Mindfulness is a path to self-awareness. Self-awareness is a path to aligned choices. If you don’t know what you want and need, you’re not going to get it. Self-awareness expands your possibilities.
Choose mindfulness in caring for your body
I realized how powerful mindfulness is for developing self-awareness when I got serious about eating mindfully – chewing each bite longer and taking time to explore its flavor and texture. I turned off distractions like television. I took time to offer thoughts of gratitude to the people who helped get the food to me and to the crops for growing and the sun for shining and the rain for dropping. (I’m vegan or I would thank the animals, too.) Mindfulness is awareness. Eating mindfully lets me become aware when my hunger has ceased. Mindfulness tells me when my body is tired or needs exercise. Tune into your body and make the changes it requests.
Bring mindfulness to your self-talk
We say the most harmful things to ourselves – “I can’t, I’m not good enough, they don’t like me.” We do more damage with the thoughts we direct to ourselves than any other person could possibly do. Start thinking and speaking in the present tense. Say “I am”, not “I will”, “I have”, not “I want”.
Make a list of the good things people say about you and absorb them until you believe them. That is the reflection you offer others. Believe it. Change it if you don’t like it. Trust your reflection to give you guidance but teach yourself to give you praise.
Bring mindfulness to speaking
As you begin to monitor your self-talk, take time to be mindful of the words you speak aloud. Think before you speak. Watch the reaction you get. Listen to the words the other person is not saying and respond to those unexpressed feelings. It takes practice to speak mindfully but the rewards are heart-warming.
Use mindfulness for your spiritual expansion
When you spend mindful time in contemplation, you hear the inner voice of All-That-Is. Whether you journal, write poetry, draw mind maps, write songs, or read wise words, use some form of mindfulness to continue to expand your spiritual practice. Explore new concepts and bring into your life the ones that resonate.
Bring mindfulness to your service
How do you want to serve? Where do you want to serve? Whom do you want to serve? Go exploring. Find where you are needed. Find where you are the most effective, and get to work. Find a community that needs you, people who are traveling in the same direction whom you can help. Take time to share your light with them and walk beside them for a while.
Mindfulness leads to positive choice
Mindfully practice mindfulness. It leads to self-awareness and self-awareness leads to positive choices that are aligned with your passion and your purpose in life.
How will you be mindful today?
To Sing a Deeper Song consider:
Embracing Tao
Live in the Nowhere That You Came rom
The Freedom of Not knowing
Why Unfolding Works
The Power of Non-Action
35—How to Hold the Space for Change.
23 – What Are the Truths You Live By?
17 – Exploring The Village of Nothingness
