Mindfulness Everday

We all breathe, walk, sit, and eat. They are four things we do everyday and often become automatic responses where very little intention or thought occurs. However, because we do them everyday, they are incredible avenues to practice mindfulness and see radical shifts happen in your life. And while there is a misconception that you have to sit for hours on a meditation cushion in silence to obtain the benefits of mindfulness, the reality is that everyone can integrate the concept into their lives very easily.

When you are mindful, you are fully alive, you are truly present and balanced. You are stronger. You are better able to handle all of the crazy things life can throw at you. Attention to the present moment allows you to be attentive and become fresh, solid, and free.

Over the next several weeks I’ll be introducing a different mindful practice, which can be incorporated into your everyday life. The practices will revolve around breathing, walking, sitting, and eating and if implemented can change the way you live your life.

This week A Balanced Life is exploring mindful breathing. I have been practicing the exercise below for over a year now and it has really enabled me to connect to the present moment and helped me to find balance when I start to feel my equilibrium start to go off keel.

A Fresh Breath of Mindfulness

With several conscious breaths you can ease yourself out of a stressful sense of overwhelm. When you breathe in, your mind comes back to your body, and then you become fully aware that you’re alive and that you and everything around you is a miracle. Breathing mindfully allows you to be fully present and understand what it is that is causing the stress, so that you can then process it and be at peace.

Below is a great breathing exercise to help eliminate stress.

Mindful Breathing Exercise:

Breathing in, silently repeat to yourself: I’m fully aware of my in-breath.

Breathing out, silently repeat to yourself: I’m fully aware of my out-breath.

Repeat in- and out-breaths several times.

I promise, taking just a few moments to breath will leave you feeling more peace and personal freedom, rooted in a serene sense of grounding.

Share your experiences with mindful breathing below on the comments section below or on Facebook or Twitter, using #mindfulbreathing. It doesn’t matter where you’re at on your journey, there’s always something to share and learn.