Mindfulness For The Skeptic
Mindfulness for the Skeptic
When you hear the word "mindfulness," you might think of Buddhist monks meditating quietly far from the hustle and bustle of modern life. While mindfulness plays a role in meditation, it can also help you navigate your everyday life. Skeptical? Let's take a closer look at how mindfulness can help you feel more joy and less stress.
Be in the Present Moment
Think of mindfulness as being aware of yourself in the present moment, how you are thinking, feeling and breathing right now. Modern life is hectic: You run from one appointment and activity to another. Companies are doing more with less people, putting pressure on every worker. Children's lives are scheduled down to the minute with schoolwork, clubs, sports, extracurricular and other activities. On the way home, you rush to buy groceries to prepare dinner. On weekends, you finally have time to clean the house and maintain the yard. It leaves little time for talking to each other and enjoying a quiet moment. By the time you head off to bed, and although you need a good night's sleep, your mind races and anxiety takes over.
Practice Everyday Mindfulness
Mindfulness helps interrupt this pattern and take control of your thoughts, improving your focus and clarity. It can help you feel less stressed, angry and fearful, allowing you to breathe and sleep better. Here are some ways to include "everyday mindfulness" in your life:
- Intentional awareness. Your goal is to begin thinking about how you are in the present moment. Too often, you react to your environment — work, family, and school stresses — without thinking, almost on autopilot. Thus, you may overreact, or less commonly, underreact, to situations, which prevents you from being more effective as a parent, partner and leader.
- Gratefulness. It's easy to begin to take everything you love for granted. It helps to create a list of every person, place and thing that you are grateful for. Review the list often as a reminder of how many wonderful things you have in your life right now.
- Breath control. In times of stress, you'll notice that your breathing changes dramatically. You'll begin to take shallow breaths, preventing your body from getting enough oxygen, and adding to your fight or flight response. When you feel anxious, begin to breathe deeply, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Stay calm, focus on how your body feels, concentrating on avoiding a knee jerk reaction.
- Practice. Like any skill, mindfulness improves with practice. Use little moments during the day to work on it — brushing your teeth, sitting on the subway, waiting in line at the bank. Focus on what you see, smell and taste. What is your mood and mental state? How is your breathing? Do you feel any aches in your head, neck, shoulders or back? Be aware of your movements, feelings, thoughts and actions and stay in the present moment.
Improve Your Life
Mindfulness is a Buddhist practice that goes back more than 2500 years. But you don't have to become a monk to use its power. By appreciating every present moment, you improve the connection between your mind and body. Over time, you'll begin to relax as you assert control and choose your responses to external pressures. As you improve your technique, you may begin to enjoy life more than ever before. Practice in the little moments when you have a chance, and you'll find yourself getting better at mindfulness with each passing day.
Get Started
You don't need to drastically change your life in order to incorporate mindfulness into your life. For more information and for a healthier and happier life, contact SoFlo Mindfulness today!
