Cindie Chavez – ©2018
“The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
The present moment is ALL we have. Sometimes it seems odd to me how we can live our lives so easily in the past and the future, and struggle so much to live right here, right now, in the present.
Especially when most (if not all) of our worries, anxieties, and fears are attached to things we’ve experienced in the past, and things we imagine might happen in the future.
And yet, by developing the habit of “being present”, the struggles connected to the past and the future seem to melt away. The uncomfortable emotions and feelings we experience become more tolerable, and sometimes even disappear entirely.
I want to share with you today a little exercise that you can use to develop a mindfulness practice. Clients often tell me that they have experienced profound shifts because of this one easy process.
This simple practice will automatically create a mindfulness habit as well as a grateful mindset, and both things will expand your day to day experience of well-being almost immediately.
The exercise, in a nutshell:
Each evening as you’re winding down, right before you fall asleep, think of 5 things you experienced earlier that day, things that you enjoyed and are grateful for – one attached to each of the 5 senses.
An example – yesterday my experiences included noticing the scent of fresh peonies as I carried a vase full of them across the room (besides the fact that peonies in the middle of Winter are their own little miracle), I witnessed a beautiful waxing crescent moon in a clear night sky full of stars, I heard my husband laughing as we joked with each other, I wore a long, flowy silk skirt that felt amazing against my skin, and I ate a tasty dish of green curry and chicken with an exquisite glass of wine.
It’s that simple! The whole process takes less than two minutes total. Once you develop of the habit of doing this each night before sleeping, you’ll automatically start “collecting” experiences during the day for that evening’s practice. You will be cultivating a higher level of awareness and consciously focusing on things that inspire you to feel grateful.
Deceptively simple, this exercise is a powerful way to develop a life-changing mindfulness practice, and it may also serve as a reminder to slow down a bit and enjoy more experiences mindfully
And maybe best of all, you already own the necessary tools to begin right away – your miraculous senses.
Start today – take a few minutes to smell the flowers, taste something wonderful, listen to some laughter, let your eye catch the sparkle of a moon-rise, and snuggle a pet or a loved one. You’ll be on your way to living in the present moment, being more mindful, feeling more gratitude and improving your overall sense of well-being.
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More by Cindie:
Cindie Chavez is known as “The Love & Magic Coach”. She is the creator of MOONTREAT™ – and she has some great free stuff for you at her website: www.cindiechavez.com
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