Mindfulness 101

“If you miss the look in your child’s eye one day, you’ve missed it. If you miss the look in your lover’s eyes the next day, you’ve missed that. If you miss the beauty of sitting under the trees, you’ve missed that too. If you add that up over many moments and then many days and years, you may wind up missing the most beautiful aspects of your own life. Who tells oneself they don’t have any time? When really, all you’ve got is time, all you’ve got is this moment.”  

 –John Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness 101

Stop. Look. Listen. Feel. 

We’ve all had those moments of: I’m here but I’m not here (on your phone at the little league game? Lap glowing at the stoplight?) Before we go any further, we’ve got to start practicing being just a little bit more mindful. We benefit in crucial ways.

Simply put, mindfulness is a way to break free from being on autopilot. By paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, relationships and environments without judgement, we wake up to the experience of what’s going on around us and within us while it’s actually happening. It’s about embracing the beauty of “monotasking”. 

We credit mindfulness for allowing us to be awake and aware of the magic that’s happening around us every day. But don’t just take it from us:

A growing body of research attests to the profound mind-body benefits of getting centered. Mindfulness techniques, like meditation and deep breathing are some of the best tools we have to manage stress, improve sleep, and even avoid illness. And for moms, stress reduction is key. Remember, It Starts With You. Your emotional stability and calmness of mind is in your hands, and will dictate the way you respond or react to stimulation around you. 

Mindfulness is a central concept in all of the coaching we do with every single client. With commitment, practice and patience you’ll feel the difference right away. 

Take Action:

We call this exercise a glimpsing practice, and it’s a super helpful way to integrate mindfulness into your life. Everyday: 

Choose one activity you do every day when you’ll practice paying attention. This could be brushing your teeth, taking a shower, washing the dishes, driving, waiting in line for coffee, or anything you typically do every day. 

While doing this, bring in all the senses. Notice the sights, smells, sounds, tastes, and how it feels. 

Example: if you are brushing your teeth, describe to yourself the taste. Can you smell anything while you’re brushing? How does it feel to brush over your teeth. Can you hear the brush moving around or even another noise in the background? How do you know when you’re done. What do your teeth feel like now when you run your tongue over them? 

Every time you brush your teeth (or do your daily activity) hone in and see what you notice. Tell us what comes up for you by sharing in our private facebook group! We’d love to hear about it. And, perhaps how this little practice has spilled into other parts of your life. Let us know!

xo kelle and nina