“Remember then: There is only one time that is important—Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power.”
This quote by Leo Tolstoy in “What Men Live By and Other Tales“ is valuable wisdom and a fitting prompt for us to take this moment to intentionally direct our attention to what is actually happening now.
You might begin to notice the variety of sights and sounds in your environment. Within your space, you can then become aware of your body, its posture and all of its sensations, such as those coming from skin, muscles, organs, and so on.
Take this moment to tune into your breath, noticing the natural process of breathing in and out. Notice the sensations and movements associated with breathing—in your lungs, chest, and abdomen, for example.
Keep breathing naturally as you now observe your current feelings or the quality of your emotions. You can also take notice of your thoughts, accepting them as they are, rather than dismissing or altering them.
Right now you have an opportunity to just be. Pause and grant yourself a short break. Gently close your eyes, if appropriate, and for a few quiet minutes, be still.
Follow the above suggestions to openly explore your body, breath, feelings, and thoughts at this moment. Begin now, and then read on when you are done.
Well done! You have just completed a short mindfulness exercise. For those who declined the invitation, there is still time to go back and have that experience.
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is commonly defined as paying purposeful attention to one’s moment-to-moment experience in a nonjudgmental and accepting way.
Mindfulness can be considered to be a natural capacity of the human mind. But because we typically shape our mind to wander and be distracted, mindfulness must be cultivated by regularly engaging in techniques that explicitly promote paying attention to the moment.
