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Make mindfulness a part of your life.
By Ora Nadrich — Written on Dec 23, 2020
It's important to have a mindfulness practice to rely on when life gets hectic.
Mindfulness is an inherent quality everyone has, but not everyone necessarily uses it. It’s the ability to be present in a moment with total awareness.
In our awareness of the moment, we have such deep appreciation of it that we find ourselves loving the moment and not wanting it to end.
This is the power of having a mindfulness practice! It can literally heighten our awareness to such a degree, that our senses are functioning at their optimum.
And, before we know it, we can feel a type of dopamine rush that can mimic falling in love.
Start a love affair with mindfulness.
Mindfulness expert and founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Jon Kabat-Zinn, says, "Ultimately, I see mindfulness as a love affair — with life, with reality and imagination, with the beauty of your own being, with your heart and body, and mind, and with the world."
If we can experience such an amazing feeling like having a "love affair with life," you might wonder why we can’t stay in this heightened state more often.
The answer is that we can, but many people don’t know what an invaluable tool mindfulness is. So, they don’t practice it.
If we commit to using it daily, we'll find ourselves waking up every morning, not only more present, but also in a state of gratitude for being alive.
This feeling of appreciation can be so powerful, that we might find ourselves not only having a love affair with life but also falling in love with mindfulness.
This is the way to appreciate each and every moment of our lives.
Here are 8 ways to fall in love with a mindfulness practice.
1. Set an intention.
Tell yourself you're ready to live your life more in the present.
2. Commit to mindfulness.
Commit to practicing mindfulness daily.
3. Get off your devices.
Make a concerted effort to get off your devices more often. Make sure to monitor yourself with awareness when you’re on them.
4. Don't let your mind wander.
Be aware of when your mind wanders to the past or the future.
5. Stay present.
Acknowledge your mind in the present moment.
6. Practice mindfulness in as many areas of your life as you can.
This includes eating, communication, working, parenting, exercising, etc.
7. Share your enthusiasm for mindfulness with others.
Not only will it reinforce your own commitment, but it can ignite interest in others.
It’s a positive practice to spread around.
8. Be consistent.
Be loyal to your commitment to mindfulness by being consistent in your practice.
Mindfulness is truly worthy of our appreciation and, yes, even our love.
It's the gift you give to yourself because it enhances and enriches the moments of your life by showing up, fully present, awake, and aware.
By practicing mindfulness and honoring your dedication to being more present in your life, you will find yourself not only feeling more alive and vital, but you just might feel you’re really having a "love affair with life."
It’s one of the greatest love affairs you can experience!
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Ora Nadrich is the founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking and author of "Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity." A certified life coach and mindfulness teacher, she specializes in transformational thinking, self-discovery, and mentoring new coaches as they develop their careers. Contact her by visiting The IFTT website.