January is Mental Wellness Month.  A time to focus on our own mental wellness, those with mental illness and the caregivers of those with mental illness. 

A recent episode of the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast was an interview with Sam Harris. I was inspired by how he simplified our emotional experience of events to how we focus our attention. This is mindfulness. “The difference between happiness and suffering, or wisdom and confusion is using your attention in a profound way,” says Harris. How we think about a situation, our focus leads us to how we feel about it.  Sounds simple enough right? Well, the concept is simple, but it can be very difficult at first. When I mention mindfulness, many people respond with “I’m just not good at it” or “I tried it and it didn’t work.” The good news is that we can learn how to focus our attention and we can train ourselves to be good at it. It’s like any other skill that takes practice and sometimes guidance. Think about something else you learned that was really difficult. You may have done research about how to learn this skill. Maybe you got guidance through a class, a teacher or a trainer. You set aside time to learn and practice. You set incremental goals and expected that learning would be a process. Mindfulness and wellbeing are the same way. I recommend starting with a short duration and using a guided meditation app. Some apps with great reviews include Simple Habit, Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, Smiling Mind, Stop Breath & Think, UCLA Mindful and 10% Happier. Start with a free app or go with a free trial so you can find an app that is right for you.

As we wrap up Mental Wellness Month, set an intention for mental wellness for yourself.  This is one path that is simple and accessible.