Written by: Debbie Gill, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Do you have thoughts that race or create fantasies that haven't happened yet? Are you stuck in the past, ruminating over past grievances or losses? Is stress or anxiety a significant factor in your life?
"Mindfulness: paying attention to the present moment with intention, while letting go of judgment, as if your life depends on it. ‒ Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, learning simple mindfulness techniques can transform your life. One of the best tools to practice staying present is mindfulness. Mirriam-Webster defines mindfulness as " maintaining a nonjudgmental state of heightened or complete awareness of one's thoughts, emotions, or experiences on a moment-to-moment basis."
And it is a practice.
At a 3-day workshop with Deepak Chopra, I learned that increasing the gap in the space between thoughts was a principal factor in enhancing one's ability to live in the present. Just as you go to the gym and exercise lifting weights to get stronger, the more you practice mindfulness, the larger the gap becomes.
And the gap is only available in the present moment.
You cannot manifest or create anything you desire if you live in your past thoughts or future daydreams. You exist in the present moment, and everything you create in life must be done in the present. Another benefit of being present is that you're living life fully. Here's an analogy: Think of a high school football stadium. You have a home team and an away team, each represented by opposing stands. The players are on the field. When you remember the past, you're seated in the home seats, and when you create fantasies, you're in the away seats; you are a spectator. But when you live in the present, you're on the field, playing the game of life full-on!
Becoming present and maintaining it is one of the most challenging actions for people today. Life is filled with countless distractions and people vying for our attention and, at times, can feel insurmountable.
Here are three simple tips to be more present in your life: (They can be key elements that play an integral part in supporting you.)
1. Breathing. Focus on your breath as you breathe deeply in, hold for a second or two, and then exhale and relax. Repeat for two to three minutes.
2. Meditation. Focus on your breath. Notice what you see around you. Next, note the sounds you hear. Then feel the temperature (warm, cold, etc.) and your clothing's texture against your skin. Smell any fragrances in the air. Taste what is in your mouth. Come back and focus on the breath. Create a mantra such as, "All is well."
3. Mindfulness. Stroke Your Hands, a 1-Minute Exercise. Take the index finger of your right hand and start inside your left wrist; slowly move it up and down on the outside of your fingers as if you were tracing them. Repeat on the other side.
Putting these simple exercises to use every couple of hours throughout your day may change your life and even change your brain's neural pathways. When you become conscious of what you are doing in the present moment, you live fully and play the game of life full-on!
Debbie Gill, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine Debbie Gill is the founder of Go Within Spiritual Coaching and Go Within Yoga. She integrates her knowledge and experience as a spiritual coach and yoga teacher with the wisdom of Caroline Myss, a Medical Intuitive and five-time New York Times bestselling author, Anodea Judith, an expert on the Chakra System, somatic therapy, and yoga, and Lion Goodman, creator of the Clear Beliefs® Process. As a Certified Clear Beliefs® Coach, Debbie can assist you with clearing core beliefs that hold you back from becoming your true self and living your true purpose through the Clear Beliefs Process® (CBP). The CBP is a set of tools and techniques that frees you from past limitations so you can freely choose your beliefs and live an empowered and more fulfilling life. Debbie is the author of, Struck by Lightning: My Journey from the Shadow to the Light, where she chronicles her life’s struggles with her shadow aspects and addictions. The spiritual memoir reflects her emergence from the shadow caused by traumatic wounds to the light where truth brings awareness and healing. A grateful recovering alcoholic since June 6, 2000, she lives the 12-Steps of AA and practices its principles in her daily life and continues her study at CMED with Myss and Judith and Goodman.
