K & K’s First Blog Post!
Well, here we are folks. Sharing our inner most thoughts on the internet. I’m surprised we didn’t take this step sooner, but we’re happy to be sharing with you now. How are you feeling? Have you done something kind for yourself today? Have you taken a moment to rest? Our hope for this blog is for it to be a safe haven for each reader to pause, ponder, and just generally chill. Maybe you’ll learn something new along the way. Welcome to Mindful Musings!
When thinking about the topic of our first post, we were initially overcome with worry. We want to make a good impression, you know? After taking some deep breaths, centering ourselves, and practicing mindfulness, the idea was born: our first topic would be mindfulness.
We think there’s a tendency to perceive mindfulness as a magical state of being. We often believe that it’s something that we “should achieve” rather than “work toward.” In truth, mindfulness is an ongoing, committed practice. It’s the ability to be fully present, attuned, and aware of the here and now. It’s a moment-by-moment noticing of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Mindfulness is the opposite of multitasking. Being mindful means that we’re attending to what’s currently happening in our environment. That might seem simple, except for the pesky human tendency to veer away from the present moment.
We often get stuck in thought cycles that take us away from the present. Practicing mindfulness is helpful because it’s not technically a special skill or addition to our routines. It’s already something that we’re capable of doing. We all have the capacity to intentionally reorient ourselves to the here and now and focus on what’s happening in front of us. However, it is a commitment. Mindfulness is not some transcendent form of enlightenment that’s rare to achieve. It’s a daily grind to notice our thoughts drifting away and making the effort to bring your awareness back to this moment. Here’s one way you can practice that:
When you notice your thoughts veering away from the present, imagine yourself throwing a lasso around the thought as it floats away from you. Catch the thought, pull it back in, take a deep breath, and go back to your present focus. Don’t speak negatively to yourself or punish yourself when you move away from the present. You’re a human being on planet Earth and that’s a natural tendency. Instead, notice, lasso the thought, and come back. Repeat as often as needed.
We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that mindfulness practices stem from sati, a significant element of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. We encourage you to do research (from credible sources) into any practice before starting it.
Mindfulness helps us problem-solve effectively, listen carefully, regulate our emotions, and manage distress. When you feel yourself moving away from the present, remember that you’re always capable of bringing yourself back.
