I wouldn’t say I like tea. I despise tea, so why does this tea cup taste so good in my hand? I asked myself.

“Is it Kashmiri tea?” I asked.

“No!” said the kind stranger.

“Is it doodh patti?” I asked again.

“No! It is just your normal tea.” She replied emphatically.

But how can it taste so good? Tea means bitter taste and loads of yucks to me. I never say YES to tea; it is a strict NO NO.

What changed my mind on that particular occasion? I suffered from a sore throat and said YES to tea, thinking it was a Qahwa.

I sat in Masjid-e-Nabwi, observing people sharing food items despite language barriers. People enjoying and sharing food items while communicating in universal sign language made me marvel at Allah’s creation.

During my stay in Madinah, my favourite part of the day(or night) was 

observing people and noticing their differences and similarities—the diversification, cohesion, differences, similarities, the language barrier, and yet the understanding. These beautiful moments unfolding in front of me made me let go of all the stories and assumptions about tea. That’s why when a kind Pakistani family offered me tea, I wholeheartedly accepted it. 

That’s the beauty of Mindfulness:

• Being truly present in the moment.
• Letting go of all the stress and worry.
• Grounding yourself in the present moment.

MINDFULNESS:

Mindfulness is paying full attention to the present moment without judgment. It involves being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, Mindfulness focuses on what’s happening now. It’s like giving your mind a break from distractions and appreciating the current experience with clarity. You can use your senses to be truly present in the moment. 

Sight: Take a moment to observe colors, shapes, and details around you without labelling or judging them.

Hearing: Close your eyes and listen attentively to the sounds in your environment, noticing each one without attachment. 

Feel: Pay attention to sensations of touch, such as the warmth of sunlight on your skin or the texture of an object in your hand. 

Taste and Smell: Slowly savor a bite of food, focusing on the flavors and textures. Inhale and identify the scents around you with mindful awareness.

We spend most of our lives on autopilot, doing the same things over and over, again and again. Despite not liking the results and wanting to change the outcomes, we repeat the same mistakes and are stuck in a vicious cycle. We see our world through our mental filters and hardly take the time to question our interpretations of our experiences, just like I did with the tea example.

LETTING GO OF YOUR STORY:

Events and thoughts don’t directly affect how we feel. It’s how we interpret them that matters. That’s why people react differently to the same situation. Some see problems and blame outside forces, while others see growth opportunities. Our interpretations depend on our fundamental beliefs about life. 

We often tell ourselves stories about a specific event or person. 

This man didn’t greet me, so it must mean that he doesn’t like me.

She is not answering my calls, which means she is mad at me.

I always turn in late assignments, so I am a chronic Procrastinator.

I don’t go to parties because they are very dull.

Now, let’s unpack these assumptions: Maybe the person didn’t greet you because he didn’t see you(he was not wearing his contacts or glasses). Maybe she didn’t pick up your call because she was busy and wanted to call you back at a convenient time when she could pay undivided attention to what you had to say.

In the case of assignments, you only consider when you are late and discard the times when you have been on time—the classic case of over-generalization. Parties could be dull when you are tired and need more time or energy to socialize. The three times you went to a party and didn’t enjoy yourself, now think this is the norm.

We could start questioning our assumptions and let go of the stories we have been telling ourselves, and then we could strive to lead a life that aligns with our values.

The Power of Now:

We all live on autopilot, mostly worrying about the future or thinking about past mistakes or things that went well previously but are not working now. But what if we embrace the power of Now?

I asked one of my clients to listen to a meditation file and, afterwards, ask about her experience, and I will never forget her reply. She said it was like her mind was cleared of all the trash. She could let go of her worries and stresses because she embraced the Power of Now!

Once you start living in the present, it becomes easier to let go of your old stories and rewrite your scripts. Meditation is beneficial in giving you a clear mind and grounding you in the here and now. Let’s ask ourselves which patterns of ours are holding us back from living our ideal life.

Through Mindfulness, we can change our narratives and begin living a more fulfilling life—a life where we do not run after superficial things but strive for peace, contentment, and delight!