The Power of Mindfulness and Open-mindedness

Convictions are the aspect of our lives that keep us grounded in certain morals. There are some convictions that are instilled in us-like being a hard worker. This characteristic is one of the driving factors that got us accepted into Notre Dame. Thus, having this natural gravitation towards hard work ensures when life gets harder, we can out work the hard times and maintain a life worth living. Yet, everyone has at least one conviction that wasn’t force fed to us in youth, and it is most likely the one that will shape our lives over the next four years. My personal convictions that have shaped me so far are being an active participant in my life and learning how to adapt to different methods of helping people.
	The ability to maintain an active part in life sounds like it should be easy, but it is quite easy to miss out on life. It’s a fear that some people have, maybe this is my fear too, that they hit fifty years-old and can’t recall what they’ve done with the past 30 years. This fear doesn’t have to be centered around being wildly successful and famous, but its more focused on not realizing that so much time has passed without really being present in the moments. This is a conviction for me because I have personal experience with this feeling, zoning out on life for too long. I experienced this feeling in the Navy, I found myself just existing without experiencing life. I realized I did this when I visited some friends in a previous duty station over the summer. As I was driving in the small town of Ballston Spa, I realized I completely missed how amazing that area was, and it was from not being present during that time in my life. A key aspect to maintaining this mindfulness is through joy that, “comes from within, and it’s a genuine rightness of how one lives one’s life” (Father Michael Himes). Similarly, to how Father Himes describes it, joy is based on a peacefulness with life versus a feeling of happiness in the moment. Not every day in a joyful life will be happy, but joy can still be present overall.
	However, it is difficult to maintain this mindfulness because it is easy to see our lives full of flaws. My plan to be present in my life from now on is by focusing on the good and the bad in the moments. I think the act of zoning out is a coping mechanism to an extent to dissociate from the bad in life, but this action is detrimental in the long term to a person’s mental health. Therefore, the act of focusing on everything that life gives me will let me experience life in those moments to the fullest.  Accordingly, maintaining my participation in life will make me a more active individual in society, I know I will be more equipped to help others as a doctor if I remain mentally well in my mindfulness. 
	Another conviction that fuels me in a less selfish way is an open-mindedness to ways of helping our world and people.  A problem that is common in our times now is the lack of listening to what is needed. People in power tend to think they know what is best without listening to others. As Mr. Deresiewicz states, “We have a crisis of leadership in America because our overwhelming power and wealth” (William Deresiewicz, 2009). However, the crisis I see is the inability to collaborate between leaders for a solution. There is an ego in our country that prevents our “leaders” from fixing anything because everyone believes they know best. However, I do not want to be that type of leader, I have seen the necessity for collaboration for a better outcome. For example, due to the relative infancy of the ship I was stationed on, there were some unwritten troubleshooting procedures for certain electrical components. When procedures weren’t already written we had to write one, and this was accomplished in a group of two or three very capable electricians. This collaboration made the process quicker and the procedure safer because we were able to help each other remember the needed steps and safety measures. This group taught me the beauty in having such diverse minds, it allows for a more efficient and stronger answer.
	I plan to implement this conviction by staying open-minded in all situations. Open-mindedness can take practice and the best way to do this is by actively listening to other’s opinions. One thing that might hinder my progress in this is the concept of isolation Mr. Deresiewicz alludes to that so many college students fall victim to (William Deresiewicz, 2014). Therefore, while in college I plan to actively fight this isolation so I can continue making those relationships that will blossom my view on the world around me. This open-mindedness and collaboration will make me a better leader, doctor, wife, and mother (one day). These characteristics will allow me to listen rather than dogmatically assume I am right.
	Convictions allow me to dream of my future because I know what drives me to my goals. I won’t be some high political leader because I know that’s not what I am called too. Yet, I know I am called to leadership in some aspect. I have been in a leadership position, and I was still young, so I still had a lot to learn but I thoroughly enjoyed the position. I was elated for the people I worked with when they were successful, and I loved being able to stand up for them in trying times. In my future I want to be a top medical professional in my field, along the lines of Head of Orthopedics at a hospital. In my personal life, I want to be a reflective leader to my future family. I believe these goals will be accomplished with my convictions and asking the right question introspectively as Ms. Eurich discusses (Tasha Eurich, 2017). Instead of asking why I have these goals, I want to focus on what I need to do to be a good leader in life.