Let's Get Mindful
“Life gives you plenty of time to do whatever you want to do if you stay in the present moment”
Before you read this blog post, can I ask you to do something? Stop what you’re doing. Close your eyes and focus on your breath. Breathe in and out deeply for a few moments. Feel your shoulders relax, your heartbeat slow. Now, didn’t that feel nice?
I have been meditating and have engaged in mindful practices for years. That being said, I am not perfect. It is a “perfectly imperfect” practice. However, each day I endeavor to do my best.
On a recent hike, I saw these display of stones. It was so peaceful. I could have sat and looked at it for hours.
What is mindfulness?
Jon Kabat-Zinn, a professor of medicine and the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, writes that “Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally, and sometimes in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”
Mindfulness is about being and living in the present moment. When I am truly being mindful or living in the present moment, life slows down, even stands still. I notice things more and I really appreciate what is happening in that moment.
One way to work towards mindfulness is through a regular meditation practice. Meditation is a healing practice that allows us to experience inner calm and deep relaxation. For thousands of years, people have used meditation to move beyond the mind’s busy activity and emotional turbulence into profound peace and expanded awareness. Meditation is the most direct way to experience inner silence and well-being, resulting in the rediscovery of your body’s own inner intelligence.
There are so many benefits to meditation, both physical and psychological. Meditation is one of the best tools we have to counter the brain’s negativity bias, release accumulated stress, foster positive experiences and intentions, and enjoy the peace of present moment awareness.
A regular meditation practice (2x a day, every day for 20-30 minutes) produces great benefits for mental and physical health, including:
· decreased blood pressure and hypertension;
· lowered cholesterol levels;
· reduced production of “stress hormones” including cortisol and adrenaline;
· more efficient oxygen use by the body;
· increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA;
· improved immune function; and
· decreased anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Beyond these substantial benefits, meditation creates a sense of calm and inner peace in your daily life. When you meditate, you go beyond the mind’s noisy chatter into an entirely different place: the silence of a mind that is not imprisoned by the past or the future.
This is important because silence is the birthplace of happiness, creativity, and infinite possibilities. Silence is where we get our bursts of inspiration, our tender feelings of compassion and empathy, and our sense of love. When you meditate on a regular basis, all of your thoughts, actions and reactions are infused with a little more love and mindful attention.
For meditating, you need nothing fancy. Just a space to sit quietly and close your eyes.
It can be daunting to begin a mindfulness and meditation program in your life. My recommendation would be to start small and build up the practice over time.
Forgive yourself when you miss a day or when your mind wanders, as it inevitably does! Set reminders for yourself to build in meditation on a regular basis.
This article is truly one of my favorites describing mindfulness and how to get started.
Additionally, I offer regular guided meditation sessions. You can join me on Mondays at 11:30 am via Zoom for Monday Meditations.
If you want to learn a little more about meditation, you can sign up for an “Introduction to Meditation” class. I offer these classes on the second Monday of each month from 1:00pm-1:45pm. Visit this link to sign up. Both the Monday Meditation and Intro to Meditation are free of charge.
Now, let’s do this again. Close those eyes. Deep breath in…deep breath out. Be still. Be quiet. Be present.
“ If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious, you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
