Good Monday Morning!

I hope you had a lovely weekend and that you were able to rest and relax your mind a bit. Sometimes relaxing our minds involves completing some of the items from the to-do or honey-do lists. Other times we might consider minimizing activities creating more quiet space to breathe and access a few peaceful moments.  

I watched a fascinating documentary over the weekend whose focus was on mindfulness. There are so many excellent reasons to adopt this practice daily, and it’s a simple process. I’m teasing, of course, mindfulness can be a bit challenging for those of us who are human-doings. That is, those of us who measure our success and self-worth by how many tasks we can cross off the list or how exhausted we make ourselves engaging in activities.

Some of the aspects of mindfulness that the film authors revealed included the tremendous positive impact mindfulness has on our nervous system and how beginning with small steps is a perfect introduction to the process. I watched as a group engaged in a mindful walk to promote an understanding of how walking feels in different parts of our minds and bodies. I witnessed an episode of mindful eating whereby the participants very slowly ate a roasted almond using as many senses as they could include.

The film highlighted scenes from schools where children were strengthening their ability to concentrate by noticing what goes on in their minds and bodies as they try to quiet each part in a systematic exercise of being in the moment. That’s one of the most effective elements of mindfulness. The practice helps us slow down long enough to notice what’s happening within and nonjudgmentally enter into the space with curiosity and calm inquisitiveness.

It seems as if mindfulness is also a means of discovering hidden talents and thought processes and enhancing creativity. As we learn to be more accepting of ourselves, thereby increasing our sense of self and confidence levels, we become more adept at genuinely knowing ourselves.

Here’s what Jon Kabat-Zinn shared about the nature of mindfulness:

Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience. | Moonsling

Because mindfulness is a secular practice, the process is easily adaptable in many situations. Perhaps we’re having difficulty focusing on our breath or trying to empty our minds of negativity. In that case, we can focus on an element of gratitude or maybe some passage from Scripture or other faith-based literature.

Since the goal of this practice is to observe and remain in the present, we might consider choosing a focal point in nature or something within our immediate surroundings. I’ve experienced taking a mindful walk where I focused on identifying a particular tree or how many red-colored doors I see. There’s a unique freedom in letting go of chaotic and conflicting thoughts in favor of engaging in a singular focus of thought.

Here are some references about being mindful from Scripture:

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.” Luke 1:46b-49 (NIV)

And here are some thoughts from others involved in mindfulness leadership found on the website themindfulnessmovement.com:

“The way I define Mindfulness is paying attention to our present moment experiences with openness and curiosity and a willingness to be with what is.” Diana Winston, Director of Education, UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center

“There’s no moment that’s not a wonderful moment for mindfulness. And it offers us a degree of freedom so that we can navigate the inevitable ups and downs of life.” Jon Kabat-Zinn, Founder, The Center for Mindfulness UMass Medical School

”Every time you put your mind on your breath, and then it wanders, that’s what the mind does, and you notice it wandered, then you bring it back, you’re strengthening the neural circuitry for paying attention.” Daniel Goleman, psychologist, best-selling author of Altered Traits and Emotional Intelligence

“Mindfulness isn’t just to get relaxed and to be calm; it’s really about cultivating wisdom so that we eradicate or alleviate suffering.” George Mumford, mindfulness teacher and author of The Mindful Athlete

So we see that mindfulness is more than simply concentrating on one thing at a time. Instead, the practice involves embracing the present to address illness, mental exhaustion, and emotional wellness. It can calm and soothe us in the weariness of our day-to-day activities, but it has the potential to, essentially, rewire our thought processes in favor of more balanced wellbeing in all areas of our lives.

This week, why not try befriending ourselves and our experiences through mindfulness. I’m guessing we’ll all grow from the process. Who knows, the practice of mindfulness may be just the addition you need to find more joy in daily life and embrace becoming a human-being rather than a human-doing!

Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda