Canyon Ranch (Arizona)
You love your home, you love your work, and nobody could have better family and friends. Sure, there are some bumps in the road, but you have so much to be grateful for that every day should be a delight. And yet.
Even a life filled with blessings can feel humdrum if you don't take time to notice what you have and renew your appreciation. The scenario is not uncommon. The solution is simple, and accessible to anyone: Cultivate an attitude of mindfulness and openhearted curiosity. You don't have to travel to the ends of the earth to achieve this, either. It's not about seeing new things, but seeing through new eyes
Ordinary is extraordinary
Seeing the same mountain every day does not make the mountain any less spectacular; you may stop noticing it, though. Practicing mindfulness is a powerful way to keep wonder in everyday life. Living in the present allows for full acceptance and appreciation of each moment. You can bring this approach to everything you do, whether it's in your relationships, at the office or in solitude.
To explore the concept, try this exercise, using the most ordinary of props: a raisin. Begin by paying purposeful attention to the raisin, noticing its color, the shine, and its one-of-a-kind ridges and shape. How does it feel in your fingers - sticky, soft, mushy? Feel it against your lips, then your tongue. And, finally, take a bite. See what it tastes like, hear the sound of chewing. Are there personal memories that go along with eating raisins? Now . imagine eating a whole meal that way.
This same technique works in everything you do. If you truly focus on the person you're with, the garden you're planting or your morning walk, you can experience all the possible joy in that moment. It's living in 3-D, but you don't need the glasses.
A spot of courage
It can take courage to break out of your normal routine and try something that might present surprises or challenge. On the other hand, staying safe all the time can turn your comfort zone into a rut.
Begin by breaking through your self-created perimeters. It could mean trying something new, or it could be going back to something you loved to do in college. If you played clarinet when you were young, picking up the instrument again brings familiarity and renewed excitement.
Trying something new doesn't necessarily mean changing what you do, but trying it in a different way. If you're an artist, you might switch from oils to pastels. A regular hiker? Explore another set of trails - new scenery, same benefit. If you've always taken the same classes at your local gym, try something different.
Renewed relationships
The mindfulness that you apply to a raisin or a walk in the woods can enrich your relationships. You may see each other differently when you're in the moment, not judging the past or worrying about the future, and begin to appreciate each other in new ways.
Couples can choose activities to share mindfully. It might be a quiet dinner, or an outdoor adventure with focused awareness and communication. You can share this mindful attention with anyone who's important to you and see each other with fresh eyes.
Stages & phases
Some times of life offer themselves as opportunities for change and renewal. When children grow up and leave home, if you change careers, retire or go through any major life transition, you can find yourself at a loss for your next step. It can seem as though you've lost your identity - but it's also a chance to reinvent yourself or explore the things you've always wanted to
Consider professional athletes: If a player gets injured and returns to the sport later, he or she may never reach the same elite level again. And even an athlete without injuries will have a shorter career than people in most professions. This leaves relatively young people without the full-time involvement in the sports they loved - and it gives them plenty of opportunities to explore the areas they've set aside.
Retirement at any age can open new vistas in your life. Maybe your had a great career, but your family life has suffered. This can be the time to work on it. Or it's the chance to do that one thing you've always meant to do - sail around the world, audition for community theater or go back to a long-ignored hobby.
Young children & pets
One of the best ways to get into the present moment is to hang out with masters of mindfulness - little children and pets. If you play with a child, you get a second chance at experiencing a child's feelings. Pets will also teach you how to enjoy the moment. Have you ever met a dog who worried about the economy? To see how effective these masters are, just bring a baby or a puppy into the board room and watch the world change.
The world's new challenge - uni-tasking
In this era of multitasking, people often feel unproductive if they can't text, talk and change a tire at the same time. It may seem that the more things you do at once, the greater the achievement. The opposite might be true.
Mindfulness is simply about focusing on one thing at a time. How can you really appreciate anything if you're mind is constantly jumping around and putting thoughts on hold? Being mindful makes life feel fresh every day. Think of it as uni-tasking - focusing on the one thing you're doing now. Can you do it?
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