Mindfulness Moment’s Three Ways
Take time each day to completely stop what we are doing, relax the body and bring all attention to the breath. With 10-seconds of intentional breathing, we can soothe the entire system. We can interrupt the stream of endless thoughts to liberate the habitual mind and be an daily participant of our bigger life affirming goals.
1. During A Daily Activity
There are many places in our day that we can turn our attention to the present moment. The mundane can become moments we look forward to! These are some of my favourites. Tell me yours below in the comments. I would love to hear from you.
- Filling the water bottle.
- Booting the computer, waiting for a page to load.
- Waiting for the car to warm up or the window to defrost.
- Moments of feeling overwhelmed.
- Waiting at a red-light
- Sitting in a waiting room.
- Walking from the car to the office building.
2. During A Special Moment
We have all had moments of wonder and glory when in nature, look at or being with art and listening to music. Bringing our full awareness to these moments is a key way in learning how to enhance positive experiences.
We learn to cultivate happiness from the inside by increasing time spent with pleasant and positive experience. When we put ourselves in a state of appreciation and enthusiasm, the brain releases serotonin and dopamine.
Serotonin helps regulate mood, social behaviour, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory and sexual desire and function. Dopamine is the chemical that mediates pleasure in the brain.
3. At A Set Time
We often become lost in our thoughts, absorbed by our smartphones or the busyness of the day. Set a mindfulness bell using calendar alerts or download an app so you have 10-Seconds to stop, breathe and relax.
Pro Tips
Commit
- Commit do doing it when you have decided to do it! 10-Seconds is available almost anytime. When you remember to do this projects. do not let your mind talk yourself out of it – just do it.
- Commit to bringing all of your attention to the breath for the entire 10-seconds. Half listening to or for something else is not beneficial in any way.
Smile
One of the keys to rapid habit formation is self-reinforcement. It makes perfect sense! We want to repeat positive experiences. The stronger we feel a positive emotion, the faster it will become more automatic in your life. Smile at the end of each practise.