If there is a mindfulness based stress reduction class at your uni, please take it. You’ll be so glad that you did.

Just the other day I was talking about being stressed and frustrated. However, last night was an exception. For the first time in a long time I have been able to stay up late and study and not feel stressed or panicked about the lack of time or judging myself. Also, even though I only ended up getting something like 3 hours of sleep last night, I feel pretty good this morning. The exam went rather well and now I feel ready to write and not like I need a nap. I imagine, that by 7:00, I will want to take a nap, but I’m not dragging now.

This week the attitude that I chose to work on is cultivating a beginner’s mind. So I’m trying to look at things with fresh eyes. It occurs to me that I keep wanting grad school to be less crazy, hectic, and stressful; however, with my new attitude, I realize that it is not possible. It simply is crazy, hectic, and prone to producing stress amongst many of us. However, I realize that I do have a choice in how I respond to the craziness. That is where mindfulness helps.

However, if I’m feeling good, I also feel some peer pressure to keep it to myself. There are a lot of people who are really stressed out and nothing irritates them more than someone who is in a good mood.

That’s all….just trying to notice what is.