We're all so goal-oriented. Attentive to getting where we need to go, short and long term. We're so attached to schedules and time frames, we often lose contact with spontaneity in our lives (Let's Play!). We also are not always present in what we are doing at the moment, so distracted are we by the next task at hand. Cathartic doing without moment to moment attention on how we are getting there. A simple phenomenon we've all experienced is driving somewhere and realizing we don't remember how we got there. It's a great example of embodied memory and a very good thing for habitual tasks we perform every day. But it's a little scary for all the obvious reasons.
And what would be the benefits of paying attention in everything we do? To linger in the in-between rather rushing to the finish line every day. It seems when all is said and done, we've missed a lot. I think back to my two sons as children and I wish I could remember every moment. I wish I had relished the in-between more often. Between waking and getting them ready for school and racing off to work. I wish I sometimes hadn't been so conscientious about getting dinner on the table and more attentive to creating even more meaningful moments with them. Hindsight is 20/20. But it's never too late to linger in every area of our lives- our relationships, our life's work, how we transition from one thing to the next- aware of and really being present in all of it.
That's what Mindfulness really is. It's not something we have to acquire or learn. It's innate and only needs to be cultivated as one of the many skill-sets we practice in our lives in order to optimize our potential. "Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us" (mindful.org). We've all felt what Buddhists call monkey mind where we ruminate over things we did or said or something we fear in the future, sometimes to the extent of driving ourselves crazy. Not to mention the toxic effect this unbridled agitation can have flooding our body with disease-causing stress hormones.
When life was less hectic, people had more of an opportunity to be present in the moment. To feel the warmth of the sun on their skin, to notice the ever-changing sky, to really take time with people they encountered-- to live in the moment. Now we need to utilize techniques like meditation to reconnect with our original nature. Whereas meditation can sound a little daunting or exotic, it's simply taking time to interrupt the chatter and to slow down the bodymind through the breath. Not only has it been scientifically proven to calm the nervous system, but if you try it the outcomes are unmistakable. Simply taking a few minutes to breathe deeply with your eyes closed, concentrating on the mechanics of the breath will reduce stress, anxiety and negative emotions like anger and fear and sharpen your concentration skills to make you even more effective at whatever you're doing (Umbrella Breathing). It's all about lingering in the moment and it begins with the body- the mind will follow.
Since the body's senses are the catalysts for our thoughts, not only breathing ourselves into a state of spacious calm, but also creating an expansive awareness of how we are doing something (What Were You Thinking?) will not only improve outcomes, but will also connect us more deeply to ourselves and who/what's around us. I see a lot of invigorating fitness options out there- soul cycle, circuit training, vinyasa yoga. People are definitely sweating and secreting wonderful endorphins but the endgame of being in good shape doesn't always take into account working optimally to connect mind and body. Many of us don't maximize our efforts by being in the right alignment, visualizing where in the body the work is being done from, aware of the energy paths in opposing directions to create balance and efficiency. It's not that we aren't working hard, but we're often not working smart.
Once again, to default to old habits (either of mind or body) that don't serve us well, never mind the possibility of illness or injury, is abdicating your fundamental responsibility to choose to be your best self in every way possible. In terms of fitness, the outcomes are not just visual ones, but the totality of our health and wellness is connected to our efforts. And the mind follows the body; the more balanced we are physically, the more other aspects of our lives will reflect this state of balance (The Tension of the Opposites). So this February, the second and shortest month of the year, let's revisit our New Year's goals and appreciate the getting there as much as the destination. Let's choose to linger in the in between and Enjoy The Ride!
#theinbetween #lingerinbetween #unconsciousdoing #embodiedmemory #mindyourbody #connectmindandbody #responsibilitytochoose #worksmartnothard #gettingthere #enjoytheride
#letsplay #whatwereyouthinking #thetensionoftheopposites #boomerblog #babyboomers #meditationworks #bodymind #mindfulmeditation #mindfulness #createbalance
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