The Beauty of Being Present
By Heather Hall
What does it mean to be mindful? Mindfulness is a mental state in which one is immersed in the present while calmly accepting any thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise in that moment. It is a state of mind that allows a person to be a conscious being, aware of everything around and in them at that very moment in time. I think we can all relate to being overwhelmed by the stress of what tomorrow brings or being consumed by our thoughts of past decisions and regrets. We all have made mistakes, we all have fears of what the future holds for us, and we all have experienced driving somewhere and realizing as the car pulls into the driveway that we have no idea how we got home. We become consumed by our thoughts and stresses that we forget to live. We forget to appreciate the beauty of our breath, the fresh air brushing against our skin as we walk, and the very definition of what life is all about. Becoming mindful can allow you to stop and appreciate your life and everything you have right now in this very moment. Stop and look around. Breathe in. Let go of any negativity consuming you. Accept that this is life, not yesterday or tomorrow, but right now. There are going to be more hardships and regrets, but right now, there is only you and this very instant in time, so how do you want to live it?
The next question to ask is where to begin? This is a journey, and it takes time and effort to really implement this mindset into your life. My journey began about a year ago. My brother introduced me to this app called “Waking Up,” and it has changed my life. Waking Up is a meditation app, but also a podcast where Sam Harris explains the advantages to being mindful, how to control your emotions, and to really experience the present moment more fully. Mediation is an extremely hard practice to implement in one’s life, but it is all about giving yourself those ten to five minutes every day. Sit in your room, close your eyes, follow your breath, listen to your body, feel any sensations that arise, accept any thoughts or feelings that come running at you, and let it all go. Here are some things I want you to think about and hopefully implement in your own life:
o Take a walk today and focus on your surroundings. What do you hear, smell, feel? Let your sensations dominate and become immersed in your environment and nature.
o If your thoughts, feelings, and stresses consume you, open your mind to let them in. Keep your attention on your emotions and focus on the act of allowing them to come in. Try to visualize your thoughts and emotions as if they are as real as the chair in your room. Imagine how they enter your mind and how you can also make them leave. This will show you that you have the freedom to choose to let your overwhelming feelings and worries consume you or not.
o When you get lost in thought and you daze off for a little, come back to the present moment and think to yourself how just then you were lost in your mind and now you are back. When you continually check yourself, soon you will realize when you are not present and by doing this, you will become more mindful and a truly conscious being.
