Mindfulness: Slow down to speed up - Tip #2

May 25, 4:25 PMNew Thought ExaminerAlex Marcoux

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Last week in part I of my Slow down to speed up series I discussed using meditation as a practice to turn inward. Today I address the practice of mindfulness. As spiritual beings we need to turn inward to connect with Spirit, and by doing so we have the ability to manifest miracles.

Mindfulness is simply living in the moment. It is to be fully present and bring awareness to our actions, thoughts and motivations. It is being fully conscious of our breathing and our presence. When we are functioning in a state of mindfulness, we approach life with awe and wonderment. There is no attachment with the future or past. We don’t worry about things we need to do, we remain dedicated to the here and now.

Living from a state of mindfulness can uplift our relationships and reveal to us the deepest level of spiritual truth. The greatest gift we can give anyone is being fully present for them. This can be challenging, particularly if you’re a multitasker, of which I’m guilty. I’m sure you’ve had conversations with someone and while you’re engaged – you know they’re not really there. They’re preoccupied. We are never left with a great feeling when we experience this. How often do you speak with someone on the phone and work on the computer at the same time? We all do some type of multitasking, and when we do we’re hardly in the moment.

Last week I wrote The secret to manifesting your dreams: tilling the soil, in which I admitted how much I enjoy working in my garden. I even compared gardening with manifesting our dreams through the Law of Attraction. One of the reasons I love gardening so much is it’s a great exercise to stay in the moment and practice mindfulness. It’s a great way to slow down and connect with Spirit.

Another simple and effective exercise to practice mindfulness is cleaning the house. While cleaning, be aware of each task that you do. Hear the running water into the pail; the squeak of the cloth over the window; see your reflection in the mirror as your hands wipes it; experience the scent from the air freshener as you pass it. Be aware of your breath, the slightly elevated rhythm of your heartbeat and of course your thoughts.

Develop your own exercises to keep in the moment and to consciously break from being on autopilot. Pick events that happen in life frequently and use them to activate mindfulness. For example every time you walk through a doorway, or cross a bridge, or wash your hands, remind yourself to turn inward and trigger being in the now.

When you activate mindfulness pay attention and ‘be in that moment.’ Be aware of: what you’re hearing (like the hum of the refrigerator), the trust you’ve placed in the breath that follows, the stiffness of a muscle, the taste or smell of food, your emotions, or thoughts. Admire the beauty of simple things like a sunset, a flower, the mountain range. Whenever practicing mindfulness know it is only normal that the mind wanders and just bring your attention back to your experience.

Like meditation, mindfulness is a state of being in which we slow down to speed up. By bringing awareness to our life at this level we enrich our relationships and fuel our spiritual enfoldment.

Watch soon for another way to slow down to speed up your connection with Spirit.
 

• The secret to manifesting your dreams: tilling the soil
• Turn inward through meditation: Slow down to speed up tip #1