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Mindfulness: Living in the Now
by Barbara
Biziou |
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When we are
paying attention to what is, rather than what we
would like it to be, we are truly living in the present.
This is easier said than done. I have found this to be a
lifelong journey of accepting current reality without
having it squash my naturally optimistic personality.
If we can
accept people and situations for whom and what they are
in the moment, we have a clearer guidance system for
moving forward and for making conscious choices.
Back in the
80’s, I was teaching a course called DMA, founded by
Robert Fritz. It helped people move from where they were
to where they wanted to go. Much to my surprise, I began
to see how challenging it was for people to define their
current reality. Most people exaggerated it better or
worse. How many times have you said, “My life is falling
apart,” ” I am fabulous,” “I don’t have a clue what I
want to do”.
Slow down and
be present
It is hard to
be mindful if we are running around and multi-tasking.
It is rare to see anyone sitting quietly anymore. At
every restaurant, airport, park, and beach people are
addicted to Blackberries and iPhones. Are we afraid to
stop?
Two years
ago, I went to Sardinia for vacation. I decided to
leave my cell phone home. It seemed like a great idea
until I got to the airport. Could I do it? Be out of
touch for ten days? You would have thought I was kicking
a drug habit. I began to get nervous, my inner voices
went nuts and my heart was pounding like a base drum.
To be brief,
it took me a few days to “detach” from my addiction to
intensity and then a miracle happened. I began to move
slower, my senses were heightened and my focus was on
the present moment. My energy flowed smoothly like
running water and I was truly in the flow of life.
To truly be
mindful we must recover that which has been lost in an
increasingly fast-paced, frenetic reality.
Here are some
suggestions that I find to be helpful:
Fast from
using cell phones, Blackberries, iPhones, and Computers
Give yourself
a break. Take an hour, a day, or a weekend and leave the
equipment home. In my corporate teachings, I see a trend
to have people check in their devices before a meeting
to avoid distractions. Yes, we can see you texting under
the table!
The breath is the key to meditation
When we are tense or anxious, we tend to hold our
breath. The breath is the key to finding inner peace and
harmony. It is our link with our bodies and the world.
For most of us, breathing is something we never think
about, yet, for the most part, we are breathing shallow
breaths into our chest. This shallow breathing creates
a stressful condition in our minds and bodies. By
slowing down your breath, you will instantly relax your
body and bring clarity into your mind.
Imagine that
you can breathe into your heart center. Take a few slow
deep breaths. Inhale to the count of 4, hold, and exhale
to the count of 4.
Practice
finger holds
Each finger
represents a different emotion.
Thumb: grief,
emotional pain
Index: fear, terror, pain
Middle: anger, rage, resentment
Ring:
worry, anxiety, nervousness
Small: lack of self esteem, victim
Hold the
finger for about 5 minutes.
Recognize and acknowledge emotions.
Breathe out and let go.
Let feelings drain out of you into Earth.
Breathe in harmony and strength.
Copyright © 2009 Barbara Biziou. All Rights Reserved.
Barbara Biziou
is a catalyst for change. As one of the leading experts
in ritual and empowerment, Barbara maintains a deep
commitment to integrating practical spirituality into
people’s lives to bring them prosperity, happiness and
success. She is the author of The Joy of Ritual
and The Joy of Family Rituals and lives in NYC
Barbara is an internationally acclaimed teacher of
practical spirituality. She provides creative solutions and tools that inspire and move others to transform their dreams into reality. She appeared as the ritual expert on the Hallmark Channel and as a life coach and spiritual mentor on Academy Award nominee, Morgan Spurlock’s, hit television show 30 Days. She has been featured on a variety of national television and radio shows and in several major newspapers and magazines including: The CBS Morning Show, Good Day New York, Today in NY, The New York Times, Body and Soul, Harper’s Bazaar, and New York Magazine. Barbara translates ancient metaphysical concepts into practical realities and has helped thousands integrate everyday spirituality into their hectic lives..
www.joyofritual.com.
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