Written by Molly Schreiber, Founder + CEO, Challenge to Change, Inc.
Molly leading her annual Sol Retreat in Mexico
"By consistently practicing mindfulness through regular breaks and staying present, we strengthen our brains and bodies, enabling us to build resilience and handle life's unavoidable challenges." ~ Molly Schreiber
I have always been a creative soul. I believe this creativity was nourished by living in the country at a young age and using my imagination so much. I've come to recognize the creative times in my life to be the happiest and where I thrived the most. I have not only discovered that creativity is a core value of mine; it gives me meaning and purpose.
Through my work at Challenge To Change, Inc., I have discovered the value of structuring a Noble Goal in life. A Noble Goal is a statement and goal that gets an individual out of bed in the morning and is a work in progress. We help all of our staff members form a Noble Goal to help them understand how and where they fit into the mission of C2C. As we all work towards forming our Noble Goal at C2C, we work on and discover our core values. In doing so, I discovered how deeply important it is for me to have creativity active in my life.
As C2C has grown and evolved, I have found a new connection to offering my core value of creativity to the company through posting daily Mindful Moments on our social media platforms. Through this endeavor for the last six months, I have educated our audiences on a national and international platform, sharing what we do at C2C in a creative, life-fulfilling way.
In this blog, I'll share several reasons why taking Mindful Moments in your day is important.
At C2C, we offer skills of mindfulness, meditation and yoga to help build resilience and give people tools of building a bridge to a brighter, happier, healthier future.
I share a mindful moment each day for two main reasons:
To illuminate our mission and purpose to others in our universe.
To underscore the significance of incorporating a mindful break into our daily routine.
At C2C, we recognize that life is often challenging and rife with various forms of trauma—both major and minor. Traumatic experiences are deeply personal, each carrying its own unique weight. As I often say, "Everyone's struggle is uniquely their own."
By consistently practicing mindfulness through regular breaks and staying present, we strengthen our brains and bodies, enabling us to build resilience and handle life's unavoidable challenges.
5 Benefits of Mindfulness
Mindfulness practices are shown to be effective in managing and reducing symptoms of depression. The world is becoming a harder place to be in, not an easier one. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, depression will be the leading cause of disability worldwide.
However, we are empowered through mindfulness and living in the present moment to live a happier and healthier life. It is within our reach, we just need to take the tools presented.
1. Stress Reduction
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, allowing individuals to feel more calm and centered throughout the day. A research study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology found that employees who practiced mindfulness reported a 28% decrease in perceived stress levels and a 20% increase in job satisfaction.
Our Mindful Moments offer strategies not only for the school-aged children we work with but also for adults. These short, less than a minute, videos give reinforcement to the strategies we teach through all of our offerings in schools, healthcare, and the workplace. Through our Corporate Kindness structure and workplace retreat offerings, we are paving the way to helping reduce stress levels and increase workplace productivity and morale.
2. Improved Focus and Concentration
Mindfulness can enhance the ability to focus and concentrate, leading to increased productivity and better decision-making. A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that mindfulness meditation can improve attention and focus, leading to better cognitive performance and decision-making.
Mindfulness not only helps us to live in the present moment, it also helps us to stay out of the future and the past. Living in the future too much can bring about feelings of anxiety leading us to worry and be unfocused on what is in front of us. Living in the past can lead to feelings of depression and limit our concentration on the tasks that need to be conquered in the present moment. Our Mindful Moments can give short hopeful moments and give encouragement to stay present.
3. Emotional Regulation
By taking a mindful moment, we can better regulate our emotions and respond to situations with greater clarity and composure. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, mindfulness meditation can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression by 10-20%.
When the symptoms of anxiety and depression are lessened, we are better able to acknowledge emotions, work through them and find the root of why we have this data from our soul. When we truly listen to the data our soul is sending us, we act and react in challenging situations with greater composure. Thus, maintaining positive relationships with peers, coworkers and loved ones.
4. Increased Self-Awareness
Mindfulness can help us become more aware of our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, leading to a better understanding of self and responses to various situations. A meta-analysis published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that mindfulness meditation programs can improve psychological well-being, reduce symptoms of depression, and enhance quality of life.
When we are able to increase our self-awareness and lift what holds us back in life, we build resilience. We step into our power and live the life we are meant to live. Through my work on my core values, I came to realize creativity is very important to making me successful and thriving in the workplace. Through this self-awareness, I developed Mindful Moments and have found meaning in helping others to develop a greater practice in mindfulness daily.
5. Better Relationships
We all want strong relationships. We are human beings built to connect with others. When we practice mindfulness, even in short moments, we connect first with ourselves in the present moment. When we are fully connected to ourselves, we are then able to connect with those around us in a healthier way even when those around us may not be at the same level of emotional intelligence we are. Being present and mindful in interactions with others can improve communication, empathy, and connection in relationships.
By offering our Mindful Minutes on our social media platforms, we are making a difference in our world by making the reach easier. We want to be a part of a greater solution in our world and help make it a safer place for all to excel in.
Peace,
Molly
How It Works:
Join anytime!
Read the day's theme in your journal
Draw a card from your Positive Affirmations deck
Watch the day's video
Journal on the day's prompt and reflect on your affirmation card
Complete the day's daily mindfulness activity
Optional: Come share your journey on the private Facebook group
What you’ll get in the Digital Bundle 2.0:
50 NEW videos from Molly for each day
EXCLUSIVE downloadable challenge journal
Digital Positive Affirmations card deck*
Access to our private Facebook group to connect with Molly and other changemakers!
*I would highly suggest purchasing the physical journal and printed affirmation card deck bundle that I created just for this challenge if you haven't already!
And, as always, ALL challenges are FREE to C2C Hub members! You can get a free 2-week trial now.
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