I have been thinking a lot about mindfulness and how we treat not only one another, but ourselves. Our actions and our words have power that we sometimes do not acknowledge for a multitude of reasons…we are rushing through our day, we are stressed, we are wearing too many hats, we have too much on our minds. The list can go on and on. The thing is, we all need to slow down, stop and breath for even just one moment. Bringing ourselves back into our bodies, our present moment and what is important.
In this journey towards more mindfulness, I have realized that how we treat ourselves, our children, our spouse, our friends, even our pets, has an impact on all of those involved in a dramatic way.
This week I have given us all a word to focus on in my house. This is a way to start becoming more aware of our words and actions and to check back in with ourselves to see if we are truly working on our “word,” our mindfulness, during our day. I come back to this word again and again with my kids to ensure that they are at least thinking about it and remembering it. After time, this will make an impact, I am positive.
Other ways we can practice mindfulness is to journal. This is a great way to reflect on our words and our actions in a safe and introspective way. Stop, notice and think about what you just said or did and how it affected not only yourself, but others involved.
How do you carry your body? Your body language tells quite a bit about how we are feeling and how we are reacting to our surroundings. Stop, notice and become aware.
Lastly, meditate. You do not have to listen to someone speaking and guiding you through a meditative journey if that is not your thing (even though there are some fabulous ones out there). You can find a quiet, comfortable place to sit and just breathe for a few minutes, deeply, in and out through your nose (victorious breath). Even a few moments to take for yourself during your crowded day can make a world of difference.
Then, when the world seems to be spinning out of control, come back to this moment. Come back to mindfulness, awareness and your breath.
YogaCult 