The topic of mindfulness has become quite a popular one in the fields of wellness and personal development. I believe that it is an important subject because it calls us to be “in the moment” and to shift away from our preoccupations and into the appreciation of the “now.” This allows us a fuller perspective on our lives and a better connection to those around us.
Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhism, and it teaches us to practice acceptance – whatever arises – and for us to gently re-direct those stressors and challenges that we encounter and to appreciate all of the blessings and opportunities that we receive. In my daily routine, I utilize meditation and exercise to help me to improve my physical and psychological well-being. I also use journaling as a way to capture my thoughts for further reflection and introspection. I find that this keeps my mind and body in a strong sense of calmness and balance. I also like to retreat into nature whenever I can, so that I can breathe the fresh air, appreciate the wildlife, and take in the wonders of the Arizona sunsets here in my home state.
Mindfulness helps us to improve our well-being by allowing us to fully engage and deal more objectively with obstacles in our lives, while also forming deeper and more meaningful connections with others around us. Mindfulness also helps us to improve our physical health by reducing and relieving stress, which can help with treating heart disease, lowering blood pressure, reducing chronic pain, and improving our sleep.
The benefits of mindfulness are many, and I hope you will look at ways that you can practice mindfulness in your personal and professional lives. The better we take care of ourselves, the better we can take care of our families, our customers, and our colleagues.
As always, my friends, lead with purpose!
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.”
-Jon Kabat-Zinn
