What is Mindfulness?
The term sounds easy enough to comprehend, but there is a much
deeper meaning. Terms like mindfulness and loving-kindness seem
obvious, but you have to understand them before you can
implement them, into your daily life.
This reminds me of a conversation I, recently, had with a
friend. He was reading the personal ads, in the singles section,
and came across another term: "consciously aware." He was
grasping to understand why so many women had listed this as a
prerequisite to any kind of relationship, with a male companion.
When he mentioned this to me, and I could see the puzzlement all
over his face, I couldn't suppress a smile. I asked him, "Are
you a good listener?" Now, he was completely "thrown off the
track."
So, I explained that women, who had been exposed to men, who
didn't listen, had written these advertisements. Living in the
moment, and being consciously aware, are components of
mindfulness.
Therefore, let's take an in-depth look at the meaning of
mindfulness. Staying in the present moment is, probably, the
hardest part, for most of us. We spend so much time thinking
about the past and future, that there is little time to see
life, as it is.
Imagine, what would happen, if you drove a car like that.
Looking over your shoulder, and blocks ahead, most of the time,
would get you into an accident. Due to the fact, you were not
aware of what is right in front of you. So what do you do?
Let's take the first step together today. Firstly, make a
commitment to create the daily habit of mindfulness. After that,
start to listen to the world around you and the world within
you. The universe is outside, and within, at the same time. This
is proven by the fact that the universe is infinitely vast and
infinitely small.
Now, back to listening to yourself. Make it a point to notice
how often you are nervous, tense, or distracted, and learn to
focus on your breath. Breath awareness will calm your inner
being, and you can do it anytime. If you want to learn more
about breathing for your overall health, you should attend a
workshop or a Yoga class.
Learn to be silent and learn to speak up at the "right time."
When is there a right time to speak? Learn to relax before
talking. Never speak to inflame a conflict, but do not become
silent when you can resolve a conflict. Never be afraid to
compromise, and find common ground, with a perceived opponent.
Always remember: The solutions to your problems are all within
your own mind.