“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ~ Thích Nhất Hạnh
Do you wake up most days feeling restless, tired, and irritable?
Do you feel like you’re busy all the time but don’t feel like you’re making any progress in the areas of life that matter to you?
Do you feel like you’re constantly hijacked by your own emotions? Do you find it hard to maintain a positive attitude over minor setbacks or difficulties?
You’re not alone.
These experiences are familiar to many of us. But there is a powerful tool available to all of us – the ability to become mindful.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness the ability to fully engage in the present moment.
What does mindfulness look like in everyday life? It means being fully present to your kids. Or being engaged in conversation with the person in front of you rather than letting your mind wander. Or truly appreciating the ordinary rather than constantly craving extraordinary experiences.
The practice of meditation has become a popular pathway to mindfulness. Maybe you’ve thought of making time to meditate but haven’t. Maybe it sounds weird and you don’t think it’s for you. Maybe you’ve tried it in the past and didn’t find it very effective.
Here are a few reasons why you should consider giving mindfulness meditation a chance (or a second chance):
1. Mindfulness allows you to be more grateful
At the heart of gratitude is the ability to be aware of what’s going on in the present moment.
As you develop the meditation habit, you’ll start noticing the small blessings in your life in real-time: the cup of coffee you’re currently enjoying, the full tank of gas in your car while you’re driving on the highway, the company of a close friend.
These small moments will begin to add up over time. They’ll give you perspective when you’re struggling with the belief that your life is going nowhere.
2. Mindfulness puts you in the driver’s seat
There’s a misconception that the purpose of meditation is to directly control or block negative thoughts. Some people even believe the mind should be completely blank when you meditate. These misconceptions can frustrate beginners and cause them to quit their meditation practice.
But the path to greater control over your thoughts is indirect and counterintuitive. Instead of trying to suppress thoughts, mindfulness meditation teaches you to observe them. When you become the observer, you see that you are not your thoughts. As the observer, you can choose to distance yourself from them.
Once you’ve mastered distancing yourself from your thoughts, you can let go of the ones that are not serving you.
3. Mindfulness decreases stress and improves health
One of the greatest risk factors for poor health is stress. If left unchecked, stress can negatively affect our physical and emotional well-being.
Research show that mindfulness-based practices can significantly improve health and well-being by decreasing stress, depression, and anxiety. It also improves sleep, reduces chronic pain, and lowers blood pressure. Your relationships will improve as well.
4. Mindfulness increases your attention and focus
Distractions are all around us.
And they derail us from our goals.
By learning to let go of distracting thoughts, mindfulness can help you focus on what truly matters. You’ll be more productive in your work and more present in your play. You’ll learn ways to refocus your attention when you’re inevitably distracted.
The Gift of Meditation
Mindfulness meditation has been a life-changing gift to me. It can be for you too. That’s why I’d like to offer you a chance to win a free 3-month subscription to “OMG I can Meditate!” (Note: Offer expired, but you can still try out the app. I still use it. This is not an affiliate link)
The app is great for beginning and advanced meditators alike. It will help you learn to meditate in as little as 10 minutes a day. There are also specific meditations to help you relax, overcome fear and anxiety, increase your resilience, get a good night’s sleep, nurture your creativity, and much more.
You can try the free version here or download the free app here.
But if you’d like a chance to unlock the full app, leave a comment below and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win.