Tag: joy of being book

Mindfulness in Life Experiences

To be present in life requires mindfulness.

Mindfulness is being aware, paying attention without attachment by choice.

Choosing to be present in the moment.

Mindfulness is a state of being where body and mind are in the same mental and physical place at the same time.

In that moment, thoughts of past or future don’t exist.

It is so easy to go through daily routines or just “go through the motions.”

Mindfulness would be to step outside that pattern and be aware of the actions, things you are doing throughout the day.

The Benefits of Being Mindful

It can reduce stress by having awareness of thoughts and emotions that are occurring in the moment. There is an opportunity to process them.

Situations are no longer just reactionary.

What this means is having self control and not reacting  with a response of impulsive behavior. In addition, mindfulness allows for mental calmness in a state of composure. Within that composure is mental clarity and concentration.

You place all focus on what you are doing with aligned action. Awareness for where you are in the moment. Living into who you are choosing to be with intention and discipline. Functioning from a conscious thought process. This could be referred to as “the higher self” or “divine self.”

There is one important attribute that mindfulness offers in life. It is the ability to relate to self and others. In this space, kindness, compassion and acceptance are visible in awareness. Mindfulness can offer other perspectives. The perspectives offer other opportunities and choices.

There is a choice to step into the intentions of who you are being.

From my own personal experience, mindfulness has helped me with connection.

Mindfulness helps bring me back to a neutral operating state. Release from the dominating thoughts of judgment.

Letting go of the worries, the doubts.

It is a place of focus and intention on the present.

It breaks moments down into observable pieces.

You notice things start to slow down.

There is an appreciation for all that is right now.

The calming silence through stillness to create a tranquil inner world

Thoughts infuse the mind when we wake until we sleep.

Racing from one moment to the next.

Not taking the time to be in silence.

Not taking a moment to be still, and in presence.

What is in that moment of stillness and silence?

It is a space filled with propositions of inner connection. The inner connection aligns with the outer connection of life.

In that space of stillness and silence there is no constraint or resistance to time.

There is a flow of effortless tranquility.

All the judgements of “what isn’t” or “needs to be” vanishes.

A choice for peace, internally. Aligning with the thoughts and feelings within that peace.

Freedom resides in the silence of the stillness.

A deep knowing is accessed. It allows for listening. Listening to your inner voice.

The loud noises that cover up the inner voice dissipate.

Everything becomes silent. You are an observer in stillness.

Clarity is unmasked.

Open to see the vastness of peace.

 

Mindfulness benefits the experiences in your life

To be present in life requires mindfulness.

Mindfulness is being aware, paying attention without attachment by choice.

Choosing to be present in the moment.

A state of being where body and mind are in the same mental and physical place at the same time.

You place all focus on what you are doing, where you are, who you are being.

In that moment, thoughts of past or future don’t exist.

It is effortless to go through daily routines or just “go through the motions.”

Mindfulness would be to step outside that pattern and be aware of the actions, things you are thinking and doing throughout the day.

 

Being mindful in your day carries many benefits

It can reduce stress by having awareness of thoughts and emotions that are occurring in the moment and giving an opportunity to process them.

Situations are no longer just reactionary.

There is a choice to step into who you are being.

 

From my own personal experience, mindfulness has helped me with connection.

It helps bring me back to a neutral operating state.

Letting go of the worries, the doubts.

It is a place of focus and intention on the present.

It breaks moments down into observable pieces.

You notice things start to slow down.

Calm in the presence of stillness, reveals appreciation for all that is right now.

 

What makes it so hard to let go of hurt, pain, loss?

I have found it is the fear of how much of suffering will have to be endured until it goes away.

The thought of what has been impacted by the pain.

The constant attachment to the thoughts and emotions that continue to be a reminder of each experience.

When the choice is made to hold onto what is causing the fear, instantly choices become limited.

There is a meaning that has been attached to what is feared. The fear has become the focus of reality and all the decisions being made are based around the fear.

Letting go becomes a process. Going through the process of letting go requires presence.

There is a realization that there is no need to avoid what is desired to be let go of.

The internal process starts with awareness. Being aware of what is triggering the fear, and what the actual fear is.

Next is to acknowledge that the fear exists and what is being created by the fear.

Finally, it is accepting that you have a fear of what is being experienced. You are experiencing it in the moment, and that’s okay.

This gives the opportunity to shift perspective and it opens the possibility for choice.

Needing to express what needs to be expressed. The opportunity opens up for self compassion, forgiveness, gratitude.

This helps to form beliefs that attract focus for what is desired rather than what is being created by the fears.

