Mindfulness: (noun) the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something.
Key word: Something.
Oftentimes, I think people hear the phrase “living mindfully” and immediately dismiss it as something they aren’t capable of doing. They default to the assumption that this practice requires a grandiose, unfaltering commitment to every single day that seems more daunting than it is rewarding. People project a Zen, bohemian, and lackadaisical lifestyle onto mindful living that can, in all reality, be applied to anyone. Mindfulness is not something that is bound to a certain personality type, a specific upbringing, or just one approach towards living.
Remaining mindful doesn’t need to be all encompassing. It’s not a habit that is demanding to be present in every moment of everyday. This mindfulness, this self-rewarding practice, only truly needs to reside in one something. Does it need to be limited to only one thing? Of course not. But, what matters in this practice is the quality, not the quantity.
To some people, mindfulness may reach its capacity in sitting down each morning with a cup of coffee and truly enjoying it. The fact that this is the same coffee they drink every morning, or that this one cup of coffee won’t differentiate itself from the many other mugs they’ve drank on previous days does not matter. However, what does matter is that they are taking a moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to acknowledge something they enjoy.
To others, remaining mindful may be more deliberate. This practice may mean paying more attention to the people that say thank you, or acknowledging a pleasant conversation that may at other times go unappreciated. Regardless of how meaningful a moment is within the grand scheme of things, it’s pivotal to appreciate an entity for what it is.
I can’t count how many times I have allowed a hard laugh with close friends, a beautiful view, or even so much as a relaxing car ride to pass as a fleeting experience without any recognition. It pains me to think that in the past, I haven’t fully utilized the mindfulness that I so strongly advocate now. However, it has clarified to me a polarizing contrast in how extreme this small but vital mindset can have.
Everyday I find a new something to invest my mindfulness towards. Some recent experiences with mindfulness have touched on:
- Reading an insightful book, article, etc.
- Watching someone hold a door open for a stranger.
- Getting in bed after a long day.
- Talking to someone I haven’t spoken with in awhile.
- Looking at old photos.
- Eating a really great meal.
- Having a nice walk by myself on a nice day.
Mindfulness is entirely subjective. But, that’s the beauty of it. As mentioned in my previous list of recent mindful experiences, I don’t expect everyone to be excessively conscious of when they drink tea, get a good night’s sleep, or look at old photos. What matters is that on those given days, those were my somethings. The way that reading a book may resonate with me, may not be the same way that it resonates with the next person. The manifestations of mindfulness are not what matters, but the cognitive effort to acknowledge when that appreciation could be happening.
I could give you a list of all the potential opportunities you may have to be appreciative. However, it doesn’t matter coming from anyone other than yourself. No one can walk through your day alongside you and determine what your something constitutes. However, so long as you make the conscious effort, even on the day-to-day and seemingly mundane experiences, your somethings will present themselves in abundance.
