Mindfulness - It really is a thing

We live in a very complex, active society. So much so that we spend the vast majority of our time responding/reacting to our environment, which leaves us little time to pay any attention to ourselves. If we are lucky we do find time to relax, spend time with people we enjoy, or focus on hobbies that are meaningful for us. However, these activities are not the same as really focusing on ourselves.

Most of the time our focus is either on the future or the past. We plan for all of the things we need to take care of or get ready for, or we perseverate on things from the past that we wish we had differently but we can't change now. What we don't focus on is the here and now, the present moment as it is, the one thing we can actually experience. We have memories from the past and hopes (or worries) for the future, but this moment is our reality, if we can turn our attention to it. The only way to change the future is to be present in the moment, to cultivate intimacy with things as they actually are, and we aren't typically very good at this. We maintain high levels of stress as we react to the world around us, instead of taking charge and living fully in the present.

Mindfulness is awareness that arises in the present moment. It is not a state of the mind, but instead is a state of being. It is seeing yourself as you are, and accepting yourself as you are in this moment. Mindfulness is a dignified act of love that we can give to ourselves, but we can't give to anyone else, nor can anyone give to us. We must take the time to give ourselves this gift, so we can be fully present and fully ourselves. Mindfulness means we are fully awake. It is a shift from doing to being.

Over the next few posts I am going to explore various ways that we can be more mindful in our lives. I imagine when you think of mindfulness you think of meditation, which is a fair connection to make. You may envision someone sitting in the full lotus position, eyes closed, softly humming "ommm" to themselves.

This is meditation, absolutely, but it isn't the only way to accomplish it. It is true that some people meditate for long periods of time, but there doesn't have to be a huge commitment of time to be more mindful. In addition to classic meditation, a number of other practices include mindfulness: yoga, some martial arts (like Tai Chi), biofeedback, using mantras, and short mindfulness/meditation exercises (as short as a few minutes) to reconnect with ourselves in meaningful ways. There are also psychotherapies that utilize mindfulness: mindfulness cognitive therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and hypnotherapy. I am learning about all of these practices myself (for both personal and professional reasons) and I will share what I learn with you all here. Mindfulness really is a thing, and it is a thing we could all use more of.