Mindfulness | Self Discovery Journ

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is simply bringing our attention to the present moment, to notice our current experience with open-hearted, non-judgmental awareness.

Why is the Present Moment so Important?

Thoughts of the past can trigger feelings of regret, fear, nervousness, pain, struggle, and so many others, ultimately leading to unhappiness and/or constant anxiety.

Thoughts of the future can fill our minds with the ‘what if’s’ of our lives, and we put added stress on ourselves by worrying about things that may never even happen!

Focusing on the present moment gives us the freedom to just be - in the now. We cannot control the past (the past is history). We cannot control the future (the future is a mystery). But we CAN control who we are and how we want ‘to be’ in the present moment.

Living in the now and letting go of trying to control every single aspect of our lives gives us an abundance of freedom!

Of course, it’s important to reflect on the past; engage in the memories, remember what worked, what didn’t work, ponder the good times and the bad, learn from our experiences, grieve as needed, and feel what we’re feeling in any particular moment.

It’s also healthy to plan for the future; we don’t want to walk through life with absolutely no direction because that will add stress and anxiety to our lives, too!

Reflecting and planning become unhealthy when rumination takes over our minds. When we obsess over the past and/or future, constantly worrying about what’s already happened or what could potentially happen is where these thoughts of the past and the future become a concern.

Focusing on the present moment and entering into ‘just being’ mode distracts us from the ‘doing mode’ that we’re so used to living. Obviously, the ‘doing’ is a necessary part of life, but ‘being’ is equally important. Surely, we cannot expect to live a peaceful, fulfilling, and abundant life, if we don’t take the time to slow down and appreciate our very own mind and body and bring self-awareness to the forefront.

Mind/Body Connection

We have a mind/body connection. When our mind is at ease, our body is at ease and when our mind is convoluted, it causes dis-ease within our body. Practicing mindfulness and self awareness can help train us to live in the present moment, generating a peaceful flow of energy throughout our bodies.

Self Awareness

Self-awareness has been a HUGE part of my personal growth journey. Becoming aware of my mind, my body, my emotions, my physicality, experiencing every aspect of myself in the present moment has been extremely freeing. It has made me less judgmental of my own thoughts and decisions and of other people’s opinions and actions.

When I take a deep inner look at myself, I know that I am committed to being the very best person that I can be; for myself, for my husband, for my family and friends, for every human being I cross paths with. And through this commitment to myself, I intend to live my life in appreciative ‘being mode’, full of gratitude, with the ability to forgive and intentionally seek out the positive in every situation.

There are going to be tough roads, this is life after all! But when we choose to look within ourselves and accept what is, life can be so much more enjoyable.

So, how can we train our minds? How can we focus on our self-awareness, become more mindful of our situations, and learn to live in the present moment?

Meditation

“Meditation is mind training and the term refers to a group of practices that all share a key feature; they’re intended to cultivate the mind in some way, such as to promote relaxation, encourage mental clarity, and expand to one’s sense of vibrancy, awareness and connectedness.” (Meditation Made Simple)

The simple act of meditation can be a life changing experience, yet there are several misconceptions.

Oftentimes people think they’re ‘doing it wrong’ because their mind ‘won’t go blank’. Their thoughts continue to run through their head, and this, to them, doesn’t reflect the ‘correct’ way to meditate. Others think meditation can only be done in complete silence. Still others blame their lack of time on why meditation can’t/won’t work for them. I’m here to tell you that meditation looks different for everyone!

One of the MANY benefits of meditation is that it IS in fact different for everyone. Every experience is different depending on the kind of meditation you’re choosing to practice, time of day, environment, length of practice, distractions; there are many factors that come into play while meditating, and it’s up to ourselves to continue focusing within, regardless of what’s happening in our minds or what’s going on in our surroundings.

Other Benefits include;

Reduces stress and lowers our heart rate
Enhances self-awareness
Provides emotional balance
Offers a safe haven for our thoughts
Enables us with the opportunity to practice non-judgement
Gives us ample time to focus (on our breathwork, our thoughts, our bodies….)

So how does meditation actually help us uncover mindfulness and self-awareness?

Types of Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation - Through mindfulness meditation, we focus on our breath in the present moment. We then allow thoughts to arise in our mind, without judging them and let them go without overthinking.

Breath Based Meditation - Breath based meditation focuses on deliberately observing and/or counting our inhalations and exhalations. This type of mediation is extremely helpful in a stressful situation.

Mantra Recitation - Mantra recitation meditation is using a particular word or phrase, usually repeated quietly to yourself. Typically, the word or phrase is very positive, uplifting, it can even be mind-shifting.

Active Visualization - Through active visualization, you can remove yourself from your current environment and envision where you want to be. Picture in your mind, a calming locale or sensation, your happy place, and bring peace to your world, if only for a short time.

Loving Kindness - If I had to compare this type of meditation to something else, I would say it’s almost like a prayer for yourself or someone else. Bringing awareness to kind thoughts in your mind, cultivating love and kindness toward yourself and others; this is a very special type of meditation!

Body Scan - Through body scan meditation, the focus is on the various sensations arising throughout the body as you recite each body part in your mind.

Progressive Relaxation - Progressive relaxation meditation provides an entirely different scope of body scan meditation. Instead of simply bringing awareness to particular areas of your body, progressive relaxation invites you to tense, then relax different muscles as you move along the body.

Moving Meditation - Speaking of not moving during meditation, you could technically call your entire yoga class a moving meditation! You’re focused, fully concentrating throughout the class, you’re honed in to how the poses are drumming up sensations throughout your body, you’re moving breath to movement and living very much in the present moment.

"Energy follows thought, and, as we open

ourselves to what is good and positive,