YOU’RE IN A CROWDED CITY, WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP. SIRENS RACING BY, TOURISTS SNAPPING PHOTOS AND BIKES ZIPPING DOWN THE SIDEWALKS. THIS BUSY PICTURE COULD MAKE YOU FEEL ANXIOUS, STRESSED OR DOWNRIGHT UPSET (LOCALS & TOURISTS ARE NEVER A GREAT MIX, AM I RIGHT?).
I WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE. IN ADDITION TO THE CHAOS, LET’S THROW IN THOSE INSECURITIES TOO BELIEVING THAT EVERYONE IS CONCERNED WITH WHAT OUTFIT YOU PUT ON OR HOW YOU WALK ACROSS THE STREET. AFRAID. SHY. INDECISIVE. THESE FEELINGS WERE ALL TOO COMMON FOR ME.
FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, HERE’S THE NEW VERSION.
YOU’RE IN A CROWDED CITY, WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO YOUR FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP. YOU NOTICE IT’S A COOL DAY, A SLIGHT BREEZE RUNS THROUGH YOUR HAIR. YOU CAN SMELL THE AROMA OF COFFEE THAT LURES YOU CLOSER AND CLOSER WITH EVERY STEP YOU TAKE.
IN ADDITION TO THIS, YOU MAKE IT TO THE SIDEWALK WHERE YOU NOTICE A GUY WITH HIS BIKE STANDING IN LINE. YOU’VE BEEN WANTING TO GET A BIKE SO YOU STRIKE UP A CONVERSATION SPEAKING CALMLY AND FREELY, NOTICING SMALL ATTRIBUTES OF HIS STYLE & DEMEANOR. AFTER ORDERING, YOU BOTH PART WAYS, BUT YOU LEAVE WITH A SENSE OF CONNECTION, GRATITUDE AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE DAY AHEAD.
NOTICE ANYTHING DIFFERENT IN THE 2ND VERSION? THE ANSWER IS: MINDFULNESS.
MINDFULNESS IS DEFINED AS THE BASIC HUMAN ABILITY TO BE FULLY PRESENT, AWARE OF WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT WE’RE DOING, AND NOT OVERLY REACTIVE OR OVERWHELMED BY WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND US.
IF YOU’RE NEW TO THIS CONCEPT, IT’S OKAY! WE’RE ALL NEW TO SOMETHING – YOU SIMPLY HAVE TO TRY IT AND WITH TIME, TURN IT INTO A HABIT. HERE’S A HELPFUL ARTICLE THAT GOES INTO MORE DEPTH.
MINDFULNESS HAS PROVIDED ME A SLEW OF POSITIVE EXPERIENCES AND MOMENTS THAT HAVE SHAPED ME INTO THE PERSON I AM TODAY. I TAKE TIME TO APPRECIATE A SUNNY, 70 DEGREE WEATHER SPRING DAY. I TAKE TIME TO BE THANKFUL FOR A COLORFUL, HEALTHY MEAL THAT GIVES ME STRENGTH AND NOURISHMENT. I TAKE TIME TO BE GRATEFUL FOR THE ABLED BODY THAT I AM BLESSED WITH TO PERFORM NORMAL, DAY TO DAY FUNCTIONS.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS TO PRACTICE MINDFULNESS, ONE OF WHICH IS MEDITATION. IF YOU’RE NEW TO MEDITATION, THAT’S ALSO OKAY! THERE ARE GREAT APPS OUT THERE TO GET YOU COMFORTABLE WITH IT – HEADSPACE BEING MY FAVORITE.
I HOPE SHARING MY EXPERIENCES AND RESULTS RESONATED WITH YOU! EAGER TO HEAR YOURS AS WELL – HEAD OVER TO THE “CONTACT” TAB AND SHOOT ME A NOTE 🙂