Today’s world moves at a breakneck pace. Consequently, contemporary people face newer challenges and deadlines daily, leaving them limited time for themselves. In the midst of all the chaos, distraction and doubt, it is very easy for one to forget to be mindful (being mindful is another way to say being present in the Now). With this in mind, I want to share with you a principle/routine I use often to stay mindful. If you want to skip over the introductory details and go straight to the principle, click here so you can make an acquaintance with mindfulness.
Why does one even need to be mindful
Several physical and other mental benefits aside, being mindful gives us respite from all the pandemonium in the world. It helps us stay in touch with our true self, deep down, far from all the turmoil outside. Headspace founder and best selling author Andy Puddicombe uses an excellent analogy to capture this idea.
As he puts it – our thoughts, emotions and life situations are like clouds in the sky. They are ever changing, chaotic and transient. When there is a storm, the clouds are all stirred up and raging; when the weather is pleasant, the clouds follow suit. The sky, however, is different. To the sky, it doesn’t matter whether it rains or shines; it is still, stable and at peace. Akin to this, being mindful connects us with something underneath the physical, a place of stillness and unwavering peace. Spiritual guru Eckhart Tolle describes it the “True Self, which lies behind our physical body, shifting emotions, and chattering mind.“
Needless to say, there are many ways to be mindful; the most popular being meditation. Focused breathing techniques, yoga and even exercise are other popular gateways to practice mindfulness.
The purpose of this article
Though the approaches above are tried and tested (and highly recommended), most people either –
- Convince themselves they are too busy to do any of the above or
- Don’t believe enough in mindfulness to spend time to explore it or
- Find other reasons to skip being mindful
Even those who are keen about living mindfully often fail to create routines/habits which help them practice being present on a daily basis – oh how ‘busy’ we have become! What they lack is a trigger – something that is a gateway to a routine in the process of habit formation. And ideal triggers are ones which one should come across every day.
In this context, I’d like to discuss with you a principle I’ve been using for the past several years to stay more mindful. It is very simple and addresses the above issues to an extent. It is suitable for both newbies and seasoned practitioners alike since it is built on the fundamental ideas behind staying mindful.
An interesting acquaintance with mindfulness
The following extract is the guiding principle for the routine I am going to share with you. I encourage you to use the principle and tailor custom routines to stay mindful throughout the day.
Just become intensely conscious of the present moment. Draw consciousness away from mind activity and create a gap of no-mind in which you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. You can practice this by taking any routine activity that normally is only a means to an end and giving it your fullest attention, so that it becomes an end in itself.
extract from THE POWER OF NOW
Learn to disidentify from your mind. Every time you create a gap in the stream of mind, the light of your consciousness grows stronger. One day you may catch yourself smiling at the voice in your head, as you would smile at the antics of a child.
The routine I follow
I start the day by practicing mindfulness when taking a bath in the morning. (You read that right.) As I shower, I try to be fully present in the moment, allowing my thoughts to come and go in the background. I pay no attention to them; rather I direct my attention to my sensory perceptions : the sensation of hot water on my skin, the motion of my hands and legs, the scent of the soap, the sound of the water bouncing off the floor and so on. This is a very satisfying thing to do. (Do try this out and let me know what you think. People starting out with mindfulness might be surprised to find how often their mind unconsciously wanders in the process.)
Since I shower everyday, the act of bathing is a proper trigger for me to be mindful. Additionally, I don’t need to spend extra time practicing mindfulness since I utilize my shower time to do the same.
Note: Besides this, I try to practice mindfulness during otherwise mundane daily activities such as eating, brushing my teeth, etc. (I also meditate.) The above routines are not intended as substitutes for meditation or other similar practices. They are only intended 1)to give beginners an acquaintance with mindfulness and its benefits, 2) as additional periods of sadhana for experts.
Conclusion
TLDR – Becoming intensely conscious of the present moment and directing the attention of your senses to the world around you helps create gaps of no-mind where you are highly alert and aware but not thinking. To create practices of being present in the moment (like how I use my shower time), take any routine activity that normally is only a means to an end and give it your fullest attention. Over time, if you feel that mindfulness has a positive impact on your life, you can explore more confidently other practices such as meditation.
Practicing mindfulness may seem tedious and futile at first. But gradually, as you connect with yourself and disidentify from your body and mind, a sense of peace and tranquility blends into your everyday life. I’d love to hear about the routines you want to come up with to be more mindful. Let us know in the comments or mail me at reachthetaciturn@gmail.com
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Until next time, The Taciturn.
