“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” - Jon Kabat - Zinn
Welcome to our first Lucidity blog! If you have been following us on social media, you will find that we have made some resolutions and want you to be a part of them. Each month we are focusing on a theme of wellness we would like to further explore and implement into our lives. For January, our theme is mindfulness, the state of being aware and present in our current situation.
If we could somehow see all the patterns and paths our mind takes in a single day, we would be completely astounded. We would also begin to understand why our stress level may be high, why we continue in bad habits and why our self confidence could use a pep talk. We would see how often we absentmindedly compare ourselves to others when we scroll through Instagram, how much our to-do list keeps our peace of mind captive and how little our thoughts include positivity and grace. But how do we stop the cycle of mindlessness and move into mindfulness?
“Altogether, the idea of meditation is not to create states of ecstasy or absorption, but to experience being.” – Chögyam Trungpa
Many times we seek meditative and peaceful practices such as yoga or even floating when the stress of life takes over and we try to silence our swirling thoughts by simply being quiet. But you will quickly find that the thoughts find their way back in and your calming pursuits are everything but refreshing.
Taking moments to unplug from the busyness of life is essential. But if your mind takes control of your time of meditation, it will only add to your stress. We are here to provide guidance and encouragement as you journey towards mindfulness.
Tips in Mindful Meditation:
Concentration is a cornerstone in mindfulness: Whether you are floating at Lucidity or simply taking a moment to breathe at lunch, you must remain in the driver's seat of your thoughts. Instead of trying to simply clear your mind, focus on one thing to help center you.
Start with gratitude: The next time you try to slow your mind down, list the things you are thankful for like the umbrella you remembered to bring before the rain, the good night’s sleep you had, the smile of your child before they went to school. Thankfulness often has a way of putting things in the right perspective and showing us our true priorities.
Watch your “self talk:” When our thoughts are overtaken in mindless chaos, we often don’t realize what we are unknowingly making ourselves believe to be true. When you are frantic trying to meet a deadline or defeat the to-do list, you start to believe the worst case scenario. You start to believe that you are a slacker, that your abilities are less than others, or that you are not capable of handling a situation with poise or excellence. We often lose sight of our gifts and and talents, and all the times we have succeeded and excelled. When those frantic doubts come in, fight back with the things you know to be true. That you are a hard worker, that you are a beloved friend, that you deserve to give yourself the grace you so easily give to others.
The next time your moments of meditation are interrupted with mindlessness, let them sink to the bottom of the float tank, the bottom of the candle, or the bottom of the downward dog. Mindfulness is available to you and you are strong enough to find it.
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” – Rabbi Harold Kushner