While watching a video by Deepak Chopra, I started brainstorming ways to be more present.
He was talking about living in the moment and how the only time is now. The future and past are not times we can live in, and my mind started to wander.
I have to perpetually keep it on a tight leash. In yoga, we call it “yoking” yourself back to the present moment and it’s something I do daily.
The interesting thing is that I know I am not alone in this practice. One thing Deepak said that struck me as something I needed to hear, was how he begins his day with meditation. You see, I end my day with meditation.
I decided to change my routine up and put meditation first for a week.
Even a 10-minute mediation practice can help bring focus to my morning, so here are 3 more things I decided to do on a regular basis.
1. Practice an eating meditation
This simply means to be more mindful as you begin the process of eating. Look at the food. Allow your breath and mind to settle and send out mental blessings for the farm that grew the food. Appreciate everyone who played a part in getting the food to the store or to your home. Really feel the gratitude for having food. As you start to do this more often, you will come to the table in a whole different mindset and you will notice your body relax.
2. Take your brain off autopilot and take over
I am not going to pretend that I have mastered this one yet, but the fact is, I am making a huge attempt at wresting control back from my lists, my phone, my calendar, my daydreams, my scrolling feed, or wherever I let my mind go that day. The first thing I do is to say thank you as I wake up. I now have control over my morning routine and do not look at any messages or respond to anything until I have completed what I need to do for me. The work “flow” will be there when I am ready. Likewise, as an entrepreneur, I am setting boundaries on my time. I am in control. It feels good!
3. Practice mindfulness during any time which would normally cause frustration for you.
For example, at the doctor’s office when they are running at least an hour behind. Focus on the sensation of breathing in and out. The way your body feels and is being in this time and place. Look around you at other people and how they are “being”. Do you notice frustration at having to wait? Is everyone on their phones? Allow them to just be in whatever state they are in…even if the receptionist is moody. Notice it, but don’t react. This is truly like mindfulness truth or dare. You want so much to say “I am tired of waiting here for 2 hours.” Like I did today…but I didn’t. I dared my body to stay in check as other people were sending out their frustration and verbalizing it. I continued to breathe and mentally do yoga.
Lastly, practice mindful listening on a daily basis.This will really help you to stay in the present moment and focus control over your thoughts. Remember, Deepak is quite right. The only moment we have is this one we are in right now. Make it count.
Aimee Halpin, The Burned Hand
Aimee Halpin is a former educator, mother, yoga teacher, wellness coach, and fighter of obscure diseases (namely her own). She has been fighting invisible diseases for 17 years. She started her blog The Burned Hand to help others fight illness and still maintain hope. The blog took off and her Facebook page was born. 3 years ago, she started a series of steps to help lose weight after being told that there was nothing anyone could do to help her so she started researching like a “mad woman” because she knew that there are always things that can be done if only you know where to look for answers. From this Vitalize You Wellness was born and her program 4 Weeks to Wellness.
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