How to Achieve Mindfulness

Do you ever get to your destination after driving and realize you didn’t remember any of the drive? Maybe you begin to wonder if you even stopped at those red lights on the way? You notice you spent so much of the drive thinking, worrying, and even daydreaming, that you paid no attention to being in the present?

It is so easy to get caught up in the mental chatter and the emotional lies that our egos dictate. It is also easy to use daydreaming and those chaotic, constant thoughts as self-defense mechanisms and coping mechanisms to hide us from our emotional pain. But we all know that this is never the answer. This mental and emotional chatter can cause us to never enjoy a single moment in our lives, all the while filling us with anxiety, fear and depression.

This doesn’t have to be so. Instead of letting your thoughts and emotions control the present, focus on everything around you. Focus on the good. Allow yourself to ‘just be’. You will be surprised by all of the beautiful things you hadn’t noticed before.

So the next time you’re driving, start small. Make your intention to live in the moment. Turn off the radio and roll down the windows. Feel the gentle breeze of the wind kiss your skin. Admire the beauty of the trees and wildlife around you. Notice the comforting smell of all the freshly-cut grass. Listen closely to the noises outside- the birds, the other cars, the people. What are they saying?

Take this moment in and allow yourself to be thankful. Thankful to be here and now. Thankful to enjoy this beautiful moment. And express gratitude toward yourself for allowing yourself to have this moment of peace and relaxation, and for conquering that emotional and mental chatter.

Mindfulness is a beautiful practice. You start to experience life in a brand new light. You notice all of these beautiful things that you otherwise wouldn’t have noticed.

You have the power to make this change. It all starts from within you. It is up to you to make that change.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).

❤️ Xoxoxo