After journeying through topics like loneliness, kindness, and fear, here we are—at the letter M. A gentle halfway mark in this beautiful, reflective exploration of mental health through the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge. Today, I want to slow down with you and sit with three deeply connected words: mindfulness, mood swings, and meditation.
Each of these words sounds so simple. So floaty. So “Instagrammable.”
But if you’ve ever struggled with emotional regulation, battled brain fog, or found yourself drifting between high highs and low lows—you know these are more than concepts. They’re practices. Lighthouses, even, on stormy days.
Let’s start with Mindfulness—
One of the most misunderstood words in the wellness dictionary.
People often think mindfulness means being calm or zoning out. But mindfulness, at its core, is presence. It’s the art of being fully where you are—with your breath, with your body, with your feelings. Without judgment.
Not fixing. Not fleeing. Just noticing.
It’s in the sip of hot tea when your thoughts are racing.
It’s when you pause before reacting in anger.
It’s hearing your own inner monologue and gently questioning it.
I often tell people, “You don’t have to meditate for 30 minutes to be mindful. You just have to arrive—in your body, in this moment.”
It sounds easy, but for those with trauma, anxiety, or mood disorders, this is incredibly hard. The mind doesn’t always feel like a safe place to be. That’s why we practise. A minute at a time. A moment at a time. A deep breath at a time.
And then there are Mood Swings.
Ah, the rollercoasters we don’t always buy a ticket for.
Mood swings aren’t just hormonal shifts or dramatic meltdowns. They’re often signals—little flags that something deeper is bubbling under the surface. Exhaustion. Hormonal imbalance. Unprocessed emotions. Unmet needs.
As a psychologist, I see how easily mood swings get dismissed—especially in women.
“Oh, you’re just being moody.”
“She’s overreacting again.”
Or the classic—“It must be that time of the month.”
But here’s the thing: your mood is a compass. It tells you what you need. It tells you when you’re stretching too thin or bottling too much. It asks for care.
Mood swings don’t mean you’re unstable. They mean you’re human.
What helps?
☑️ Tracking them gently—journaling what you feel and when.
☑️ Noticing what fuels the swings—sleep, stress, sugar, stimulation.
☑️ And reminding yourself: this too shall pass.
Sometimes, professional help is necessary—when mood shifts are persistent or disruptive. Therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication can help restore emotional equilibrium.
But alongside all this, one tool can be an anchor. And that is…
Meditation—
…often placed on a pedestal, but truly just a homecoming.
Meditation isn’t about emptying the mind. It’s about noticing your thoughts without becoming them.
It’s sitting in stillness and realising your worth doesn’t depend on your productivity.
It’s a practice that teaches you to ride the wave of emotions instead of getting swept under.
As someone who once struggled with sitting still in silence, let me tell you: you don’t have to be a monk. You don’t have to “do it perfectly.”
Start with one minute.
Let your mind wander and gently bring it back.
Try guided meditations if silence feels overwhelming.
Meditation, like mindfulness, is a lifelong practice. It builds patience, self-awareness, and compassion.
And when mood swings come knocking, when life feels too loud, or when you lose touch with yourself—meditation becomes a way to return.
Before we wrap up today’s post…
Ask yourself:
- Have I been present with myself lately?
- Do I allow myself to feel without judgment?
- Can I forgive myself for not being okay all the time?
The M’s we explored today aren’t magic pills. They’re doors. To self-awareness. To gentleness. To healing.
So if your moods feel unpredictable, if your mind feels cluttered, or if the silence scares you—you’re not alone. You’re human. And there are tools. There is support. There is a way forward.
As we continue this Blogchatter A2Z journey, I’m already looking forward to tomorrow’s letter, N. And I invite you to walk alongside me as we explore numbness, nature, and narratives—and how they shape our emotional world.
Until then, breathe easy. Be kind to your mood. And come back to yourself, one mindful moment at a time.
