I realized the other day that, if I want to actually write daily (as was the stated goal when I started this blog), I need to start writing shorter. This doesn't mean I can never write longer posts, but I've been spending so much time trying to write up these long, drawn out, in-depth posts, that it is impossible for me to fit into my day. So, I will try to do a much better job of keeping things short while getting the point across. With that in mind, today's post is about mindfulness in everyday life.
While I was in college, our strength coach was very big on the mental side of things, and talked often about things like visualization and meditation. One of the types of meditation he talked about is called mindfulness. I finally got around to reading a book called Mindfulness for Beginners that I had bought back in college, and I must say, it's some really good stuff. Mindfulness is, essentially, becoming aware of your thoughts. This awareness is essential to truly living a life free from greed, sloth, and other downfalls. Essentially, we become intellectually lazy and fall into these habits (such as reacting to seeing an attractive woman in a certain way), rather than simply seeing it for what it is. Some people react with jealousy, some with envy, some with passion, etc. These are all learned responses, they are not inherent in any way. But by becoming more mindful, we can realize these thoughts for what they are, and simply notice something for being what it is. It takes a lot of work, and it starts with simply taking some time to meditate, but putting it to work in your every day life is very powerful and can have a profound impact. To learn more about it, I would highly recommend the book I mentioned, or seek out any others on the topic.
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