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| courtesy of mindfulness |
Mindfulness is defined as "a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience" (taken from Psychology Today).
When should you start practicing mindfulness?
My answer is to start right now. Start making a conscious effort to live in the moment, to notice all the experiences you have. Do not let them get lost in the flow of life.
Practicing mindfulness is just that: a practice. Like meditation or yoga, you must deliberately practice mindfulness in order to get better at it.
My story
I stumbled upon mindfulness during my second year of graduate school (last year actually). I was stressed out and burnt out from graduate school, working two jobs, and trying to move on from a devastating breakup. I needed to find some peace, comfort, and solitude. And I needed it fast because I knew I couldn't keep going like I was. I was already breaking down and it was only a matter of time before I completely collapsed.
I came across musings about mindfulness on Kimberly Wilson's blog Tranquility du Jour. And in what seemed like divine intervention, Kimberly also launched her e-course Mindfulness: Tranquility Within.
I started my mindfulness practice and have never looked back. It was hard to get into at first, but after I'd done it enough, it made a huge difference in how I approached my life.
How can you practice mindfulness?
Start with your routines. Pick either your morning or evening routine and check in with yourself to see how you're feeling physically, emotionally, and spiritually in the moment.
Practice beginning and ending your day with a focus on you and your feelings and thoughts. Write your reflections down in a journal to help solidify the moment.
Do you practice mindfulness? If so, how did you start?
As always, thank you for reading :)
Melissa
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