Hey everyone, it's Keisunga.
On today's episode of Radio Headspace, we're going to be diving into financial stress.
We've all been there, feeling overwhelmed by bills, or uncertain about the future.
But I'm a firm believer that mindfulness and meditation can help us to find the calm within the chaos.
So take a few deep breaths, and let's explore it together.
Hey friends, it's Keisunga here, and welcome to Radio Headspace.
It's Monday. I hope you've had a wonderful weekend.
Today I want to talk about something that so many of us experience at some point in our lives, and that's feeling overwhelmed by life's issues.
You know those moments when the weight of the world feels like it's pressing down on your shoulders, and every step that you take just feels heavier than the last.
I think it's safe to say that money can be one of the biggest sources of this overwhelming feeling, whether it's struggling to pay bills, dealing with debt, or just trying to make ends meet.
Financial stress can feel like a never -ending cycle, and when you're in it, it can feel like you're just drowning, gasping for air, but not able to find relief.
I've been there, I know what it's like to lie awake at night, running numbers through your head, trying to figure out how you're going to make it all work.
That tightening in your chest, the racing thoughts, that sense of hopelessness that starts to creep in.
And the thing about stress, especially financial stress, is that it doesn't just stay in one part of your life, it seeps into everything.
It affects your relationships, your work, your health, and your sense of self -worth.
I remember distinctly when I was a brand new, fresh out of school acupuncturist, and I decided to open up my very own private practice.
It was such a bold move, especially since I had heard that many of my colleagues had to close the doors to their practices.
But you never know until you tried, right?
Looking back, I don't regret going out and being an entrepreneur like I did, because it was all a learning experience.
I remember like it was yesterday, those moments when business was slow.
I remember when business was super slow, and it felt terrible.
I felt like a failure to my family, to myself, and the bills didn't stop just because I was in a space of overwhelm.
In fact, it's in those moments when it seemed like the bills, they just piled on even more, one after the other.
I remember a particular instance when the car registration was due.
A crazy bill because it's also paired with the car tax bill.
Okay, but guess what?
I can't pay it. We also had student loan debt and credit card debt.
And what was the straw that broke the camel's back?
Me and my beautiful, lovely wife Cheryl found out that we are indeed pregnant.
I was so done. I remember feeling simultaneously elated and devastated.
That was a rough time in my life.
But here's the thing.
While we can't always control the circumstances that lead to these feelings of overwhelm, we can control how we respond to them.
And that's where mindfulness and meditation comes into play.
Mindfulness is about being present, truly present, in the moment.
It's about acknowledging what's happening around you and within you without judgment.
When you're feeling overwhelmed, it's easy to get caught up in the what ifs and the should haves.
Your mind starts to spiral.
And before you know it, you're stuck in a loop of anxiety and fear.
But mindfulness invites you to pause, take a step back, and just observe.
For instance, when those financial worries start to flood your mind, instead of getting lost in them, try to notice what's happening.
Notice the sensations in your body, that tightness in your chest, the clenching of your jaw, the shallow breaths.
Notice the thoughts that are racing through your mind.
But instead of engaging with them, just observing them, acknowledging that they're there, but not allowing them to take control.
This practice of observing without judgment can create a bit of space between you and your stress and give you a moment to breathe, to recalibrate.
It might not change your financial situation overnight, but it changes your relationship to it.
And that can make a world of difference in the choices that you make.
Meditation, on the other hand, is like the focused practice form of mindfulness.
It's a time when you can intentionally sit with yourself and just be.
It's a meditation that you can really start to build that inner strength and resilience.
By focusing on your breath, or another focal point, like the sounds around you, you train your mind to find calm in the chaos.
And the more you practice, the more you can tap into that peace, even when things feel overwhelming.
Now, I'm not saying that mindfulness and meditation are magic solutions.
They won't make your problems disappear, but what they can do is help you navigate those problems with a clearer mind and a calmer heart.
So if you're feeling overwhelmed right now, whether it's by money or anything else, I invite you to take a few moments today to just sit and breathe.
Notice how you're feeling, acknowledge it, and then to your best ability, gently let it go, even if it's just for a little while.
And remember, you're not alone in this.
We're all navigating this journey together, one breath at a time.
I also invite you to check out the Mindful Money tab in the app.
And if you have any questions for me, and if you have any questions for me, please feel free to send them my way on Instagram at kesangu gisgombi.
Thank you for being here with me today.
Take care of yourself, and I'll see you next time.
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You can find Ebb on your Headspace app or head over to Headspace .com forward slash Ebb to learn more.
