How to Stay Centered
Three Mindfulness Tips for Everyday Life
We are all feeling the strain of our current reality. Of this, I am quite certain.
Though good news exists alongside bad news, it can often be a challenge to acknowledge it when we don't intentionally seek to recognize the good. For this reason, I decided to share a bit of mindfulness practice with you.
Noticing
Mindfulness can be practiced in many settings, all the time. When you're out in nature, taking a walk around the block, for example, you can pause to listen to bird calls, appreciate the richness of colors around you (my favorite things to pause to notice are the leaves on trees), and observe the energy of the landscape that surrounds you. It is a practice to develop a sense of mindfulness around your natural environment, but over time, it becomes easier to do.
If you're newer to the practice, you can start by noticing your breath, paying attention to what you feel in your body. Truthfully, any small action you can take to notice and appreciate both your body and the world around you can make a difference.
Gratitude
It is possible to both acknowledge our experiences of oppression and trauma and find ways to cultivate joy even in small moments. I often see it repeated that cultivating joy is a radical act, particularly in the face of oppression. As a woman of color whose experiences include multiple traumas and oppressions, I am sometimes grateful just to read a good book or laugh at a funny video. Sometimes all I can get is a cute animal photo and in lieu of real human cuddles or the ability to pet my dog, I remind myself to center my joy. This doesn't mean I avoid feeling the pain of being separated from my loved ones. It simply means I try to hold both realities in my heart at the same time.
Having Fun
Along with making a point to practice mindfulness in nature and in quiet moments when I focus on my breath, I intentionally seek to create fun experiences in my life. This can be as simple as playing music I enjoy or as intentional as taking a bus or train somewhere and enjoying the commute. (For the latter, I confess I tend to feel guilty that I don't make enough money to do this more often or to travel to more locations besides my local grocery store. Your tips for easing the pressures of capitalism and the anxiety of this pandemic are welcome. Ha)
Fun looks different for different people. For me, a drive to the next town over can be just as satisfying as an elaborate night out or a meal at a fancy restaurant. Some of us are content staying in to watch a movie and enjoy popcorn. And often, we can enjoy all of these things at different times in our lives.
Your Turn
However you create a mindfulness practice and cultivate joy is up to you. Just remember to make time for it. The world can be a scary place. Finding peace internally can help us navigate the hardships with more balance.
If you like, share in the comments some ways you practice mindfulness and how you find your center amid difficult times. Stay safe and take care of yourself, and each other, friends.