New here? Learn about my wellness project, a year-long wellness experiment.
Wow! Am I glad to be back!!
I have no idea where December went. Lots of exciting things to tell, but now I must focus.
On mindfulness.
Because this is the topic of December. I had all sorts of wonderful plans to meditate daily, practice mindful eating, and be generally mindful and in the moment.
I think I’ve been more mindful, but I haven’t consciously tracked it. And I think that’s OK.
Because throughout this wellness project, I have realized that making a rule about doing something everyday makes it less appealing. It’s actually been a very interesting psychological side-discovery. So I’m trying to be less “do this everyday” and more “keep this in mind.”
The past few days, I’ve been surrounded by family (13 family members, to be exact) and stayed off the computer. I’ve held babies and entertained toddlers. I’ve played the piano and sung songs. I’ve eaten amazing food. I’ve washed dishes. Lots of dishes.
And I like to think that I’ve done these things mindfully. Because how can you hold a baby or sing a song without mindfulness?
You don’t have to meditate every day to be mindful (however, it’s really good for you!).
Mindfulness is being totally in the moment. Not ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. Unless you’ve decided that that’s what you’re going to do (like “I’m going to plan my day right now.”)
It’s tasting your food and smelling your wine. And keeping your mind focused on the task at hand when you wash the dishes or drive or make love.
Mindfulness is such an important skill for wellbeing that it is one of the four skills taught in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). They have wonderful resources about how to hone your mindfulness skills. (If you want to check it out.)
I invite you to explore mindfulness with me. Practice it daily. Live in the moment. And let go of the past and future.
It’s not easy. I’m still working on it. But it is a great way to avoid stress and maximize happiness.
[…] December: Mindfulness […]