Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment I know this is the only moment." Thich Nhat Hanh
This quote inspired me for today’s newsletter on mindfulness. Thich Nhat Hanh is a Buddhist monk whose work is widely known for his teachings on mindfulness.
A week ago I talk about the holidays and how they can bring up many emotions. These emotions can range from happiness, frustration, and sadness to grief. I have been struggling with getting into the Christmas spirit myself and here is why:
Money is tight
I am nowhere I want to be in my life financially, personally, and career-wise.
As we enter the second week of December and with the holidays literally right around the corner, our emotions might be heightened even more. Your patience level with coworkers is might be out the window, as is finding the perfect gift for a family member or feeling lonely during this time of year.
Having a mindfulness practice can help take us out of our heightened emotional state and bring us back to the present. Giving our bodies and mind a chance to recollect our thoughts, take a step back and enjoy the moment. “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way, on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat Zinn
Sooooo… I am going to challenge y’all (including myself) to take a moment each day and practice mindfulness until the end of December. My hope is by practicing mindfulness you can take a step back, breathe and remind yourself to enjoy the moment. Find patience and joy during the holiday season so you can enjoy what this season has to offer: Love, family, friends, or Peace.
Now you might be asking yourself:
How can I practice mindfulness?
I don’t have the mental space to do that.
or
I don’t have the time to be mindful.
The practice of being mindful can be as long and as simple as you want it to be.
Below are a few examples of how to take a mindful moment each day. The inspiration behind the mindfulness practices comes from my personal practice and from what I found through my readings. I hope this is helpful and gets you started on your mindfulness journey!
Comment. Share. Send it to a friend.
If you would like to learn more about mindfulness, Email me and let’s chat!!
Stay in the flow and breath!
Con mucho mucho amor,
Jazy