Living
in the sunshine state and having access to beautiful sunrises and incredible
sunsets, we have an opportunity to experience everyday what others envy and
come to experience on their vacation. By having this paradise at our fingertips
it’s easy to forget what brought us here in the first place. We begin to
overlook the attraction of the area as our lives become engulfed with, well –
life.
Have
you ever watched a drop of water falling onto a liquid surface? Possibly you recall watching raindrops hit
puddles. Seeing this in slow motion or in
a photo during the action of the drop hitting the surface can be
mesmerizing. The action is dramatic as
the drop splashes into the surface spreading up in the most dynamic dance,
bringing different light and texture while being beautiful all at the same
time. Watching this small but
significant event can focus your attention to detail and appreciation for
environment, energy and an overall feeling of peacefulness.
Do
you take the time to embrace moments of your life? It doesn’t necessarily need to be watching
raindrops but to intentionally enjoy increments of your day being mindful of
the beauty, joy or peacefulness. Are you
aware of your thoughts, feelings, surrounding environment, and the energy you
are feeling? In practicing mindfulness,
we tune into those sensations without bringing the past or the future into the
picture.
Mindfulness
So,
what does it mean to be mindful? Psychology Today defines mindfulness as “a
tool that allows people to be more aware of their physical and emotional conditions
without getting bogged down in self-criticism and judgment.” Merriam-Webster defines mindfulness as “the practice of
maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's
thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis.” Basically,
mindfulness means being aware of and controlling your experience.
Another
way to think about it is to allow thoughts to pass through and explore the
experience and accept what comes into your awareness at the moment. A way to expand upon your thoughts, feelings
and sensations without an end goal.
How
to practice mindfulness
There
are many ways to practice mindfulness. A
good way to start is to be aware of what you are doing with everyday
actions.
Begin
with your meals. Many of us eat without
thought of what we are eating, how fast, nor the taste of individual foods. Try to not have distractions and pay
attention to flavor, You may be surprise how filling – mental and physically,
as well as satisfying, this practice can be.
Other
ways to experience mindfulness is to be observant with your surroundings. Listen more intently, pay attention to your
breathing and really feel the connection in your senses between touch, smell,
sight and sound. Find time to be quiet
and focus on the peacefulness outside of the daily world of noise.
What
are the benefits
Research studies have suggested that mindfulness can
benefit our bodies as well as our minds.
It can improve our mood, increase positive emotions, reduce stress, and
affect overall psychological well-being.
Final thought
See where you can incorporate a little mindfulness
into your life. Perhaps it will be
watching drops of water making their dance as they bounce off the surface. Or it may be tiny steps to be aware of your
thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a daily basis. Enjoy the world around you and take in the multitude of
different ways to find happiness, joy, fulfillment and purpose.
“It’s never too late to take a moment to look.” ― Sharon Salzberg
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