Mindfulness Activities

In today’s world, I think this fair to say that we all feel overwhelmed. From current events to weather events, politics, the economy. All of it just seems very stressful. So why, you might wonder, am I writing a piece on Mindfulness Activities? Simply put, anything I can do in my own life to reduce stress and invite calm is worth my time and attention. And when I find Mindfulness Activities that help me, then I want to share that discovery with you! And for me, it’s needlepoint.

What is Mindfulness

It’s interesting, but I don’t really recall hearing the word “mindful” in the past as much as we do now. I’m sure in some circles that word is commonplace. But for me, “mindful” rose to my consciousness with the viral popularity of Beauty influencer Joois Lebron, credited with coining the phrase “very demure, very mindful” on TikTok. Lebron’s TikTok video about being respectful in the workplace went viral and sparked a cultural conversation. The phrase has since become a platform-wide phenomenon on TikTok, with users applying it to a variety of contexts, including at work, on a plane, and in personal appearance. And while the focus of this now-famous phrase was the word “demure” and all the possible applications and interpretations, I’m more interested in the word “mindful”.

So what is mindfulness? How am I mindful? Or, when am I not being mindful? According to the American Psychological Association, “mindfulness is awareness of one’s internal states and surroundings. Mindfulness can help people avoid destructive or automatic habits and responses by learning to observe their thoughts, emotions, and other present-moment experiences without judging or reacting to them.”

OK, so more simply put, if I am being mindful, then I am aware of my surroundings, and how those surroundings are making me feel or act. And if those feelings or actions are not helpful, or even harmful, then I want to develop the ability to pause and observe or feel.

Fine. But if you know me even a little bit, there’s no way I can just stop at observing or feeling. I need to take action to course-correct! And not in an effort to stifle or ignore, but in an effort to mindfully move myself to a more positive place. With or without the pressure of being demure at the same time. (Joke intended).

How to Be Mindful

In the book 25 Lessons in Mindfulness, readers “learn to be mindful of their breath, sounds, sights, tastes, movements, physical sensations, thoughts, and feelings as they maintain a compassionate attitude toward themselves and others. With sustained attention, readers develop the ability to respond to life’s experiences with calmness and acceptance, even the difficult experiences that we cannot control.”

Reminds me of my brief Yoga practice. I went to class to loose weight, honestly. But I did learn the benefits of approaching my sessions with mindfulness about where I felt tension. What parts of my body felt tight, or tired, or sore. How to slow down my movements and my breath to calm my central nervous system. I actually really enjoyed it. But sadly, dropping into a Downward Dog or a Tree Pose is not always appropriate for every stressful circumstance. It would improve any interface with the DMV, the Post Office, or carpool pickup line, but not always actionable in those typically stressful situations.

A Sense of Fulfillment

Have you ever noticed some people get a true sense of fulfillment from accomplishing tasks that aren’t hard, but have a repetitive quality to them. Maybe even rhythmic? My Mom always said ironing gave her a sense of fulfillment. It wasn’t particularly hard, but it had a certain rhythm, and a visible and quantifiable beginning and end. A sense of fulfillment for a task completed with a tangible benefit.

I’ve heard people say mowing the grass does the same thing. Hand-washing dishes. Training to run a marathon.

For me, needlepointing gives me a huge sense of fulfillment. It’s not particularly hard, it has a certain rhythm, and a visible and quantifiable beginning and end. And it’s not ironing. Sorry Mom.

A Return to Mindfulness

So, while all tasks, or activities that provide a sense of fulfillment are not necessarily mindful, needlepointing is both for me. As discussed at the beginning, if I am being mindful, then I am aware of my surroundings, and how those surroundings are making me feel or act, and if those feelings or actions are not helpful, or even harmful then I want to develop the ability to pause and observe or feel.

And at the end of each day, bombarded by the incredible stress and chaos that is part and parcel of everyday life, I find that I absolutely CRAVE the opportunity to take stock of how I feel, the level of my anxiety, the pressure of daily life, and take it DOWN a notch or two, by needlepointing.

The rhythm of the needle pulling thread through the canvas is calming. The visual accomplishment of completing a section of a needlepoint canvas is calming. The exercise of choosing colored threads to match the canvas design is calming. And the challenge (lower case “c” here on purpose) of trying out a new decorative stitches and seeing those stitches create a pleasing pattern across the canvas is calming.

And I bet any needlepoint enthusiast you meet will echo those same sentiments.

And unlike yoga, which is wonderful and calming, needlepoint is easier to practice at the DMV. Or in carpool line.

Just don’t forget to pull forward in a timely way, or you’ll find that peace and calm evaporate faster than a spilled glass of water on a hot Texas summer day!

Mary Meier-Evans is a life-long needlepoint enthusiast, and a Needlepoint Canvas Designer under the name The Curious Cowgirl. To see all her needlepoint canvas designs, click here.