This is a Guest Blog by Mr. Hitesh Chakraworty, Author of Decoding the Mystery Behind 3, 6 and 9, Spiritual Healer, Relationship Expert and founder of ISSAR
Picture this: you are out grocery shopping, and you are so immersed in your thoughts and all the things that you needed to do that day that suddenly you lose touch with your immediate reality and you cross the store.
How big is this problem? Well, the majority of us are living this story in this fast-paced world. With innumerable distractions striving for our attention—be it social media, meetings, messages, work emails, or our other day-to-day tasks—we become aloof from the present moment.
Studies have shown that our minds wander 46.9 percent of the time. Simply put, we focus on small activities for over 50% of the time we allocate to them. This also means that we are missing out on our true potential due to inadequate concentration.
The minute we comprehend that both past events and future events are distractors, we are better placed to focus on the current moment; our competence and usefulness pace up, and our tasks become more fruitful and effective.
What is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the art of concentrating on the present and being present at that moment. Our cognizant-level mind tries to fill any hollowness with inner discourse by dwelling on the past or future. If we do not calm our mind, it consequently slips into autopilot mode.
Our mind remains raucous even when things are peaceful in the peripheral world, subsequently leading to emotional instability. When one is involved in internal discourse, we misplace our vigour and harmony. This powers our emotional and intellectual well-being; our efficiency decreases, and our ability to manage our feelings diminishes.
Hence, it is important that we oscillate and push our minds to the present—here and now. When we concentrate ourselves on the silence of the mind without the enticement to wander, we begin to live the fundamental purpose of our being, the drive to be in harmony, contentment, and love.
Mindfulness Meditation in the spiritual world boosts the power of attentiveness, harmony, and contentment for practitioners. In real life, where one is undergoing stressful situations, it is widely suggested to break away from the daily plan for two minutes intermittently to practise being in the moment and perceive the feelings and emotions of oneself as an onlooker. Mindfulness is not the final destination; it is the journey of being oneself.
Despite the fact that we have no control over our past, we keep thinking about it, and in the process, our energy is drained. Likewise, our future is not in our control. Our lives may come to an unexpected standstill at any given moment before we even experience the next dawn.
The minute we understand that both past events and future events are distractors, we are well fortified to focus and live in the present moment; our competence and usefulness double, and our tasks become more fruitful and effective. This may sound simple, but in practise, it can be pretty challenging, particularly for those who are used to multitasking and constantly being on the go.
One of the key mechanisms of mindfulness is acceptance. By adopting a non-judgmental attitude towards one’s feelings and emotional state, people can learn to be more accepting of themselves and of others. This can result in better self-compassion and self-esteem, as well as a more optimistic attitude towards life.
Also, there is no fixed recipe for mindfulness. It depends on individuals to determine which methods and tactics work best for them. Another important facet of mindfulness is learning to accept our emotions without getting confused by them. This means knowing the emotion, understanding its basis, and letting it pass through us without responding imprudently or overpowering it.
Engaging in Mindfulness
Here are some guidelines and techniques to help cultivate mindfulness:
- Begin your day with a few moments of meditation upon waking. This can involve simple breathing exercises or following a guided meditation.
- Stay fully present during daily activities, directing your attention to the task at hand. For example, when brushing your teeth, pay attention to the process, feel the brush against your teeth, and fully experience the activity.
- Avoid overwhelming yourself with excessive information. In today’s era, social media tends to bombard us with mostly irrelevant content. Wherever possible, minimize exposure to negative information, particularly in the early hours of the day. This includes refraining from reading newspapers in the morning, as they often thrive on negative news that can linger in your mind.
- During work or other engagements, if your mind wanders to past events or future concerns, gently bring it back to the present moment. Set aside specific periods in your day to reflect constructively on these thoughts. Once you have finished reflecting, avoid dwelling on those events or topics.
- Remind yourself that you cannot control the external world, but you have power over your inner world. Accept that people and situations may not always align with your expectations, rather than becoming angry or frustrated. Anger tends to fuel excessive thinking and mental noise.
- Lastly, take regular pauses throughout the day. Close your eyes, focus on the emptiness of your mind, and observe your breath to enhance concentration. Engage in this state for a mere two minutes. These pauses will help rejuvenate you, leading to increased effectiveness, inner calmness, and energy.
To conclude
There are diverse methods of incorporating mindfulness into our daily lives, such as meditation, mindful breathing, movement, eating, and technology use. Research has shown that mindfulness is a powerful tool for navigating the challenges of today’s world, as it can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve our relationships with others.
