Practice Mindfulness
Be here, now.
Photos by Don Pierce.
Mindfulness is a superb way to bring back a mind that has become—through work, family, or other pressures—too dispersed. The present is the only time one has to live. If you find it difficult now to meditate while remaining still, try it while walking alone in a serene setting.
Mindfulness is useful for everyone, particularly those who find it difficult for some reason to practice conscious breathing or meditation. The harried pace of our workaday world makes it difficult to find time for sitting still for a long time while mentally following the in and out flow of your breath. Being mindful does not require that you sit on a floor (neither does meditation). You can be mindful sitting in a chair or, as I prefer, lying down with my back straight and my head not on a pillow (pillows tend to constrict the flow of energy to the head).
Mindfulness means simply being aware of the present. It is a superb way to bring back a mind that has become—through work, family, or other pressures—too dispersed. It concentrates your attention. Best of all, mindfulness allows you to be aware that you are living the moments of your life.
The present is the only time one has to live. One needs to learn from the past, and it is wise to plan for the future. Forgetting to live in the present, however, is giving up actually living one’s life!
Practice being aware of the present moment in everything you do. Removing the distinction between subject and object and seeing all things with compassion will be easier when you set aside time for meditation. If you find it difficult now to meditate while remaining still, try it while walking alone in a serene setting.
To This Place At This Moment…
HumaNatureConnect Activity
Noticing The Here And Now
For this activity, gain awareness of the immediate moment and of the “now” of content and structure. Doing so requires focus and concentration––two critical skills to learn for self-growth. Remaining in present awareness is a taxing discipline that usually can be maintained at first only for short periods. The activity consists of stating what you are at this moment aware of. To keep you in the present, begin each sentence with “Now I . . .” First focus on the external world. Let your eyes roam about the outdoor scene, settling on objects (beings) at random. State specifically what you see. What smells and tastes do you experience? What do you hear? Now close your eyes and turn to your body sensations. Start with the big toe on one foot. Sense the inside of it, then the skin around it, then the space between it and the neighboring toe. Repeat this for every part of the body. Lastly, tune in to your emotions. What are you feeling in the gut? Your emotions may be all over the place. Let them take you where they will.
Nocturnal Pilgrimage
After finishing the previous activity and after sleeping, it is time to remember your dreams. Few people will be able to recall their dreams in their entirety. For this reason, it is perfectly acceptable to remember and jot down only the fragments of your dreams.
