Are You Being Mindful?

Do you ever just stop and wonder, “What are my feet feeling right now? How does the wind brushing by my face feel? Am I breathing consciously?” 

Do you ever live in the moment

Practicing mindfulness can allow you to explore thoughts, feelings, and physical objects that you may have never actually “realized” before. How often is it that you try to push all the problems away for just a little bit to experience the present? When was the last time you engaged in the present, but in a thoughtful yet not-overthinking way? When was the last time you were able to engage without judging much, if at all? 

But how do you reach such a state of being mindful? Well, you probably already do, but aren’t mindful of your mindfulness! The trick is to try to tap into your mindful state, and become aware of it. 

The basics to mindfulness, as written by mindful.org, are, 

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1. Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or bench, or any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space. 

2. Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind, or attempting to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgement. Easier said than done, we know. 

3. Let your judgements roll by. When we notice judgements arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass. 

4. Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment. 

5. Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself for whatever thoughts crop up, just practice recognizing when your mind has wandered off, and gently bring it back. 

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A great way to try to enter the present is to practice meditation. Meditation, when done properly, may let you “feel out” your pain. Meaning, you can shape your pain into planning, into next-steps, during this time of clarity. You will become more focused, more aware, and be able to thoughtfully pursue your pain. Question it. Make sense of all your emotions. 

But there’s no need to rush into getting all the answers right away. To begin losing tension, start meditating today! Gradually enter the zone of clarity, and your quality of life will improve. 

I know mine did. 

Check-out mindful.org for more helpful information on mindfulness! 

- Navdeep, intern at Rob’s Guitar School

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