We are too wrapped up and intertwined in this never-ending cycle of stress in our individual lives. The tasks that need to get done are always on our minds and how we are going to complete each one to the best of our ability. These thoughts cloud up our heads and blind us from the actual joy our experiences bring about. It's no surprise where the growing epidemic of stress and sleep disorders are at an all-time high as of lately. Our world has steered us toward of life of work, climbing the social ladder, or just being better than the average. The pressure sets us off and often times make us so we give up the very things that give us the most happiness.
But it doesn't have to be that way at all.
Our life purpose differs from that of another person but what we can come to agreement is that all of us strive for a better life filled with happiness. People try to find ways to get there through activities they enjoy such as hobbies and physical activity. When a person reaches a point in which they want more, for instance a new found insight, they often take extreme measures in order to attain them. People find that there needs to be an external thing to grasp onto in order to attain what it is they are looking for. But what if I told you all you need to do is look within? You may ask how in the world can you look inside yourself if you have no device to x-ray into your mind to bring out what you long for but it's simpler than you may think. Mindfulness has been implemented in many practices, religious and not. It is the act of being in the moment at all times.
What does mindfulness aim for exactly?
Being in the moment seems to be impossible for many people taking into account what brings them stress. Mindfulness does not bring about this entity out of you to tell you exactly what you need in your life, it is just you being in tune with yourself and life. Simple, to the point, and not impossible. When people try to be mindful, though, they are thinking too much about what they need to be feeling and then that triggers a never-ending stream of thoughts that end up making you think about a memory from your childhood. The only task the practice asks of you is to be aware and attentive of the "now" instead of a million other things that bombard your mind. Letting things be and being aware of how you are is the key to this simple practice.
How does one reap the benefits from this?
Simply being and going on with your daily life is intact but the only difference is you are in-tune with how you are feeling and the things around you. This, in turn, allows a person to appreciate life and the beauty of it because the mind is silenced and not rapidly generating thoughts. People often mistake mindfulness as a quick fix for stress but it is only a tool to use in order to find ways to go about life and its problems. It is not the answer but it makes it so that you find the answers within you. Clarity and being in the moment work hand-in-hand to bring about a new found peace within a person. Just ten minutes a day can make all the difference and you will see yourself well on your way to living the life you always dreamed of having.
