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Mindfulness: Stop and Smell the Roses

By Holly Marks, MA, NCC, LPCC on Saturday, April 5th, 2025 in Anxiety Counseling. No Comments

We have all heard the saying, “Stop and smell the roses.” But when was the last time you actually stopped to smell a flower? Did you notice the color and texture of the flower? What did the flower’s petals feel like between your fingertips? Did you notice the sound of the wind that slowly moves the flower back and forth? Taking time to stop and appreciate the small things around us can be a great way to practice mindfulness.

Mindfulness helps us become more present-moment focused. When we allow ourselves to notice and appreciate the present moment, our nervous system is able to regulate into a state of rest and digest. Our heart rate lowers, and we are able to relax and recoup energy. Practicing mindfulness can help decrease the strength of future worries and past guilt or resentment. Mindfulness can also be a bridge to gratefulness. Noticing the good in our lives and feeling grateful for those things can help our overall sense of well-being.

So, as new flowers start to emerge this Spring, allow yourself to slow down and just notice. Notice the smell of cut grass, notice the feel of sunlight on your face, and notice the sounds around you. Give yourself that moment to just be. Take three deep breaths of fresh air. Soften your eyebrows, jaw, shoulders, and stomach. Notice how this changes how you feel. Practice this often.

If you find yourself in a constant state of fight or flight and unable to feel safe in the present moment, please seek help. Counseling is a great resource to help you practice mindfulness and start to create the life you want to live! Front Range Counseling Center will work to connect you with a counselor to help you along your mental health journey. Call us at 303-933-5800.

Other resources include- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233), Text “START” to 88788. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Call 911 for emergencies.

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Holly Marks, MA, NCC, LPCC

I am passionate about creating safe and supportive spaces where people can be vulnerable, honest, and able to grow. I hope to help clients develop a deeper sense of self-compassion, insight, self-confidence, and the awareness to embrace and find balance within their own nervous systems.

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