks without being overwhelmed by them. 

Why is this important for you in recovery? Because the very nature of addiction involves a loss of control over behaviors in response to stimuli. During active addiction, coping mechanisms often involve substance use to manage uncomfortable emotions or situations. In recovery, however, it’s about replacing those destructive patterns with healthy, life-affirming ones.

I sincerely hope you are on the journey with me and you're listening to the podcast with Tamar and me. If you haven't yet subscribed, you can jump over to You’re Sober Now What.

I'll be back again next week. I hope you have an amazing moment. Thank you for reading and being a part of this experience; we are grateful.

Hugs,

Lane

Have you started practicing with me yet? 👇🏼

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