There is a big difference between surviving and really living. Being aware makes all the difference.
To put it simply, mindfulness means living in the present moment without judging it. Keeping our thoughts in check and focused on the present moment is what it’s all about.
It takes 60 days to become more aware, not overnight. It is definitely possible.
I’m Micheal, psychologist from Ukraine and a Buddhist and mindfulness fan. In just two months, I’m going to show you eight easy things you can start doing right now to become a happy, more mindful person.
Time flies. Start to live it with awareness.
1) Begin with meditation for peace of mind
This is what most people think of when they hear the word “mindfulness.” That’s for a good reason.
Meditation is a tried-and-true way to become more aware. It works out your brain like going to the gym; it makes it easier to be in the present and let go of stress and fear.
Mindfulness and Buddhism have been important to me for a long time as Micheal. And it all began with meditation.
How then can you make meditation a part of your daily life?
It’s not as hard as you think. Just do it for five minutes every day to begin. Sit down somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and concentrate on your breath. When thoughts come up, which they will, just notice them without judging them and bring your attention back to your breath.
Over time, it will get easier for you to stay in the present, not just when you meditate every day but all day long. It will make you feel calmer, less angry, and happier.
Being mindful is a process, not a goal. You should be kind to yourself and enjoy every little step you take toward being more aware and happy.
2) Make being thankful a daily habit
Another strong tool for mindfulness is being thankful. Turning your attention from what’s wrong in your life to what’s right can help you feel more pleased and happy if you do it every day.
I always write down three things I’m thankful for at the end of each day. It could be something as easy as a nice cup of coffee, a nice word from a friend, or a stunning sunset. This easy thing has helped me stay centered and enjoy the little things in life.
“The miracle is not to walk on water,” said Thich Nhat Hanh, a famous Buddhist monk and mindfulness expert. To walk on green grass, be fully present in the present moment, and feel truly living is a miracle.
Being grateful doesn’t mean ignoring the problems in life. The point is to find balance and happiness in the middle of them. This is a very important step toward becoming a happy and more aware person.
3) Accept that things change
The idea of impermanence is one of the most important ideas in Buddhism. In life, everything is temporary and always changing, even life itself. This may sound like a sad truth, but when you accept it, it’s actually freeing.
We often hold on to things, people, or events because we want them to stay the same in a world that is always changing. This holding on is a big cause of pain.
We can learn to let go of our need for control and security by recognizing and accepting that things change. We can learn to enjoy the present without holding on to it or being afraid that it will end.
It’s not easy to accept that life is temporary. It might feel weird or even scary. It’s a strong way to freedom and peace, though. Buddha once said, “Attention is the source of all suffering.”
When we accept that things change over time, we can live in peace with the way things are instead of how we want them to be. That’s pretty much what mindfulness is all about.
4) Learn to eat with awareness
Do you agree that we all need to eat? But do we really think about what we eat, how it tastes, and how it makes us feel all the time?
Being mindful about what you eat and drink means paying full attention to the experience, both inside and outside of your body. It means noticing our food’s sounds, smells, tastes, textures, and even colors without judging them.
We often eat while working, watching TV, or checking our phones because our lives are so busy. We miss out on a lot of the good things that food can do when we do this. Also, we eat too much and don’t realize when we’re full as often.
Mindful eating brings us back to the present moment and helps us appreciate our food more. It also helps us make better choices.
This is a simple practice that can have a huge effect. It will go well with your next meal. Disconnect from everything else, enjoy the food in front of you, and enjoy every bite. You might be shocked at how it changes things.
5) Have the most effect and the least amount of ego.
This is a big deal. The ego can really get in the way of becoming more aware. Often, our ego is what keeps us thinking and acting in ways that are bad for us.
During my own road toward mindfulness, I’ve given this idea a lot of thought. Because of this, I wrote a whole chapter about it in my book, Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How to Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego.
It can be life-changing to learn how to step back and watch our ego at work. We can see how it changes our feelings, thoughts, and actions, and most of the time it’s not for the better.
