When you think of mindfulness, do you visualize a person sitting on a rock with a picturesque background with sounds of water trickling nearby? While this is a nice visualization of one form of mindfulness, it is a tiny part of a huge world of mindful activities. Or maybe you think mindful living can only be done by a monk, or someone who practices buddhism or another form of spiritual practice? Everyone, no matter what spiritual practice, religion, or no religious affiliation at all, can (and should) practice mindful living. It is a way of life. A way of living consciously. Or in even simpler terms, a way of truly living.

To summarize from part 1 of my three-part series on mindful living Are you living mindfully? to live mindfully, is to live with intention, with conscious awareness, and the understanding that every action (or inaction) has a response, a consequence. Every activity in your day can be done mindfully. It is the simple act of being present and aware of what you are doing at that exact moment. The more you practice mindfulness, the easier it becomes, and the more benefits you will reap in your daily life.

Mindful.org lists five mindfulness practices for your daily life. I encourage you to check them out. Here is one that I highly recommend to start practicing today.

1. Mindful Wakeup: Start with a Purpose. When we set an intention, our underlying motivation is aligned more with our actions and reactions throughout our day. Scientifically, “from the brain’s perspective, when we act in unintended ways, there’s a disconnect between the faster, unconscious impulses of the lower brain centers and the slower, conscious, wiser abilities of the higher centers like the pre-frontal cortex.” Therefore, when we set an intention we strengthen the connection between our higher and lower brain centers. In doing so, our actions, our responses, will be more mindful, more compassionate, and align more with our purpose and our core values. Sounds amazing, right? Here are steps to start with your intention every day.
   • On waking in the morning, take the time to breathe and notice how you feel.
   • Take three long, deep, breaths. Notice how the breath feels. Notice where your breath is settling in your body.
   • Ask yourself – “What is my intention today?” or “How might I help myself or others today?” “What do I want to improve on today?” (Mindful.org has many great prompts and suggestions for you.)
   • Set your intention for the day. Some examples, “Today I will take good care of myself.” “Today I will eat healthy.” “Today I will help others.”
   • Throughout the day, check on your intention. Take moments throughout the day to pause and breathe. Review your day and notice if you are following the intention you set for the day.

The more we practice living with intention, the more we will be truly living in the present moment. We will live less on autopilot (our fast brain) and more mindfully (with our slow brain). Let’s get our brain centers working together! There is so much beauty in this world. Let’s not miss it!!

Blessings,

Alexis