Have you recently forgotten your keys in your car or home door? Do you find yourself multitasking at all times? Are you constantly surfing the web or texting in the presence of others? At the end of the day do you feel psychological and physically exhausted so that all you can do is sit and “veg-out?” If you have answered “yes” to these questions, chances are you could benefit from living a more mindful lifestyle.
What? Mindful living is the process of staying in the present moment without allowing your mind to continuously jump from one thought to the next. Mindfulness is also suspending needless judgments that can cloud your mind.
Why? Mindful living allows us to be present and respectful of the people and activities that we are currently engaged in. Mindful living also allows us to enjoy
pleasures such as eating and talking with a friend, instead of being distracted with past or future events. It is allows us to take time to taste food instead of looking down at our empty plate and saying “where did it go?”
How? A few suggestions:
- Take five minutes out of each day and be aware of your breath, body, and your surroundings.
- When you eat, make an effort to taste each bite and to chew slowly.
- When you find yourself distracted, gently bring your awareness back to
the present moment. - Choose an activity, sound, or time in each day to remind yourself to be
present (e.g. when you eat lunch or brushing your teeth). - Stop multitasking. You will be more effective if you attend to one thing
at a time.
Do not become discouraged. Mindfulness is a simple but difficult discipline. Mindfulness is a process that grows easier with practice and results in a more enjoyable life.
Mindful Counseling in the Cincinnati, OH area
As an experienced counselor, I see a variety of people in my Cincinnati counseling office. I specialize in couples & marriage counseling, but also provide therapy for depression, anxiety treatment & career counseling. In all of these situations, I integrate mindfulness into my work with clients. Whatever you are going through, I can help you apply the principles of mindfulness to your daily life. As you move through your daily life more aware, you will be amazed how much more you notice and the way small moments become more enjoyable. Schedule a counseling intake today to get started!
