HOW TO USE MINDFULNESS TO ENRICH YOUR LIFE
The present moment
Dances
Around our eyes- our ears
In our mouth and nose
On our skin- In our gut
In our heart
On our head
In us and out
But ——
Most of us miss it
Most of the time
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness just means being aware of inner and outer sensory experiences as they happen in the present moment. Mindfulness practice doesn’t belong to any religion or a particular belief system - it is available right now, if we can just be it.
When we’re present we are more aware of our surroundings - more conscious of the sounds, sights, smells, as well as more aware of the sensations on and in the body - more in touch with our emotions.
When we are present we are in the present moment - a space that most of us miss most of the time.
What’s stops us being present?
Being mindful seems so obvious, but why is it so difficult to practice?
Because we think!! It’s thinking that drags us out of the present moment, and it’s thinking which usually makes us unhappy.
Have you noticed that thinking is always about the past or the future - we’re thinking about something that has happened already, or we’re thinking about something that may happen in the future - there is actually no thought in the present moment. Our narrative mind does not get this - so it tries to distract us by bringing up words in our head that will tell us are very important. Then we have the choice of fusing with our thoughts or moving back to being our observing self.
When we think about the past, our thoughts often go over and over some past injustice, or ruminate on actions we should or shouldn’t have done - or said. When we think about the past it’s usually about something that has already happened - something you already know - and really, there is no benefit in going over it and over it - especially as thinking about the past often spirals into unhappiness and depression.
When we think about the future we are usually concerned or worried that something is or isn’t going to happen, which often brings up feelings of anxiety which can turn to panic.
The incredible bonus of being present with all our senses is we become the observer of ourselves and not the thinker - we can observe thoughts that arise and choose not to fuse with them and instead move our awareness back to enjoy the richness of now. When emotions arise we can choose to welcome them as hurt parts of ourselves instead of rejecting them, or adding another layer of discomfort by being frightened of them or angry with yourself.
Humans may be the only life form that can physically and emotionally respond to an event thats finished - or hasn’t even happened.