3 simple yet powerful everyday practices to help you live more mindfully

I almost burnt my house recently. Yup! Quite an alarming note to start our chat today on. We’ll get into the full details on another day but I must admit, my body was very present on the day, however, my mind was in a myriad of places hence my forgetting to turn off the stove. I am working on forgiving myself for the mistake, perhaps why I am here writing this. Have you ever sat down to eat a meal and realized after you were done that you missed the entire flavor explosion in your mouth because you were so lost in thought or sucked into a movie or TV show?

That’s the modern mind for you.

Life might feel fairly daunting at times. Between the never-ending to-do lists, the incessant notifications, and the continual hum of tension, it’s easy to forget how to simply exist. Think of this, when is the last time you sat in absolute silence for just ten minutes? No background music or podcast, just you and your thoughts?

Granted that I sometimes slip or have my moments, mindfulness has had such a positive impact in my life. From stress relief and getting me grounded, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is for us to be always present: mind, body & soul.

Here are some simple ways you can begin cultivating mindfulness in your daily life.

PS. Always start small, then compound. Never underestimate the power of starting small.

Patience: Activate/Reactivate your patience muscle. More often than not, we are always in a hurry to get things done and this is a sure thief of the joy of the present. Next time you find yourself in a long supermarket queue, breathe in and wait patiently. No funny faces, no murmuring under your breath. Instead, take the chance to take in the environment. This is a practice I have picked this year and it is already doing much for my anxious self. After all, where am I rushing to?

Meditation: Set aside a few minutes daily where you do absolutely nothing but sit in silence and listen to and take in your breath. If you are a Christian, take this moment to ask God to speak to you. Do not ask him for anything else please ( create a separate time for your supplication ). This time is purely for you to hear from Him. It may be awkward at first but with time, you will begin to feel His presence and His reassurance flow within your mind and if you can back up the thoughts that run through your mind during this period with scripture – there you go! 🙂

Focus: Create the perfect environment for yourself to focus. Do not double-book things. Do not attempt to multitask. Do one thing at a time. One of the major reasons we fail at mindfulness is our incessant need to get it all done at a go. I do not know where we got this notion from but it is costing us a lot, in some cases even lives: texting while driving, eating while texting, scrolling through as you listen to a lecture, working on a project while stressing about the next two, etc. I know, I can see you looking at me like I am delusional. I know it is easier said than done. But should you give this a try, come back, and let me know in a month in the comments below what it has done for your mind.

If these are practices you have incorporated into your daily life, let me also know below. I’d love to cheer you on as we grow this tribe.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

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