Making Mindfulness Work for You
Mindfulness can be so much more than only a meditative practice you do for 10mins a day.
I like to teach mindfulness as a ‘lifestyle’ rather than an ‘exercise. This is because I want you to realise that mindfulness can become as natural as breathing to you. Instead of something you tick off your to-do list. Mindfulness can ignite your awareness every minute of every day. For this to happen, you first must do some work.
For mindfulness to become a lifestyle, You must first create a routine and habits. Learn about mindfulness and how to incorporate it into your living. One advantage to a mindful lifestyle, rather than dipping in and out, is that it becomes automatic to you.
There are prescriptive ways of using mindfulness that is tried and tested scientifically. But you are unique and must find what works for you.
The only way to do that is to try it out and be flexible about it. In this post, I give you a few tips on how you can get started.
Naturally You
Mindfulness as a lifestyle can become an energising way of being. It becomes something natural, something intrinsic – a part of you. If it remains something you just practice, something you dip in and out, it can’t become part of you.
I am an empathetic personality. For something meaningful and helpful, I need to fully absorb it into part of my lifestyle.
If mindfulness remains something I drop in and out of, I quickly lose interest. I get bored, and the whole thing gets tedious and hard work. After all, like you, I’m sure I have so much to accomplish in a day that I don’t need anything to add to it. Adopting it as a lifestyle will be a natural part of who you are rather than a task to get done. In that way, mindfulness becomes natural, without effort.
What an extraordinary tool mindfulness is. Mindfulness helps us to live creatively and happily. We are all part of the One God, and mindfulness helps us to become aware of that fact.
As a lifestyle, mindfulness helps us to enjoy our experiences. Rather than rushing through life and missing the details, we join in with the ebb and flow of life, savouring every experience. Mindfulness also is beneficial in negotiating daily challenges.
Initially, making mindfulness a lifestyle involves work. Which means adopting deliberate actions and habits, making them a part of your daily routine. Here are some tips to help you get started:
My 5 Tips
- Start Small: Instead of making significant changes immediately, begin with simple practices such as taking a 5-minute break to practice mindful breathing and focus on your physical sensations daily.
2. Practice Gratitude: Mindful living involves cultivating a sense of gratitude and thankfulness to God for the present moment and what you have in life. You can begin by writing down three things you are grateful for daily.
3. Pay Attention to Your Thoughts: Be aware of your thoughts as much as possible and notice when they become distracting or harmful. Instead of trying to suppress your thoughts or emotions, acknowledge them, give them to God, and focus on the present moment.
4. Make Time for Mindfulness aside a little time each day to practice mindfulness- this could be as simple as 10 minutes of walking a mindful walk. If you do this regularly, then in time, it will become natural to you.
5. Surround Yourself with Positivity: Surround yourself with positive influences and build relationships with people who share your interests in mindfulness.
Remember that making mindfulness a lifestyle takes time and effort. Slowly integrate these practices into your daily routine, and be patient when forming new habits.
You may need help in forming new habits; I do. It can be challenging to change things up. Sometimes we fail in the first round and then give up. But if you are serious about making mindfulness and lifestyle, read on, as this will help.
Here are 5 Ways to Start a New Habit
- Start small: Set realistic goals that are manageable and achievable. Gradually increase the difficulty level over time.
2. Build a routine: It’s imperative to make your new habit a part of your daily routine. Set a specific time and place for it and stick to it consistently.
3. Find a support system: Share your goal with friends or family members who can provide encouragement and accountability. You can also join a community of like-minded individuals trying to form new habits.
4. Track your progress: Keep a record to help you stay motivated. Use an app, journal, or calendar to track your daily progress.
5. Reward yourself: Celebrate your success along the way with small rewards. This can motivate you to keep going and make the new habit more enjoyable.
Still, struggling? Be aware that we all fail; just pick yourself up and have another go. There are many things you need help with when changing things up. Here are a few barriers that most of us encounter and remember- you are not alone in this!
5 Barriers to Forming New Habits
Several barriers can make it challenging to form good habits. Here are some common ones:
- Lack of motivation: Find your WHY and write it down. With a solid motivation to form a habit, it can be easier to create lasting change.
2. Lack of accountability: It’s easy to fall off track when you’re not being held accountable for your actions. If you can’t find anyone to be accountable to, learn to be accountable to yourself.
3. Overwhelming or unrealistic goals: Setting goals that are too lofty or difficult to achieve can make it challenging to take the necessary steps to form a new habit. Be patient; you must learn to walk before you can run.
4. Lack of consistency: Consistency is vital when forming a new habit, but it can be challenging to stay on track when life gets in the way. You must keep on keeping on. No excuses!
5. Temptations and distractions: We all have these. Whether it’s social media or other distractions, or environmental factors. Distractions can make it challenging to maintain healthy habits.
Identifying barriers and finding ways to overcome them can increase your chances of forming long-lasting, positive habits.
Your Future is Yours
Give it a Go! Try mindfulness as a lifestyle. It’s far more than just a 10min meditative practice; you must first do some work.
Allow mindfulness to become as natural as breathing. Mindfulness can fire your awareness every minute of every day. It can help you to be successful, happy and content. Mindfulness can also boost your spirituality. Let me know how it going for you, I would love to hear form you. Enjoy the journey!!
Thank you for reading to the end. For more Tips visit, Your Wellness Matters. www.paularoseparish.com. We collect Donations for Welsh Women’s Aid
With over 40 years of experience, I have worked internationally having a Bachelor of Pastoral Counselling and Theology, Master of Arts in Counselling & Professional Development. BACP Life Coaching Certificate. I currently work as a Christian educator, blogger, author and I am a grandmother and live with my two dogs in Wales UK.
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