Most everyone has heard of mindfulness by now, but not everyone knows what it is exactly. Some think of it as meditation, where you sit cross-legged with your eyes closed and chanting (this is a stereotyped way of thinking about meditation, you don’t have to do it that way). Meditation is mindfulness, but mindfulness is so much more. Mindfulness is just paying attention.
It’s possible to practice mindfulness in everyday life.
1. Start when you wake up—before you get out of bed, tune into your body and consciously pay attention to how you feel physically. Are you tense? Does something hurt? Does some part of your body feel really good after a night’s sleep? If you are tense anywhere, focus on relaxing that part of your body.
2. Many people like to drink a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. Whatever you like to start the day with, try giving it your full attention for a few minutes—how does it smell? What color is it? Focus only on the taste for a minute or two. Notice the temperature of your beverage. Maybe you can even start to wonder where this coffee or tea came from? Who grew it, who packaged it so that you could conveniently use it? Gratitude is a big part of mindfulness.
3. Practice mindfulness while you shower. Many of us are thinking about the day ahead while we shower. When I shower is usually when I will think of something I need to write down, but I can’t! But for a few minutes, focus only on the shower—notice the temperature of the water, the sleek feel of the soap. Really take notice of the texture of your washcloth or loofah. Think about how we are able to have clean water at the turn of a handle whenever we want it, and what a blessing that is.
Those are just 3 ways to start practicing mindfulness in our everyday lives. Stay tuned for more!
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