Your "Mindful Brain"

Be easy on yourself, dear.

In today's world, we constantly want to go, to produce, to move, to lead, to accomplish.  We wake up early, check emails in between morning routine tasks, eat breakfast in the car on the way to work, impress our bosses by multi-tasking all day long, work through lunch, listen to voicemails on our drive home, eat a quick dinner (standing up the whole time, of course), rush off to the evening's event, and crash into bed 6 hours before our alarms will go off the next morning.

Our 'thinking brains' are on point.  Wheels spinning and mind racing until the moment we drift back to sleep, we have been conditioned to act in this manner.  Since childhood, we've learned of the dangers of laziness and of the importance of thinking critically and using our full potential. We are smart. We are driven. We get things done.  That's wonderful.

At the same time, however, we are exhausted. We are anxious.  We have no time. We are losing control of our lives. We resist caring for ourselves.

As toddlers, we were full of wonder. We were so mindful and attentive to the present moment. We'd spend several minutes (hours?!) appreciating things such as ceiling fans, ants, sand, the moon, and washing machines. When did we lose that innocence and curiosity? When did the resistance toward sitting still and quietly with only our breath and our thoughts begin?  What happened to our 'mindful brain?'

Here's my DARE for you, friend.  I dare you to try to uncover your mindful brain. Simply spending 5-10 minutes per day, allowing your brain to rest and focusing on your inhalations and exhalations, will lead, over time, to less anxiety, better sleep, and improved awareness of positive emotions and experiences in your life.

Sitting meditation, though not my favorite, is a common form of meditation. To do this, sit in a comfortable position with no distractions. Gently close your eyes, or allow your eyelids to rest halfway closed. Begin to focus on your breathing, using a regular breathing pattern. When you breathe in, your abdomen should expand. When you breathe out, your abdomen should flatten again. Try to avoid breathing heavily from your chest. Your mind will start to wander. That's okay. Acknowledge your "frog brain," and return to focusing on your breathing.  When it feels right, open your eyes, and be grateful for those few moments of silence.

Other forms of meditation include:
-Mindful driving: No radio, no podcasts, no distractions... just drive
-Mindful eating: No socializing, no checking your email/phone/calendar... just eat
-Laying meditation: Just like sitting meditation, but you're laying down. I find the yoga pose, "Legs up the wall," particularly relaxing.
-Walking meditation: Breathe in for 4 steps, breathe out for 4 steps, and so on. Adjust the number of steps per breath to your preferred walking and breathing speeds. This is best when you're walking alone and are otherwise undistracted.
-Loving-Kindness Meditation: A favorite!!  ...To be further explained in a future post!

Give it a try, dear, and allow yourself the space to single-task, to rest, to wonder, to wander, to experience... you only have so many trips 'round the sun.

Love,

Lizzie