In early 2020, Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW, came out with “Stay Here: Your Personal Journal To Staying Present, Mindful & Grateful Every Day”. The journal is a culmination of the homework and overall process she has had with her patients in the therapeutic journey. Practicing mindfulness is essential, so I asked Lena about ways in which she practices mindfulness.
A few years ago, I pulled out of my garage and started driving to work. I was about 1/2 way there, and I said to myself, “I don’t think I closed the garage”. This wave of panic rushed through me. I immediately turned the car around and raced home. The garage was closed. In that moment, I realized that I was not practicing mindfulness. I was far from present… So much so that I didn’t even remember clicking the garage button. Where was I? The answer: I was thinking about work when I wasn’t even at work. A big lesson was learned. I committed myself to putting my car in park after I got out of the garage and purposely, consciously, pushed the garage button and watched the garage close. I have now done this for the past several years. It has made it so that I don’t have to worry about remembering, because I’m present and in the moment. My advice to you: I recommend that you consciously look for things that you’re not being mindful about and change the behavior. Become present.
Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a St Louis mental health therapy practice in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The practice has a team of mental health therapists who provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or on the web at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141.
