Here’s something I love doing and I want to share with you. Take out some time today, no more than five minutes, just to breathe. Become conscious of your breath and your body: take in deliberate deep breaths, center yourself, become aware and present of your heart, mind and body.
I find that it’s only from a place of stillness and self-nurture can we be our optimal selves and accomplish our everyday goals. It is not selfish to give to yourself – on the contrary, when our glass is full, we have more to give others.
I find this practice excellent because we don’t always realize how much we hold onto: everything from stress, tension, fears and worry. Taking five minutes out of my day to focus on letting go of all that extra baggage helps me get through the day so much more freely and enthusiastically! Whenever I meditate with people at the end of a few minutes I always ask them how do you feel right now. Most always the response is feeling much better and more relaxed, less anxious and happier.
Why does this work? How does one go from being stressed out and not feeling well one moment, to feeling calm, relaxed, and completely content?
The difference is simply a state of mind. The only thing that changed is perception.
This got me thinking, if all it takes is a shift in focus – a readjustment of awareness, why can’t I do this all the time? At first glance it came across to me as too good to be true, but consciousness is a technique that gets us in touch with ourselves and the world around us, to the point of us being so present that we are totally Here and Now. With life being so short, do I really want to spend the rest of it living out some memory from the past that’s forever gone or anticipating a moment in the future?
I used to walk around in a daze, completely lost in my thoughts – I spent a large portion of my life walking through a daydream haze. I would get lost frequently and would not be able to recall how I got to any location – that’s because I was completely asleep, and, as I’ve learned – sleepwalking is no way to live your whole life! I find it much more fulfilling to be involved in my life, to be an active part in it rather than just being subject to it. I know that sounds weird.
Now, when I’m walking down the street, I note the smell of the air, the way it fills my lungs, I look around at what and who’s around me, I now consciously take my steps, noting how I move and how everything is moving around me. I confess I may not do this all the time, but at least I no longer put my Ray Bans on in the subway to further disconnect from the outside world.
Is every day going to feel wonderful? No, but most days are pretty good, and I want to be able to savor them, to 100% experience them – I want to live life fully. Many people say they don’t have time to meditate, I laugh at that as I am ALWAYS meditating. Why not become completely aware when you go about your day? Doing any activity with mindfulness, with consciousness, even walking, even observing, even just being is a form of meditation. We are human beings, not human doings, so let’s take out some time, even if it is just five minutes every day to be fully present and just be – to let the stillness of your breath center you in the present moment and remind you what it’s all about.