Whether we think of it as presence, being in the moment, or mindfulness, taking a breather from the busyness of our lives can help us. I believe that one of the benefits of a minimalist lifestyle is increased mindfulness. Not that minimalists are always mindful or that non-minimalists can’t be mindful, but it’s a whole lot easier once some of life’s excess, especially crowded schedules, has been eliminated. When we go through the process of decluttering superfluous possessions and unnecessary distractions, we are forced to reflect and evaluate what is truly necessary and valuable in our lives. This perspective can begin guiding us towards mindfulness.
Books, magazines, and podcasts about mindfulness are popping up everywhere. Meditation has become trendy. It’s been around for centuries, of course, but it has slowly but surely become more mainstream. The success of books like Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love and Dan Harris’s 10% Happier has certainly helped. The fact that the benefits of meditation have been shown to have a scientific basis helps quiet the skeptics or those who feel that it is too silly or “new age.” Perhaps this increasing popularity is due to the overwhelming busyness of our lives. We wish to escape the noise of our lives, if just for a few moments.
Do I meditate? Sometimes. It doesn’t come naturally to me, and I often stray from practicing. I find it hard to sit still for long without a book or something to occupy my mind. Nevertheless, part of my journey is to incorporate more mindfulness into my life and that process includes meditation. In theory, I could sit anywhere that’s quiet and simply focus on my breath for a little while. That’s it.
In practice, I find guided meditation helps me find that quiet place and focus on my breath. I need someone to tell me what to do so that I can stop my overly busy mind from intruding into my practice. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources, including apps, for just this purpose. I have found Sharon Salzberg’s Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation to be useful. It’s still not easy. I’ll sit there, trying to focus on my breath, listening to the voice, thinking that I’m almost finished with a 20-minute session, and then I catch a glimpse of the time – only 7 minutes?! The struggle is real.
Being in the moment doesn’t require meditation, however. We can appreciate a beautiful scene or a wonderful moment just by pausing to acknowledge that’s exactly what it is. I often try this on a walk when I see a gorgeous tree in autumn or the happy trot of a dog. My appreciation of the now may be a phone conversation with one of my kids or a visit to a local festival.
Most of all, I remember to live in the moment because of my pets. Cats may meditate, but dogs are the supreme examples of joyous living in the present. They are ecstatic to see you the moment you walk in the door. They run and play outside like there’s no tomorrow. They come racing at the mere sound of a bag of treats. I often remember watching my dog Rosie out in the yard, content to be sitting in the sun and sniffing the wind. It’s a good reminder to appreciate the moment. No worries. No obligations. No plans. Just be in the moment.
Dedicated to Rosie, one of the many pets I loved and still miss.
RESOURCES
Gilbert, Elizabeth Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
Salzberg, Sharon Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation: A 28-Day Program
For more resources, go to this page: Resources
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Great post! I couldn’t agree with you more. Sorry about your beloved pet.
Sorry to hear about your loss. I started meditation in Nov 2017 and participated in meditation challenge by Salzberg this February. I often find myself resorting to one thought after another. Only once in a while I feel calm during the 10 minute practice. (I do both guided and without) I will check out the books you mentioned, Thank you.
I also did the meditation challenge by Salzberg, at least most of it. For now, I really need the guided meditations to help me practice.