Mindfulness in Daily Life
I used to put things I wanted to be on my to-do lists. Right there along with oil change and pay quarterly taxes would be act more loving towards yourself and others and practice peace.
As I accomplished the more mundane things, I would cross them off with increasing satisfaction. When the crossed-off things outnumbered the not, I carefully carried over the remaining items to a new list and momentarily felt inspired before getting on with renew license and buy stamps.
My method was not entirely off – it’s useful for me to articulate the things I want to cultivate. There just wasn’t a bridge, a way of bringing those written words into my body, my cells, my life.
The core attributes of peace and integrity and inspiration, rather than permeating everything I did from getting the oil changed to buying stamps, were quickly smothered by those everyday acts. There was a false sense that once I got through those simpler tasks, I could conquer being more loving, more peaceful, more alive.
As if those things are ever something I could cross off and be done with.
As if they are separate from my life.
One morning I was absentmindedly and a bit too harshly scrubbing my teeth. My thoughts were focused on when I could do yoga, which workshop I could attend, what time of day to meditate, all in the name of practicing peace.
A new approach occurred to me then: Practice peace.
Oh yeah.
I began paying attention to which tooth I was brushing, how it felt, how much time I spent. I began brushing my teeth with attention. After that experience, I realized I could practice peace while eating breakfast, while driving my car, while doing anything and everything.
If I catch myself planning when to practice peace and notice that my body is uptight and my breathing is a bit shallow, that is my reminder to practice it now.
It works a lot better than constantly jotting the words down on a fresh piece of paper.
By: Debbie Hardin