Where would you like to be placing your focus?

Letting go becomes more about trust and belief in something greater than the fear that is being held onto. -Kristin Sven Larsen

 

Accept

Struggle is something that can’t be avoided at certain times in life. 

There are two choices that can be made when struggle appears.

It can be accepted or avoided.

Accepting the moment of struggle means seeing it as it actually is in the moment. That could be subjective, but what it really means is to accept what is being experienced in the moment.

Once resistance is chosen as the actionable thought, the struggle continues to evolve.

Avoiding can take the form of denial, repressing or blame.

Imagine avoiding who you are being, who someonelse is being, or what the situation is in the moment?

What is being created by avoiding?

Permission for irresponsibility and disregard for choice.

Accepting of “what is” in the moment gives permission for accountability and allows for personal ownership of the experience.

Accepting the moment filters down to fear. A subconscious thought may be, “if I avoid, repress or deny what is being experienced I will stay out of feeling hopeless and helpless.”

This may work for a brief time, then the resistance and struggle compiles.

You cannot change what you do not accept.

It doesn’t mean you have to like what you are accepting. That is when the power of choice is is presented. 

Acceptance can turn into action. You can lead yourself to be in charge of the choices.

It is not about giving up and quitting. 

In that moment, accept the experience for what it is without the need to blame or avoid no matter what the fear may be.

Acceptance shifts the experience. It opens the door to welcome new ways of being.

New ways of being create opportunities and possibilities. 

Acceptance can be thought of as a mirror reflection of what’s possible.

  • Frustration – Satisfied
  • Irritable – Patient
  • Anger – Calm
  • Mistake – Learning

A realization needs to develop through the choices of accepting what is happening. It makes it easier to accept the fears that are being avoided because accountability is formed from being present in the moment.

 

Photo Credit: Jeremy Yap

Acknowledge

The constructs of life are moments and experiences.

Within those experiences are the moments that accompany a choice. The choice to be present with them or let them pass by without acknowledging them.

It requires acknowledging them for what they are. Acknowledgment gets lost when they are viewed as what they are not or what they could be.

The experiences could be made from interactions with others or how a situation is presenting itself.

To acknowledge something means to admit it’s existence, to admit something has been received.

There are many aspects in life that can be acknowledged. It is part of the process of presence.

Acknowledge yourself. This could be through appreciation of who you are being in life or what you are doing in life. What you have in life. 

Allowing ourselves to acknowledge all our feelings and thoughts in their true form. With or without judgement. Simply acknowledging they exist.

It could also be accountability. Acknowledging mistakes or short comings. It helps to move from a place of fear and opens the window of possibility.

Most importantly, acknowledge where you are, in any experience. Being present to what is happening or the people you are connecting with in that experience.

Choose to acknowledge the gratitude for the experience. Then it will be present in the experience.

This means appreciating yourself, appreciating others and appreciating life. 

Celebrating all the elements that contribute to the moment you are living in.

It can mean shifting focus and changing the narrative. A perspective that creates hope and possibility.

It can mean admitting what is real and then deciding how to acknowledge the moment as it continues.

 

 

Photo Credit: Marcos Paulo Prado

Awareness

Life has a way of showing us things. It has a way of revealing what we need to see. 

What is the purpose for the need to see what is being revealed?

It provides choice and opportunity. That could mean many things for each person.

It could mean growth. It could mean love. It could mean trust. It could mean forgiveness.

What is being revealed is seen because of the way we are being present with ourselves to see it.

In order for any change in life to occur requires awareness to make the change possible.

Awareness is a piece of presence that offers choices. 

It is a form of self reflection. Being present with thoughts, emotions, behaviors.

Without awareness, the same patterns will continue. The same outcomes will continue to unfold. Those outcomes may not be the ones that are desired.

It helps to move away from “always reacting” or feeling like, “things are constantly out of control.”

Being able to shift perspective through awareness aids in the process of desired change.

The internal changes support the external changes to occur.

Our self awareness impacts the way we interact with thoughts, which influence emotions and dictate our behaviors.

How might this affect our daily interactions? How might this affect our daily decisions?

Only presence can bring awareness. Without it, things are distorted and perception becomes misaligned.

How can awareness become part of daily living?

Try to get in tune with listening to yourself and others. Remove the judgements and attachments to thoughts and emotions. 

This can be achieved through disciplined activities such as yoga, meditation, journaling, taking time to reflect.

Awareness is the first powerful step in the process of transforming your life and making an impact in the lives of others.

 

Photo Credit: Varun Gaba