For the past two months, here and in the newsletter, we have been talking about mindfulness. Leaving our autopilot days behind, we consciously tune into the life we are living. We as we do so, our life experiences are richer and fuller.
There are many definitions of mindfulness, but I think my favorite is Jon Kabat-Zinn’s: “Mindfulness is the awareness that comes when we pay attention – on purpose – in the present moment, while suspending judgment.”
Living a mindful life is not about attaining goal after goal; it’s about how we behave and what we experience as we are living each day. Yes, goals are important, but if we concentrate too much on the prize, we miss the beauty of each day.
Living this way is not all that difficult. We have energy tools that help us live each day with present mind awareness. As we bring our awareness to the center of our head, we are allowing all of our life force to be focused on the current moment. We are not scattered or multi-tasking; we are fully conscious of our present moment. In addition, as we ground to the earth we become even more present, more connected to the here and now.
One of the most profound mindfulness lessons for me has been around judgment. Judging others and judging myself. If we learn to release all judgments, allowing our friends, family and strangers we meet on the street, to be just as they are, without exception, we allow ourselves to be exactly who we are too.
Making present moment awareness a habit changes your perspective. It allows you to be engaged in your life from the inside. You are not searching outside of yourself for answers, you are going within and finding the treasure that awaits for you in the present moment awareness of now. Taking a breath and engaging in the present moment gives you a moment of clarity. It’s an opportunity to take a quick mental inventory and make a choice. Peace or chaos. Happy or mad. Serene or sad. You always have a choice in how you view life.
Choose to be mindfully aware and consciously present.
Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. It’s a time of friends, family, and community gathering together in gratitude for one another and for all that life brings. Take some time today to be mindfully present for your family members. Listen for the intent behind the words, the feelings of their heart. Try not to rush to judgment. Instead, be fully present today, paying attention to your present moment.
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