Mindfulness: a practice by which we train our mind to be present in the moment - in the here and now - and not let it drag us to hurtful or unhelpful thoughts about the past, future.

What makes a successful person?

People who are successful in their career, at school, have loving relationships, are physically and mentally healthy - practice mindfulness. We know that race, language, where a person grows up in, their financial state, how well they perform in tests, or their IQ - all have nothing to do with how successful a person can be. Studies have shown that success results from self-control, the ability to focus and pay attention to our goals, and regulate our emotions.

This is also known as …. Mindfulness! We know from the literature that it is the most important predictor of success in life! Why? Because practicing mindfulness trains our brains to have focus, be attentive, miss a distraction, and regulate our emotions; this can be done through mindful movement, mindful eating, mindful breathing, and mindful listening. All of which allow us to engage with the present moment without attachment or judgment.

It’s a science!

Universities such as Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge have been researching and practigin mindfulness. They have studies that prove that mindfulness decreases anxiety, depression, increases attention, happiness, overall feelings of well-being, and academic achievement.

Successful people in their field who have admitted to practice mindfulness.
Top row (left to right): Oprah, Kobe Bryant, Kerri-Walsh Jennings, Erling Haaland, Christiano Ronaldo
Middle row (left to right): Steve Jobs, Novak Djokovic, the Lakers team, Ariana Grande
Bottom row (left to right): Lady Gaga, Lionel Messi, the Seattle Seahawks, Jennifer Aniston

I find it interesting when people say they don’t need to practice, or they don’t need mindfulness. I think it’s strange because Kobe Bryant or Ronaldo knew the same thing, but they still practiced

Mindfulness is not necessarily about focusing your attention but allowing you to feel your emotions. It is what gives us the space between our emotions and reactions. Thus, instead of reacting to our emotions, we feel them.

Mindfulness teaches us to feel intense emotions, but rather than react, to reflect and respond.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is a choice.

We may not be able to control all the unforeseeable circumstances that life presents to us. But we can choose not to be victims of our circumstances because we can choose our reactions. Pain and anger are not good excuses - they are part of every human experience.

The teenage brain and its neurology

The struggle to deal with your emotions is real and overwhelming! The part of the teenage brain that regulates emotions, that hasn’t fully developed yet - and fully develops by the age of 25! But the part that feels emotions, that’s the size of a full grown adult!

In fact, studies have found that adult and teenage brains work very differently. Whereas adult brains tend to think with the prefrontal cortex (the rational part of the brain that responds to situations with judgment and an awareness of long-term consequences), teenage brains tend to think and process information with the amygdala (the emotional part of the brain, the reactive part of the brain).

So where do we go from here?

First, you need to decide you want to be the change you want to see in the world.

Then you go about doing it!

You take personal responsibility for your life!

And remember, change will happen by choice, not by chance.

Mindfulness: a tool for success in life