Today is Day 3 of #HAWMC (WEGO’s Health Activist Writers Monthly Challenge).  The prompt today is:

Quotation Inspiration. Find a quote that inspires you (either positively or negatively) and free write about it for 15 minutes.

I post mindfulness quotes on my blog every Monday, this quote from James Baraz is my favorite it shows the essence of mindfulness in just a few lines.

“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different;  enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” – James Baraz

When I read these words they resonate with me.  When I’m having a good time and I realize I may pay for it later, I understand that things will change and I will be okay with it.  I will not try to hold on to these good times, I know it will end and that’s okay.  It is this moment that counts.

I really rely on this quote during bad times.  “being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t)”  What an inspiring thing to say.  Remember no matter how bad it is, this moment will not last.  Things will change.  The unpleasant moment will not be here forever.  When I go through a difficult medical test or treatment, I remember, it will not last forever.  Things will get better.   When I’m in the middle of a vertigo attack, I constantly remind myself that it will not always be this way.  It will change.  The vertigo will stop.  It-will-stop.  It will not always be this way.  This is very important when I have vertigo because during an attack I am always afraid it will not end.  Remembering that it will end, that all unpleasantness has an ending, helps.

There is another quote that I think goes well with this one.  It is by Eckhart Tolle – “Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it. Always work with it, not against it.”

I think on this a lot.  When I am having a bad day I remind myself to accept this day as if I had chosen it.  If I chose it then there is nothing wrong with it.  How can I not like it, if I chose it?   If I’m having a vertigo attack, I will work with it, not against it, and things work out much better for me.  (I must say here that vertigo attacks are one of the most horrific things I have every experienced, if not the MOST horrific.  Vertigo attacks with Meniere’s Disease can last for a few minutes to days. Normally mine last for hours….many hours.)

These are a couple of quotes that get me through the day.  There are many mindfulness quotes that run through my mind when I’m having a particularly rough time.  Reading inspirational quotes really helps me keep a good grasp on things.

I have one more quote that really gets me through.

My mother told me this often.  I particularly remember her telling me this when I was in college.  I was the first in my family to graduate from college, when I was attending there were a few times that I doubted myself.  I was going through a very rough time undiagnosed with Bipolar disorder.  I was misdiagnosed for a long time.  When I was in college it was a very rough time, but my mother always believed in me.  It has always meant a lot to me to have that belief.   I have found that the people who touch me on my blog believe in me and I believe in them.  This is a great support system.  This is very important when you have a chronic illness.  This quote is very important.  Remember, I believe in you.

If you’d like to read more posts from today please check out WEGO’s Facebook page.  and don’t forget to check out Picnic With Ant’s Facebook Page too.  🙂

*all artwork on Picnic with Ants has been created by Wendy Holcombe unless otherwise noted.  (I can’t remember if I created the “I believe in you” graphic or not.  It was in my files)