The Gift of Mindfulness

Contrary to all the Hallmark movies, this time of year is not always filled with smiling faces everywhere you look. The holidays are for many people a time of obligations. The obligatory gifts that have to be purchased. The obligatory visit to relatives’ houses that feel dreadful. All those feelings of obligation can cause us to feel frazzled, stressed out and irritated.  It doesn’t have to be that way.  It can be different.  Just because the world around us seems to be going non-stop at a rapid rate doesn’t mean that we always need to participate.

About 15 years ago I was existing but not truly living the life I wanted. I was trying to keep up with the demands of my corporate job, keep our household running, be a wife, and be a mother to my kids. I honestly thought I was doing okay.  I didn’t realize that I was unaware of how stress was dictating my everyday existence! Living in the emotions of stress began to feel normal.  I had convinced myself that I didn’t even have time to slow down and think about the life I truly needed and wanted.

Finally deciding that enough was enough, I knew I had to make changes.  It all started by making the choice to incorporate mindfulness into my life.   I began to carve out time to become more aware, and so I created mindful tools which I could use to create lasting change.  From that process I began to get a small glimpse of a new life which I could truly love.

Mindfulness is paying attention in the present moment.  Mindfulness increases our awareness and ability to make thoughtful, mindful choices in everyday life.  In turn, this allows us to be calmer, make better decisions and appreciate our lives more.

You, too, may be a busy professional and can’t find the time to just be still.  You may be thinking about what to do differently in your own life. Or you may be thinking about how you are going to survive the holidays!   The bottom line is this … You cannot create a new life walking around unconscious all day long, unaware of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and triggers.

The first step in creating real change is incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine.  By becoming more mindful, you create awareness and with awareness comes choice.  You can only change those things which you are aware of.  With this new awareness, you then have a choice.  Am I going to continue to think, act and feel like I have in the past OR am I going to think, act and feel like my new self?

Would you like to be your best self for this holiday season?  Slowdown that frantic holiday pace and learn how to incorporate mindfulness into your everyday life. I highly recommend my new book The Gift of Mindfulness. This insightful book provides practical tools, guided exercises, a daily journal and transformative wisdom to help you cultivate mindfulness in your life every day.

So, take a deep breath, embrace the present moment, and start your mindfulness journey today. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you for it.

En amor y gratitud,

Jenni