THE MAGIC OF MINDFULNESS

 

#1:  Be Quick, But Never Hurry

Years ago, I had the fun and exhilarating experience of being driven around a racetrack by a world-class Formula 1 driver. I remember him saying to me, “Things must be done quickly in a racecar, but never in a hurry.” It wasn’t until years later that I fully understood the deep wisdom behind his words, along with the fact that he was describing - and demonstrating - mindfulness. Though we were barreling down the track at blistering speed, his breathing was slow and steady, his gearshifts were quick but not forceful, and his steering through turns was smooth and precise. It felt and looked as if he were a professional dancer performing an expertly choreographed mechanical ballet.

Mindfulness is generally defined as a state of heightened awareness. But this refers not only to awareness of one’s outer environment; it also refers to awareness of one’s inner environment. If our inner atmosphere is one of angst, tension, and emotional turmoil, this will obscure awareness of our outer world and hinder our capacity to skillfully handle it. Paradoxically, when we’re under stress or running late with too much to do, great efficiency is gained by slowing down… taking the edge off our frantic motions… breathing a little slower and deeper… and being vigilant that we’re not trying to fruitlessly bring order to chaos by being chaotic ourselves. Instead of being life’s wrestling opponent, this approach changes you into life’s dance partner. As a result, you’ll make fewer mistakes that would’ve cost you extra time; your daily tasks will be done with far less stress; and most importantly, you’ll be a much healthier and more pleasant person.

#2:  Be Where Your Feet Are

There are many highly successful people who all tell the same story about their big break. They observed that they made it big when they stopped trying to make it big… they just started concentrating on what they were doing. By their own admission, these people aren’t necessarily more talented, intelligent, or even harder working than others in their fields. They simply discovered the magic of living in the now. We often rush through the now, mistaking the next moment as more important. But what we fail to realize is that how we live in the now determines what comes next. If we’re too destination-oriented, we lose focus on what’s directly in front of us. Using a racing metaphor, if you’re solely focused on the checkered flag or catching another car, the quality of your driving tends to diminish, and your goal gets further away. Turn by turn, day by day, and moment by moment, life is lived, solved, and experienced in increments. The more incremental our approach to life is, the more present we can be, and the more progress we will make.

Of course, living fully in the now is enhanced by the inspiration of what’s possible down the road. But engaging where you are makes each moment your destination… and you’ll begin to understand that your long-term goal integrates into (and depends upon) how you live in the present moment. No matter how messy or off course your current moment may be, there is always the opportunity to breathe, be where your feet are, and get back on track.

#3:  Be Still

Remaining calm and composed at 200 MPH (literally or figuratively) sounds all well and good… but how is it achieved? The answer is much simpler than you’d think. Be still. Life constantly invites us to take part in its built-in synchronicity, but we can only perceive it when our minds are quiet and still. This synchronicity speaks to us in the same nonverbal terms as a beautiful sunset or a fathomless, starlit sky. Through stillness, we connect to an awareness that gives us clarity. And once we tap into that clarity, everything improves… and I do mean everything. We become better managers of our lives with new capacity to make higher choices; we strengthen our relationships with enhanced listening skills; we find words which constructively express our feelings; we experience more joy from life’s little things; and we even get more peaceful sleep. These are just some of the things that happen when we regularly take time to be still. Being still cuts through the mental clutter of fear, insecurity, and pessimism that our minds habitually generate.

The next time you feel overwhelmed and that your day (or your life) is out of control, take just a minute or two for an on-the-fly meditation. This can be done in your car, on a subway, in a restroom, in a closet, or wherever. Just be still and breathe… slowly, deeply, and with your eyes closed. Thoughts may continue to pop up, but watch them… one by one… as if you’re watching lightning in a distant thunderstorm… images flashing to life and then disappearing. As you breathe in, slowly and silently count to 4. And as you breathe out, slowly and silently count to 4 again. Keep repeating this slow, simple rhythm as long as you can or until your mind settles. At some point, you’ll find that the counting stops on its own, and your slow, intentional breathing happens automatically with you as the observer of it. Besides grounding yourself, this method is also a great meditation for falling asleep.

Meditation comes in many forms, and the only thing that matters is choosing one that speaks to you. But if done proactively and consistently for just a few minutes before getting up and again before going to bed (as well as during the day as needed), intentional breathing meditation will calm your mind and can change your life. And remember: for things to change and improve from meditation, you don’t have to be good at it; you just have to be good at not giving up on it.

 

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