Mindfulness... Just for Yogis?

Mindfulness is one of those things that sounds great in theory, but can sound unrealistic for everyday life. What is the first word you think of when you hear “mindfulness”? Most people will say “meditation”, “yoga”, or “grounding”. Others will say “flaky” or “trendy”.

Yes, mindfulness has become a bit of a trend in recent years, but for good reason! To better understand what all the fuss is about, let’s first look at what mindfulness is not:

• Mindfulness is not a quick fix. It is something that is practiced and developed over time.

• Mindfulness is not religious and does not conflict with religious beliefs.

• Mindfulness is not a magic cure for all your problems. It is an effective tool that can be used to help you through life’s difficult times when they arise.

• Mindfulness is not just for yogis or for those who are already at peace and relaxed. It is something that anyone can do.

• Mindfulness is not always easy. Everyone has the innate ability to live mindfully, but it takes practice and patience.

So what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is being aware of the present moment, with acceptance and without judgement. 

Most of us go through life experiencing the world around us through the lens of our thoughts. Mindfulness helps us to remove that lens so that we are able to experience our world directly. When we live mindfully, we can then experience reality as it is; not as we think it should be. Mindfulness also provides us with the mental space and freedom that we need to choose how to respond to a situation, which is why it is such a powerful tool for so many mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, anger, trauma, and more.

The purpose of this blog post is not to go into all the theory and history of mindfulness. Rather, I want to show you some of the ways that I practice mindfulness in my everyday life so that you can see it really is for anyone!

Mindfulness is taking every opportunity to surround myself with tranquility. As I stood in this place, I was noticing how the light was filtering through the trees. I was listening to the songs of the birds. And as I dipped my feet in the water I was paying attention to how refreshing and cleansing the water felt, and how relaxing the sound of the running water made me feel in that moment. As thoughts raced through my mind, I acknowledged them and switched my focus back to the tranquil environment that I was in. And by the way, this mindfulness moment just happened during a walk through the woods with my dad. 

Mindfulness is taking in the sunset. It is noticing all of the colours that blend together and create beauty to behold. As I sat by the water, I was paying attention to the stillness of the night, and the sound of the soft waves as they gently rolled on the shore. As my mind wandered back to the work shift I had just finished, I acknowledged the thoughts, and again shifted my focus back to the present moment and soaked in the beautiful moment under the painted sky. I got to experience this simply by choosing to drive to the shore instead of going directly home after my shift at work.

I love animals. Like… I REALLY love them. I practice mindfulness every day with my cat, “Muffin”. Every morning after Muffin has had her breakfast, she hops up on my lap while I am drinking my coffee. Normally, I would be scrolling through social media or reading. But when Muffin comes into my lap, everything gets set aside and I focus my attention solely on the warm comfort of having my coffee in hand and my purring companion snuggled close. I set aside the stress of the coming day and the thoughts from the day before just for those few precious moments that I have to give love to my furry best friend. As I am listening to the calming sound of her purrs, I am aware of fleeting thoughts and gently bring my attention back to the present moment. The thoughts never stop, but I can decide what I do with them. And I choose to set them aside so that I can again come back to the reality of the present moment. I can always revisit those thoughts later. 

I live in an apartment in the middle of town. There is always traffic noise and the usual hustle and bustle of town life. Because of the chaos outside, I practice mindfulness by providing myself with a refuge. I have designed a space in my home where I can feel calm and rejuvenated at the end of my workday. I fill my refuge with plants to symbolize purity of air and mind; I light candles in the non-working fireplace to promote a feeling of coziness. I have musical instruments to play when I need an outlet. I included space to practice yoga if I choose. And then there is my Betta fish “Joe”, who I love to just sit and watch as he swims around in all of his blue flowy-finned beauty. And you know what happens? When I focus only on watching my fish or playing my instruments, or whatever else I am doing in this space mindfully, I no longer hear the sound of the traffic and commotion outside. Those sounds are still there, but because my focus is purposely placed elsewhere, everything else melts away into the background. Just imagine how this practice can block out all the other noise, worries, and negativity!

You will probably have noticed that there is water in many of my photos. That is because I have recognized that water brings calm and clarity to my mind. For someone else it may be something completely different. Maybe you feel most at peace sitting at Tim’s and watching the people as they walk by. Perhaps it is going for a walk with your dog, gardening, or when you are watching your kids play at the playground. One person’s peace may be someone else’s anxiety so it is important to figure out what environments and situations make you feel safe, comfortable, and calm. I happen to feel my best in nature and by water, where I can use my senses to take in every ounce of serenity that it brings me. I can feel my mind and body instantly relax when I focus solely on soaking everything in in that moment. I see the variety of colours in nature; the blue ocean, the green trees, the yellow flowers; and I notice how those colours make me feel. I smell the salt water and notice how it smells like home. I hear the waves crashing, the seagulls calling to each other, and the trees creaking in the wind. I feel the cold, refreshing water and the warmth of the sun on my face. 

Mindfulness, put simply, is learning to focus your attention on the present moment. It costs nothing, it is a simple skill to learn, and it has the potential to completely change the way you interact with the world and with yourself. For me, mindfulness has taught me to be grateful for what I have and the growth I have experienced. It has taught me how to acknowledge and accept my thoughts and feelings without giving them power over me. And it taught me to make the most of the moment I am in. Had I not started practicing mindfulness, all of those beautiful moments would go unnoticed. Overall, mindfulness has not fixed all my problems but it has taught me how to find my own peace and happiness amidst them. 

May you find your own peace.

Judy

Resources:

Neff, K. & Germer, C. 2018. The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Peterson, T. 2018.The Mindfulness Workbook for Anxiety.Emeryville, CA: Althea Press.