Present Mind Within a Busy Day

“Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.” -Dalai Lama

 
      You have probably heard many versions of this sentiment before.  Quietly, you hope you are not living your life this way.  We all have very different lives, work and past times with this residing theme in common – we are BUSY.  When we are not busy we turn on the TV, read a book, do household chores, and it goes on and on.  Remembering to BE in the Present Moment when this is not facilitated by a class may be difficult.  The times dedicated to presence may be far and few in between all of the ‘stuff’ that makes up our lives.
      Here is an exercise that anyone can do many times a day, every day:
      Consider a brilliant part of existence – – –

Every few seconds, 24 hours a day something we take for granted is happening to every person alive.  Do you know what this is? They are breathing. The breath, the inhale and exhale, is a small wonder occurring repeatedly in our daily living.

The next time you are unloading the dishwasher, filing papers, writing an email, driving to work, cooking a meal or sitting in a meeting – take note of your breath.  Move dishes, papers or laundry with your inhale and exhale.  Yes, this does mean slowing down your pace for a few minutes.  It also means appreciating the task at hand and perhaps even enjoying activities you before thought of as menial.  If in a meeting, be present by noticing how your inhale and exhale can make tiny shifts within your posture and then acknowledge your slow, calm breathing for a few minutes while listening to the meeting’s agenda.  Having awareness of your breathing for a few minutes at a time gives your mind a break from its incessant darting between subjects.  Presence with breath allows us to tune in to our body and to be aware of the story it is telling us all day.  Often, we only hear our bodies when they yell and scream to us in discomfort.  Noticing your breath throughout the day in small increments will calm and rest your mind leading to awareness of the mind/body connection.  Use the breath to teach your mind and body to become interconnected, feeling what life is giving you in this moment.  Many of us spend time immersed in the sorrows of the past and worries of the future.  Five minutes from now is the future and the last conversation we had is in the past.  Aim to be in the present.

     Let us know how easy or difficult you find this and with what part of your day it was possible.  For me, I find it possible with driving and dishes  🙂  ~ Jessica
(Valerie’s presence with breath is also in the task of dishes as well as clearing clutter and vacuuming.)
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Everyday Outreach

humanconnection

Photo shared by -Deb Strother, Santa Fe, NM

Let’s get creative – in the checkout line.  When you are going out shopping and paying for the items you have selected do you speak to the person helping you with the purchase?  If the answer is already yes, please continue and consider leaving a comment below to share your happy exchanges with us!  If the answer is no, then this weekend when you go somewhere try speaking to the people helping you.  Ask them about their day, make a kind comment about something they’re wearing, or open yourself up beyond this if you feel inclined to see what more may follow.  This activity should not feel forced, rather fueled by the importance of consciously seeking commonalities in one another.  When we focus on connecting with humanity through similarities the separation we feel begins to fade.  Have FUN with people, find connection –

“The area where we are the greatest, is the area in which we inspire, encourage, and connect with another human being.”    Maya Angelou

 

 

Clouds & Being There

I want real things –
live people to take hold of
to see-
and to talk to-
Music that makes holes in the sky-

Georgia O’Keeffe

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Finding the Positivity in today:

  1.  Think of the things that make you feel grateful.  This can be and is encouraged to be simple.  Is there a warm cup of tea or coffee in your day?  Can you feel your feet on the ground when you stand?  Are you able to feel the breath in your body?  Each and every moment has something for which you can feel gratitude, if you choose.
  2.  Spend time focusing on these things and minimize anything in your thinking that does not make you feel good.  If you have a tendency to fixate on problems you can practice minimizing by recognizing the thought when it comes, acknowledge it with words like “I see you there”, and then dismiss the thought that diminishes your happiness by releasing it.  Learning to use the mind as a tool takes practice and will become easier with time.  Know that you are responsible for your thoughts and what you allow to be present in your thinking.  You deserve to focus the majority of your thoughts with areas that are uplifting, tapping into an internal source which flows compassion for humanity.
  3.  Write down the things you are thankful for each day and take note of how this feels.  Try it for a week and recognize if there is a change in your ‘being’.