Last year, I was introduced to the concept of mindfulness at a conference for members of my high school's music honor society. Throughout the entire hour-and-a-half presentation, I rolled my eyes, sighed and thought about practically everything except what the speaker was asking me to think about. Despite my disinterest in the presentation, I did leave with something meaningful -- a seed of thought.
In the coming weeks, I explored what "being mindful" meant to me and was amazed to discover how much I actually enjoyed the approach. In my eyes, being mindful is about enjoying and absorbing the feelings of the present moment. In lieu of my previous article, "Plugged In" and the questions it raises about the way in which technology affects our way of life, I have decided to compile a few tips on how to live mindfully. My hope is that the information below helps you to become a mindful and appreciative individual.
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1. Unplug.
Set aside time each day to step away from electronics. Instead, choose to head outside, curl up with a good book or play a card game with friends.
2. Stay focused.
Work on recognizing the present moment. If you're focused on the paper you have due next week or the grocery list you have to compile, then you'll miss out on the current experience.
3. Recognize beauty.
Even simple things, such as walking your dog or making some tea, can be beautiful if you take the time to recognize and appreciate them.
4. Take a mental picture.
This is important! A mental picture consists of a record (in you head, of course) of everything your experiencing. Remember what you see, smell, taste and feel. The more you absorb, the better the memory will be down the line and the better you will be able to tell your friends about the experience.
5. Understand that the moment is yours.
Often times special moments are ruined by flashes of cell phone cameras and the glow of screens as people try to capture the moment to share with friends on social media. Instead, immerse yourself completely in the moment, take a picture or two and worry about telling your friends later. After all, your retelling will be much more lively if you took the time to enjoy yourself.
6. Take nothing but what you need.
This can apply in several ways; if you're going out, then don't lug around things you don't necessarily need. It will take away from you ability to experience. Also, while you're out enjoying whatever it is you're doing, don't take or buy things you don't need. One nice souvenir will be more sentimental than a ton of little things you'll loose at home.
7. Participate.
To participate in life is the key to mindfulness and better living. For me, participating in life is to stop and meditate on experiences, to ask people what vegetables they like and to use rub-in sunscreen. For a friend, participating in life is to bake often and drive a standard. However you define participation, make sure to apply it to every experience you have. You're much more likely to recall the fond memories of what you did rather than what you saw.
