“Surrender. Just let go. Trust the universe… It will catch you.” –Unknown
In the midst of our busy lives, we often find ourselves slipping away from our ideal goals, from those ideas we had set our minds on. And in a society that seems to only care about the end result (and is quite specific about the way that should look) it is no wonder so many of us can feel frustrated, stuck or inadequate at times.
But fear not! Mindfulness to the rescue!
Growing our mindfulness practice makes us much stronger and prepared to face what life throws at us, even when it keeps changing, or when it gets really hard, painful or even bizarre.
Mindfulness is a wide field, and we should be very grateful for that because that depth, in itself, is a powerful tool. When we stop for a minute and consciously think about where we are in order to connect with the present moment, we are practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness can be part of a deep and regular meditation practice. It can be valuing sacred spaces and passing thorough with gratitude. Mindfulness can also look like journaling, yoga, and of course breathing… among others.
This, like anything else, takes time and practice. The beauty is even if you do it only once a day, mindfulness will transform your life. Here are some steps you can take to build a mindfulness practice:
Breathing: Often, our breathing is mindless. Finding a deeper connection to our breath will relax us, help us feel more in control, and is a key element of meditation and yoga. When mindfully breathing, make sure to pause and feel the air filling your lungs all the way to the top. Exhale feeling more relaxed, or imagining a feeling or situation being gone.
Observation: Noting what is in front of us brings a powerful connection to the natural world. Taking a moment to just observe (not to judge), even if it is for only five seconds, opens up a new world of wonders and it leads us to become a better participant in the world around us.
Listening: Hearing is often an overstimulated sense, yet is often over-looked. So many of our biggest problems come from lack of listening. We might be hearing, but not listening. One very powerful way to practice this in conversation is by not interrupting the other party! Many times we interrupt as a way of demonstrating active listening and engagement, but many other times we are just adding, or even reclaiming the story, to make it fit our experiences. Not that this is always wrong BUT try just listening and see how differently you feel about the experience, yourself and the other party. (P.S. This is quite challenging with kids and teens! So it is a great time to lead by example.)
Immersion: Being fully present in the task at hand is another path to mindfulness. Purposefully immersing yourself in an activity cultivates contentment in the moment and escapes persistent striving. So instead of rushing through routine tasks, take that activity and fully immerse in it, detail after detail. Feel and become the motion. You might even achieve times of movement meditation.
Like what you read here? There’s so much MORE to explore and learn with Kidding Around Yoga. Find more ways to make mindfulness part of your family’s daily routine by listening to our podcast, Mindful Conversations with KAY. Check out our website for our live and online teacher trainings, Yoga Alliance-approved 95-hour RCYT trainings, specialty online courses, original music, merchandise, and SO MUCH MORE!