It’s so hard to pause, breathe, and insert mindfulness into our everyday life when we can barely remember our keys before we head out the door.

Mindfulness initially seems like some elusive force out there that only a Jedi has access to yet we can all cultivate this power within us and use it for good! And there’s a lot of good that comes with it.

Mindfulness helps to increase your ability to regulate emotions, decrease stress and anxiety, and improve focus. Not to mention the substantial medical benefits of lowering blood pressure, treating heart disease, improving sleep disorders, alleviating gastrointestinal difficulties, and reducing chronic pain.

Personally, mindfulness helped me set boundaries with others in my life. If you’ve ever been flimsy with your boundaries like I have, you know that saying ‘yes’ to a request is a knee-jerk reaction.

Mindfulness enables you to have less of those knee-jerk, kick-yourself-later responses, especially when you’re trying to draw a firm line with others.

Mindfulness can help you check in with yourself before you respond. You can pause before you say something stupid or eat something stupid.

(How Mindfulness Can Improve Your Relationship)

One way to get mindful is to meditate regularly. Mindfulness is a naturally occurring side effect of a meditation practice. Why? Because you’ve built a habit out of pausing without distraction and you’re practicing the art of observing your thoughts without acting on them.

I first noticed mindfulness in my life when I began taking note of my BIG emotions, BIG triggers, and BIG reactions.

Most of us just default to autopilot and believe our anger was justified. We carry on with life continuing to get angry at the same things; accepting a very powerless position.

Being mindful means you now have the advantage of observing your life AND participating in it instead of being at the mercy of your reactions.

Get curious about where your triggers come from. How was your reaction related to past pain? Sit with the uncomfortable-ness for a minute (it may be after you’ve cooled down).

Of course there are enjoyable ways to practice mindfulness as well. Savoring food bite by bite. Enjoying nature and all your senses in a natural setting. Purposefully paying attention to what you are doing in the moment.

(How to get mindful: Here’s One Benefit of Meditation That Will Help You Kick Ass In Life

If you need to kickstart a meditation or mindfulness habit, I’ve got the perfect guided mindfulness meditation for you on this #meditationmonday

I don’t want to toot my own horn, but TOOOOOT!

This is a must-try, feel-good meditation. I love it and I know you will too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peace and Be Well

 

Laura