One of the first things I hear from new clients when I mention the idea of developing a mindfulness practice is  “I can’t do it!  Every time I try to be mindful, I can’t get the thoughts out of my head!”,  “I get frustrated and I become more anxious!”  or “I don’t have time for mindfulness, who has time for that?”.  Explore three common mindfulness myths.

The opposite of control is acceptance. An observer’s stance? You are not your anxiety.

We absolutely love to control. And our big, developed brains allow us to exert an amazing degree of control over our environment. This has been very helpful in protecting us throughout time and it’s not surprising that one of our first instincts when confronted with an unwelcome experience is to somehow try to control that experience. Our “control instinct” often works quite well. If you spill a glass of water, you exert control by wiping it up. Every day, all day long, we are exercising control and tend to feel pretty good doing it.

ACT is about both acceptance and change. Acceptance of your anxious thoughts and feelings allows you to focus more clearly on the present and to take the steps that move you closer to the life you truly want to live.