All We Have is Now: Practicing Mindfulness

The past is fixed and final. The future is unwritten, unknowable.
Though it is natural to reflect or project intention in order to learn and achieve, many people struggle to fully connect to the present moment. There are a multitude of reasons a person may experience this struggle. But even the most balanced of us can become overly fixated on the past or fret for the future from time to time.

We can hear, see, taste, touch, and smell the present.
The present is the only aspect of time that we can tangibly affect. The past is not accessible to us, all things from the past were simply reflections of long-past presents. The results from our past cannot be altered. Similarly, the future is inaccessible, unknowable. No matter our hunches, suspicions, worries, or doubts, we have no way of truly knowing what our circumstances will be two hours from now, much less two days or two weeks or two months or two years from now. The present is the only tangible point in time we can consciously affect with all the lessons we’ve learned from our past. And, in a sense, It’s also the only way to positively impact the future.

To truly apply the lessons of our past and give ourself the best possible future, we have to fully embrace the present. It’s a way of changing our focus to what we can control. It can seem daunting in a world of rapidly-escalating responsibility and expectation but it is possible.

Mindfulness: purpose and practices
Mindfulness is defined as “a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”

The purpose of mindful exercises is to bring the mind back to the present time. As the voices of the past and future grow louder in our minds, mindfulness keeps us now-focused. By monitoring our breath, how our body feels and allowing our awareness to grow, we stop the cycle of anxiety.

Mindfulness is not a skill one needs to attain. It is innate in everyone, we simply need to learn how to access it.

There are three basic practices for to achieve a mindful state that are commonly used:

1. Sitting, standing or even moving meditation.
2. Short pauses or breaks inserted throughout the day to check in.
3. Merging meditation practice with activities such as yoga or sports.

For an example of a mindfulness exercise, please read this link at Mindful.com.

Mindfulness is simply a way to access your present self, catch up to your feelings, and better understand how to proceed with self-care.

More reading about Mindfulness:
What is Mindfulness?
https://www.mindful.org/take-a-mindful-moment-5-simple-practices-for-daily-life/