Why Teens Need to Practice Mindfulness

What could be more inspiring than the idea that, when you leave this Earth, you’ll know that you lived your life fully? That you engaged in the world from a place of authenticity? That you devoted your life to the service of things you believe in? That your presence, your words, and your deeds made a difference in the lives of your family, friends, acquaintances, classmates, co-workers and the strangers you encountered along the way?

The Past & The Future

Teens live very busy lives. As a teen, your mind can be unfocused at times, as thoughts race between reflecting on past experience, contemplating the future, and dealing with the situation in the present.

The past and future, however, exist only in your thoughts. They creep into your present life only if you allow them in. True life only exists in the present moment.

You can easily waste long periods of time each day simply by allowing your thoughts to wander into the past and the future.

Technological Distractions

If you’re like most teens, you’re probably engaged with at least two digital devices throughout the day. Each time you hear a ring tone, a ping or swoosh your mind switches away from the present moment and you are disengaged in your life.

When this happens, you run the risk of missing out on awesome present encounters and events that bring meaning and purpose in your life.

Fear of Rejection

We are all hard-wired to crave love and a sense of belonging, given that our ancestors lived in tribes and were dependent on the tribe for survival.

This is such a primal need that when you experience social rejection, you can generate negative views of yourself and become extremely self-critical.

That’s why, when you face the possibility of being rejected, you can become extremely reactive.

The Importance of Mindfulness

In order for you to live your life fully, you need to focus on living your life in the present moment. You can start by practicing mindfulness throughout each day.

Mindfulness is both a practice and an attitude that emphasizes focusing attention on the present moment, acknowledging feelings, and redirecting attention away from judgemental or unkind thoughts about yourself or others.

Mindfulness can help you let go of attachment to things being a certain way, and live more in the present, rather than being consumed by regrets about the past and worries about the future.

And if you’re sensitive to social rejection, mindfulness can help your brain’s emotional centers become less automatically reactive. It can help you live more in the present moment and be more self-aware and self-accepting, so that you’re less caught up in negative stories and judgments, and so that rejection is less triggering.

Seizing Every Opportunity

There is something to take away from every experience, something to be learned, something to encourage growth. But to truly benefit from the experience, you have to remain present and embrace your authenticity.

Very little in life is solely a matter of luck or chance. Luck and chance provide a roll of the dice or a hand of cards, but your ultimate success will largely depend on how well prepared you are to seize the opportunity when it arises, and on the actions you take in the present moment.