We can live a more genuine life when we learn to let go of our ego. We become more willing to try new things, more caring about other people, and more gentle with ourselves.
It’s not about denying who we are when we try to lessen the impact of our ego. It means realizing that we are more than our mind, our thoughts, and our feelings. And realizing that can make you feel more peaceful and happy.
6) Grow your love
Being kind is at the heart of both mindfulness and Buddhism. It’s about being aware of our own and other people’s pain and reacting with compassion and understanding.
When we criticize and talk badly to ourselves, we often judge ourselves too seriously. This can make you feel like you’re not good enough and make you unhappy.
But what if we were kind to ourselves the way we are kind to our friends? This is where being kind to yourself comes in. In times of trouble, we should be kind to ourselves instead of being hard on ourselves.
Kindness to yourself is just the beginning. Compassion also includes other people. We can make our interactions stronger and more meaningful by showing empathy and understanding.
“If you want other people to be happy, practice compassion,” the Dalai Lama once said. Show kindness to others if you want to be happy.
It’s not always easy to grow kindness. You need to be patient, understand, and forgive. However, the benefits are huge: peace of mind, better relationships, and a stronger sense of being connected to others and ourselves.
7) Breathe slowly and deliberately.
Taking a breath. Each and every day, we do it without giving it a second thought. The question is, what happens when we pay attention?
Mindful breathing is a simple habit that can have big effects. It means paying attention to your breath, both as you breathe in and as you breathe out, without trying to change it or judge it.
This exercise can help you stay in the present moment longer. It can be a way to bring your mind back to the present moment whenever it starts to wander.
“Breath is the bridge that connects life to consciousness, that unites your body to your thoughts,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn, a famous mindfulness expert.
During times of stress or worry, try focusing on your breath for a few minutes. Pay attention to how it feels when it comes in and when it goes out. If you do this easy thing, your thoughts will slow down and become clearer.
Being mindful doesn’t mean getting rid of all your feelings. You have to learn to watch your thoughts without getting caught up in them. Mindful breathing is one way that can help you do that.
8) Don’t do anything
You read that right. Doing nothing every day is one of the best ways to become more aware.
In our busy, results-driven culture, the thought of doing nothing may seem silly or even useless. But it’s when everything is quiet that we can really be present.
Every day, just sit and be for a few minutes. No chores or other things to do. You and your thoughts alone. At first, it might feel weird, but after some time, you’ll start to enjoy these quiet times.
When we do nothing, we can take a break from the steady stream of thoughts and stimuli that normally keep us busy. It can help us see things more clearly and understand that we are more than our feelings and thoughts.
It’s not about being lazy or not getting things done. Mindfully setting aside time to just be, giving ourselves room to breathe, think, and live in the present moment. And being aware can grow in this quiet place.
There you have it: eight things you can do in 60 days to become more thoughtful and happy. Don’t forget that mindfulness isn’t about getting somewhere; it’s about starting a path that lasts a lifetime. You have to accept the present moment as it comes and not judge it.
It’s called Hidden Secrets of Buddhism: How to Live With Maximum Impact and Minimum Ego. If you want to learn more about mindfulness and Buddhism, please read it. There are a lot of useful ideas and suggestions in it that will help you live a more peaceful, joyful, and honest life.
You don’t have to change who you are to be aware. It’s about accepting and recognizing your true self. And the first thing that needs to be done is to start. So why not begin today?
Have You Lost Your Way?
Many people find it hard to connect with their core purpose and values in this age of too much knowledge and pressure to live up to other people’s expectations. It is simple to lose your inner direction.
This free values discovery PDF was made by Jeanette Brown to help you figure out what you really believe and why you believe it. As a life coach and self-improvement teacher with a lot of experience, Jeanette helps people through big changes by getting them back on track with their values.
Her deeply insightful values tasks will help you see what motivates you, what you stand for, and how you want to live your life. This is a nice way to block out the noise of society so you can make decisions based on what’s important to you.
Once you have a clear picture of your values, you’ll be able to make choices based on your best self instead of short-lived feelings or outside factors.
