Is it me or has the term 'mindfulness' seen a resurgence in recent years? Maybe I'm just more aware of it in my attempt to practice it more in my crazy busy life.
You'd think that, being a photographer, I would be 'in the moment' all the time. I certainly am when I'm in the zone, and that's my happiest time, probably for that very reason. But in real life I'm not as zen... On the contrary!
I never quite understood this 'living in the moment' or 'mindfulness' concept. It sounds very romantic but not very realistic. No one can possibly 'live in the moment' all the time, or even for a day!
So I decided to give it a try and carry the concept of being in the moment from my photography to my daily life. It certainly works when I'm doing what I love most such as teaching workshops, speaking at conferences, hanging out with like-minded people, etc. It's all pure joy and it takes no effort to live in the moment and simply enjoy it all. But that's not my everyday life (although, you may say, it accounts for a big chunk of my time and I am very grateful for that.)
So how do you 'live in the moment' in the daily routine? How can it help deal with world issues and daily stress?
One of the ways to live in the moment is through meditation and the ability to redirect your mind when it wanders. Ha! I tried it and I can multitask even when I meditate! That's part of my personality. My brain is always on overdrive. I'm wired that way. That's who I am.
Practicing gratefulness is another way to live in the moment. I'm grateful all the time. At least most of the time. I don't take things or people for granted. At least most of the time. I know there is always room for improvement so I need to pay more attention to that.
Doing kind things for others is another way to be mindful. That is SO true! Nothing feels better than doing doing something nice for someone. I love doing random acts of kindness but here again, I can do even more, and I will. Everyone can, and should!
Laughing is also a great way to practice mindfulness. I love to laugh and I laugh A LOT when I feel happy. I also know that if you feel down you can force yourself to smile or laugh to trick your brain to feel better. It seems weird but it's proven to work. Something to keep in mind when regrets about the past or anxiety about the future creep in and prevent you from enjoying the present.
So overall, I'm more 'mindful' than I originally thought. I don't think there is a recipe for living in the moment. It's different for everyone. I think it is important to be who you are. Forcing myself to meditate would probably drive me nuts, but I can certainly laugh more! ;)
What do you do to live in the moment?