I am very busy : The excuse we give ourselves

Do you ever feel like you are always rushing through life but never really present in it? I have been there, and I understand that feeling all too well. For years, I searched for happiness through everything I could think of, relationships, career, shopping, the gym and even spirituality. But no matter what I tried, happiness always seemed just out of reach. It wasn’t until I started practicing mindfulness that I truly began to understand what happiness really means.

A Simple Way to Be Present

At its core, mindfulness is about being present in the moment. It’s the practice of paying attention to what’s happening right now, without judgment. It may at times be about focusing on your thoughts, feelings and surroundings, rather than constantly drifting to the past or worrying about the future. But other times it may only be about a simple awareness of what it is without any mental formation. In theory, it sounds so simple, right?

But here’s the catch: until we really reach a certain stage in our journey, mindfulness can feel hard, boring and even pointless. At first, it may feel like a waste of time, like you’re just sitting there, doing nothing. In fact, in today’s world, where business is seen as a sign of productivity and worth, the idea of sitting still and being present often feels uncomfortable and unimportant.

Why Mindfulness Feels Hard at First

The truth is, when you begin practicing mindfulness, your mind won’t immediately calm down. In fact, it may feel more chaotic than ever. You’ll likely face distractions and discomfort, and your mind will resist being still. You might even feel like you're just wasting time because mindfulness doesn't offer instant results or gratification like other distractions do. This is exactly why many people give up on it. Ask my children. They will firmly enforce the idea that sitting still is a waste of time! They are all about action, not quiet reflection. They do, however, enjoy guided meditation, probably because it puts them to sleep, and hey, that’s ok too! Whatever works, right?

But this resistance is a part of the process. The challenge is to notice this resistance, to stay with it, and to keep coming back to the present moment, even when it feels boring or pointless. This is the work. It's not about forcing yourself to feel calm or enlightened right away; it’s about allowing yourself to experience the discomfort and chaos without running away from it.

The Challenge

Mindfulness is about more than just focusing on your breath or sitting still; it’s about becoming aware of your habits and patterns. How often do you reach for your phone when you’re bored, or distract yourself with food, entertainment or shopping when you’re feeling stressed? Mindfulness helps you see these patterns. It asks you to notice when you are avoiding your feelings, when you are trying to escape discomfort.

In a world full of distractions, it can be hard to pause and acknowledge that nothing else is truly working. The challenge is to become aware of the patterns that keep you trapped in cycles of seeking external solutions for internal problems. Mindfulness invites you to break free from these cycles and see things as they truly are, without judgment or distraction.

Mindfulness is a practice, and like any practice, it requires patience and persistence. It asks you to try something new: to sit with yourself, to face your emotions and thoughts without immediately reacting to them. At first, this can feel uncomfortable. It’s easy to fall back into old habits, to fill the space with distractions. And this is ok too. We try again. So, if you can stick with it, even for a few minutes each day, you’ll start to see the benefits.

Mindfulness isn't about perfection. It's about being present in each moment, without judgment, and learning to accept what arises, whether it’s comfortable or not. And while it may feel boring or pointless at first, it’s this very practice that allows you to uncover something profound within yourself. What is that profound things I am talking about? Well, you have to find out yourself!

Patience and Persistence

The key to mindfulness is patience. The results don’t come overnight, and it’s easy to feel frustrated or discouraged. But over time, mindfulness helps you become more aware of your thoughts and emotions, allowing you to respond to them with calm and clarity rather than reacting impulsively.

Remember, mindfulness isn’t about getting it “right.” No one can get it right. May be some days it will be right and other days it won’t be right. Everything is ok Mindfulness is about showing up, day after day, and being present with whatever arises. It’s about noticing when your mind wanders and gently bringing it back, without judgment or frustration. There is no perfection here. There is no outcome to achieve here.

The True Value of Mindfulness

Until we reach a point where we truly understand what mindfulness offers, it will likely feel hard, boring and even pointless. But the more we practice, the more we begin to realise that mindfulness is not just about sitting still, it’s about creating space for ourselves, for our thoughts and for our emotions. It’s about learning to be with whatever arises, without feeling the need to change it or run from it.

In the end, mindfulness doesn’t promise instant happiness or peace. But it does offer something deeper which is personal and unique for all.