Have you ever wondered what it means to live in the present?

Well, the actual term used for this state of mind of "living in the present" is referred to as "mindfulness". Some of you may have heard of this??

The clinical definition of mindfulness is-

• a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.
  

Okay, the clinical definition is informative but do we really have the ability to live a life of mindfulness?? 

Yes, we do because everyone has the natural ability for being fully present of where they are and what they are doing while not being overly reactive or overwhelmed with what is going on around them. However, the question is a matter of wanting to and allowing our natural abilities to be present is what it truly boils down to. 

So how do we allow for living in the present or obtaining this mindfulness?

While mindfulness is something we all naturally possess, it’s more readily available to us when we practice on a daily basis. Yes, this is a form of living that has to be practiced because in general life doesn't foster these natural abilities with the "always on the go" lifestyles most of us live.

YOU have to decide to bring awareness to what you are directly experiencing via your senses, thoughts and emotions. YOU have to decide to change your state of mind to being mindful or not. Plus there's various research that when you train your brain to the natural state of being mindful, you are actually remodeling the physical structure of your brain. Something to think about..

So how do you practice Mindfulness??

Well, again that depends on you but below are a few ways to include Mindfulness in your daily life-

1. Eat mindfully and enjoy the the taste, the texture and nourishment being given..
   
2. Walk mindfully and see where you are actually going while enjoying the process
   
3. Observe your breathing and just be..
   
4. Connect with your senses and just feel...
   
5. Pause in between action and breathe...
   
6. Listen wholeheartedly and with an open heart..
   
7. Get lost in the flow of doing things you love and resonate with you...
   
8. Mediate daily and replenish yourself...
   
9. Change up your routine and dare to be different...
   
10. Acknowledge your thoughts and emotions..they are apart of you...
    

Remember YOU decide on your state of being and how you live...

Great quote that I am trying to incorporate not only in my personal daily life but also in my private practice--

“Mindfulness is awareness that arises through paying attention, on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgementally,” says Kabat-Zinn. “And then I sometimes add, in the service of self-understanding and wisdom.”

Video below by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

by Danusha Lameris

I’ve been thinking about the way, when you walk
down a crowded aisle, people pull in their legs
to let you by. Or how strangers still say “bless you”
when someone sneezes, a leftover
from the Bubonic plague. “Don’t die,” we are saying.
And sometimes, when you spill lemons
from your grocery bag, someone else will help you
pick them up. Mostly, we don’t want to harm each other.
We want to be handed our cup of coffee hot,
and to say thank you to the person handing it. To smile
at them and for them to smile back. For the waitress
to call us honey when she sets down the bowl of clam chowder,
and for the driver in the red pick-up truck to let us pass.
We have so little of each other, now. So far
from tribe and fire. Only these brief moments of exchange.
What if they are the true dwelling of the holy, these
fleeting temples we make together when we say, “Here,
have my seat,” “Go ahead—you first,” “I like your hat.”

Reminds us that it's okay to still be human with a spectra of emotions right now...

So how are you doing?

Really would like to know....

Did you know gratitude can help you make friends? Thanking a new acquaintance could more than likely open the chance to a lasting relationship…or at the very least brighten someone’s day…

Another way to practice gratitude and possibly brighten someone’s day is Gratitude Rocks… Have you ever been on a walk and saw a painted rock with an uplifting message on it? Or have you ever needed a reminder of what you are grateful for?

Now you can do the same…its really simple- just find a rock or smooth paint-able object….
Once you’ve decided on the object… paint it or them with up lifting words or short messages. Once decorated and dried you can leave them places which make rocks preferable …leaving the objects allows you to remain anonymous…or you can place them in your gardens around your house so those visiting especially during warmer months can enjoy reminders of gratitude …

Last aspect for this is making a gratitude rock for yourself to carry with you… Again a smooth rock..could even be a special rock from a special place or event or even another special object …paint your gratitude on it…then you can carry it with you or sit it on your desk or make it into a necklace etc…be creative!

Let it resonate with your heart and soul…. Gratitude is a moment that can last a lifetime!

Did you know gratitude can enhance your sleep? Practicing gratitude regularly can help you sleep longer and better.

Last week I asked how you practiced gratitude…it doesn’t have to be complex…it can be just a written journal- writing down a few things you are grateful for is one of the easiest and most popular.

As a Nutrition Intern/ Health and Wellness Coach this is my favorite exercise because it can incorporate food and mood while practicing gratitude too…this also helps at sessions by bringing forth topics to be discussed while reminding you of things that bring joy and happiness to your life too.

Great exercise that can cater to what you need and the bonus of better sleep….who won’t what better sleep in this day and age ….