Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly. Notice where you are and how you’re feeling. Congratulations! You’re on your way to being a more mindful person.
It’s easy to dismiss “mindfulness” as a passing trend of fancy buzzwords, but the practice is thousands of years old, transcending time and geography. According to Mindful.org, mindfulness is the “basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”
During March, Botetourt County Libraries invite you to participate in our Mindfulness reading and activity challenge on our handy app, Beanstack.
The activities are varied so there’s something for everyone. You don’t have to disrupt your daily routine to be mindful, just be more aware of the present. While you’re walking to your car, listen carefully to the sounds around you. While you’re eating a meal, really taste the burst of flavors in your food. Turn off your music and sit in pure silence for a few minutes. If you really don’t want to try silence, check out some recommended mindful podcasts to get in a more engaged frame of mind.
How is mindfulness different from meditation? Read an article to understand the difference. In short, mindfulness is being aware and fully engaged with whatever we’re doing right now. Meditation is a practice to bring your mind to a level where you can increase your ability to calm and focus your mind. “Mindfulness and meditation are mirror-like reflections of each other: mindfulness support and enriches meditation, while meditation nurtures and expands mindfulness. Where mindfulness can be applied to any situation throughout the day, meditation is usually practiced for a specific amount of time.” (“MIndfulness and Meditation: What’s the Difference?” by Ed and Deb Shapiro, ThriveGlobal)
Want to give meditation a try? Check out a list of 12 meditation apps for your device, many of them free. Start for short periods of time at first.
If you’ve followed the news lately – and if you’re alive – then you know that life can be stressful. Check out an article detailing the benefits of mindfulness in reducing stress. In becoming more aware of your thoughts, you can “step outside yourself” and better control your reactions to different situations instead of being tossed by the wind. You also become more sensitive to your own body, noticing pains or problems earlier so that little signs don’t turn into big symptoms. You become more empathetic toward others as you grow in your understanding of your own emotions. You can focus better on the task at hand. Even in stressful situations, you can reframe your thinking to spark more positive emotions.
Remember our #BoCoGrateful campaign last fall? Gratitude is another essential element of mindfulness, accepting and viewing with gratefulness what you have in the present moment.
Join us this month as we stop, reflect, and actively engage with ourselves and the world around us.
– Botetourt County Libraries