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Meditation has always been my go-to practice to anchor myself in the moment and limit mental distractions.
I’ve also been practicing yoga, and I’m stunned at how quickly my body and mind open up when I connect with myself.
However, I don’t always have the time to meditate or pull a warrior pose. Despite all the benefits they bring into my life, when life gets messy and busy, I have to find other ways to engage my senses.
Over the years, I’ve realized that mindfulness doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s not limited to certain spiritual and holistic practices, and it’s not restricted to meditation or yoga sessions. It’s imperfect…and it’s instant. It’s only when we allow ourselves to slow down and open our senses that we start experiencing true mindfulness—in any situation, at any time.
We don’t even need “happy” situations to be in the present moment. Even the most challenging moments can be our greatest teachers, if we let them. It’s easier said than done…I know. But, believe it or not, the present moment is accessible to everyone; we just need to unlock it.
How can we access it? First, we need to understand that this present moment might bring anything: joy, sadness, pain, boredom, confusion, and so on. When we let go of how this moment right now should be, we are more inclined to slow down and welcome whatever comes up.
And when we accept any situation—regardless of how joyful or unpleasant it is—we will be ready to welcome any emotion that accompanies it. This unconditional acceptance helps us to step into the journey of mindfulness, which is fluid, ongoing, and absolute.
That’s exactly what meditation is about: observing this moment without any judgment and accepting our thoughts as they are. Instead of getting overwhelmed, we go with the flow. We don’t lose control. We don’t interrupt our moment or thought pattern with unnecessary criticism. We just are—right here, right now.
In everyday life, we can engage our senses in everything we do. When having our coffee, we can intentionally remember to smell the coffee and notice the taste in our mouth. When we’re working on our laptop, we can pause to notice the external sounds around us. When we’re having an argument, we can notice how we are reacting and feeling.
No matter what our present moment is about, we can be intentional about it. We have to actively notice what’s around us and within us. Notice your breathing, your feet when you walk, your skin when you shower, and your voice when you talk. If we do this, our actions and words suddenly become more aware and more responsible—simply because we are observing them.
When we are mindful of the world within and without, life feels easier…more purposeful. Remaining in a meditative state doesn’t require any mastery or skills; it only requires willingness:
Are you willing to radically accept this moment without wishing for something else?
Are you willing to stop fighting life and move with it instead?
Are you willing to observe yourself and your actions without preconceived ideas?
Are you willing to stop living in the past and in the future?
Are you willing to change?
Because being in the moment changes you—for the better.
~
author: Elyane Youssef
Image: Yaroslav Shuraev/Pexels
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