Engaging Mindfulness Every Day
Living mindfully holds appeal for many of us. When we meet a person who has integrated mindfulness into his or her experience, it sparks an inner longing. The thought of less rushing and more presence is appealing. The challenge is how to get there. How do we transition from what feels like a treadmill of tasks and responsibilities to a point where we have time for the good stuff? As if that isn’t sufficiently challenging, how do we get there as a family? So many families are busy. Recognizing that endless screens aren’t healthy for any of us, we augment those experiences with activities for our children. As a result, our days tend to alternate between screens (perhaps YouTube or games for children, and Instagram or Twitter for adults) and structured activities— sports or classes for children, work or the gym for parents.
When we do find ourselves with down time, we are at a loss. Our brains are used to constant input and compel us to seek more. So we pick up the screen, and invite the same for the children. These are the moments when we miss our opportunities to live mindfully. Those teeny pockets of emptiness? That’s your opportunity. Take five minutes and live Leo Babuata’s Create Daily Challenge… and give yourself bonus points if you do it as a family. In a society where we— especially the youngest generation—are losing our ability to produce rather than consume, creating is an ideal starting point for living mindfully. Set the bar low. This challenge is about the process, not the product. The goal is to spend time in the present: problem solving, moving thoughts around, and trying on new ideas. Don’t aim to create the next greatest thing