Mindfulness, to me, is creating an environment within our minds, bodies and souls to be fully present at the moment, enhancing our self-awareness. Positioning ourselves to be aware of what's happening within our bodies can lead to amazing benefits. Each morning, I spend quiet time preparing my mind, my heart, my soul and my body. I center myself with conscience deep breathing to wake up my body, mind and soul. I inhale positive thoughts of calmness and exhale out negativity and anxiety. Acknowledging my many blessings and unique gifts, I accept myself with both strengths and weaknesses. Concentrating on gratitude promotes joy and a good attitude for the day. My body's response from this relaxation technique helps to lower my blood pressure and anxiety, improve my heart rate and circulation, and increase the health of my digestion and immune system. I feel tension leaving my body, and a sense of well-being taking over, preparing me to take on the tasks of the day ahead.
Throughout the day, I remind myself to be mindful in everything I do. How I eat, communicate, process thoughts, exercise, and my posture are all influenced by mindfulness. While eating, I focus on the meal, eating slowly to assist with good digestion, and portioning right amounts of quality nutrients. When communicating with others, I try to listen well. I pause and think before I speak, choosing my words carefully(*This also holds true on thoughts about myself!). Paying attention to my stance, how I walk, sit and move around protects my bones, joints and muscles, allowing proper alignment of my body. Finally, my workouts wouldn't be possible without mindfulness. Fitness is a necessity for our health. During a workout, I've learned to give myself permission to unplug from the world, with no distractions. When the workout gets extremely challenging, my mindfulness pushes me to get over the hurdle. I put myself in a mindset totally aware of what's happening inside my body and the rewards it will receive if I keep going. "Dig Deep" is a phrase that's perfect to explain my workout mindset. Within a grueling part of my exercise, I go deep within my mind and soul, focusing on a positive spot that leaves only me, my mind and my body working together to get through the struggle. And.... we conquer together!!!
The benefits of mindfulness promote all four components of health: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Connecting our minds to our bodies and souls, and being aware of the present moment can lead to victory! It's so true that the body achieves what the mind believes. Let's be mindful, not accepting defeat, to make us unstoppable champions! How can you be more mindful in 2021?
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