Go out there and find your mindful place of peace and get to know it, then it will always be there when you need it.
Snow’s the big news around here this week and it’s awfully beautiful to look at. As I was walking today, (yes, I walk in every kind of weather) I realized that snow is a wonderful way to experience moments of mindfulness. Which reminded me that even though most people have heard the advice to become more “mindful” it’s an abstract concept that doesn’t always make sense, especially if you are in a difficult time of life. NIH reports that people who regularly practice mindfulness are less depressed and anxious, sleep better, and have reduced blood pressure. Who couldn’t use a little more of that in their life!
The hardest part of creating a mindful practice is knowing exactly what you are trying to achieve. Everyone can sit quietly for a bit, try to be calmer, try to stop thinking etc. but those recommended behaviors often lead to frustration and more stress if you are stuck in a loop trying to “do” something and you don’t have the end result in mind. Once you have experienced some truly mindful moments, you then have a memory of mindfulness that you can call on to recreate that experience. So, the first step in creating a mindfulness practice is making sure you know the “feeling” of being mindful and have a goal of what state you are trying to create. Some hints to know if you have found how to be mindful is being able to calm yourself, let negative emotions roll over you and feeling fully present and safe in the moment.
The recent snow where I live provided a perfect setting to experience mindfulness because it engages so much of the senses. As a deep sense of calm filled me, I realized that sometimes it can be helpful to purposefully create an opportunity to be mindful that is out of the norm of day-to-day life. Then, when you are in the middle of regular routines and activities, you have that memory of mindful moments to draw upon to recreate that feeling.
Some tips for mindfulness: watch your thoughts, if they are drifting to the future (and worries) or past (often regrets) pull yourself back into the present moment. Remind yourself that you are safe and focus on what you need to be doing in just that one moment. If your thoughts are running away with you try “grounding” yourself by focusing on your senses. This is where a good snowy day can come in! Snow is a great reminder of how powerful our senses can be in impacting our mental state. The first thing I notice when I step outside on a snowy day is the drastic reduction in sound. The snow really mutes all the “normal” noise around you. Next, the feeling of snowflakes on your face or the smack of the cold when you step outside are refreshing and focus your attention on the sensations. As you look out at a snowy scene there is so much white and reflected light it feels bright and beautiful. It’s hard to think about or notice anything else in the moment. And in that moment, you are experiencing mindfulness.
So, what to do if you aren’t somewhere it is snowing? Any sensory experience can actually help you, if you are struggling, try finding a different environment to engage the senses so you can recognize the feeling of mindfulness, once you know what you are looking for it becomes easier for the brain to recognize what is going on and to “understand the assignment” Some options are a walk in the woods, a museum, a church, anywhere with a body of water (lake, pond, ocean, creek) a yoga class etc. As long as there are multiple ways for your senses to get engaged you can experience mindfulness and the many benefits mindful moments bring. Go out there and find your mindful place of peace and get to know it, then it will always be there when you need it.
