Wellbeing is a word that has become familiar in a global conversation in modern society and is often used in the context of discussing ways to improve, enhance or maintain a state of being. Under the surface of this conversation is the recognition, that within this amazing technologically advanced civilisation that we live in, something is missing, something that’s gone largely unnoticed in popular consciousness, and at the same time, life has changed exponentially. However, now, lack of wellbeing and its effects are being brought into awareness, as it’s becoming more obvious as we witness the negative effects it’s having on society and culture, catapulting wellbeing into the spotlight of the collective conscious. For me, this debate speech below from the Disney film Stargirl sums up the current predicament of the human condition eloquently.
“We don’t take a step back and process. Everything’s so instant these days. How can we? Dinner in minutes. A thousand photographs in one burst. You have to “like” something this second. You have to know how you feel about everything. You can’t be unsure or confused or change your mind. There’s no time to figure out who you are. You have to know right now.
Have you ever seen a flower grow? I mean, of course not. It’s nearly impossible to wait for anything that takes that long. But, if you did, it would change you. It would slow you down. It would remind you that real things take time. And it’s magic, too, isn’t it? I mean, so are 1,000 photographs in one burst, but a flower. You plant a seed in the ground and a whole world develops and stretches out and opens up. It’s easy to get confused when we’re moving so fast. And to think we’re doing the right thing when really we’re not. But if we’re lucky, we could find a balance. We could take a step back. We could take a breath.”
Debate speech – Disney film Stargirl – performed by Grace Vanderwaal
As I watched the film with my 10-year-old daughter, it resonated with us both as an adult and a child. In this fast-paced life that we have created and live, we need to intentionally build in the space in order to see what’s really important, to know what brings happiness, meaning and purpose and how we want to be, now, at this moment, the only moment that there is!
Mindfulness Attitudes and practices cultivate a way of being, a way of operating in the world that allows the space that’s needed to enjoy what’s important, to be with difficulties with kindness and compassion, cultivating open awareness which helps us to step back and see the bigger picture and connecting to inner wisdom. Operating in a mindful way Brings the balance that we need to step back, take a breath and respond rather than mindlessly react as often happens whilst living life on automatic pilot. Being mindful in daily life, allows us to show up more authentically, with a sense of ease, feeling at home with ourselves and each other.
More information on services to help you move toward increasing and maintaining wellbeing
More information on services to help children and youth increase and maintain wellbeing
