If you’re like most people you’re rushing from one task to the next on “automatic pilot”. We often catch ourselves wondering where the time has gone. Mindfulness helps us be more present in the moments of the day. This slows down the pace of life.
Being present in the moment, especially the positive moments, energizes us. Here’s how it works. When something ‘good’ happens, we usually acknowledge it for a second, if at all, and then zip on to the next item on our task list.
Try this instead. Pause and follow your breathing in and out 3 times. Notice the positive feelings you experience. You may note happiness, contentment, joy, relief, satisfaction, fulfillment, gratitude, or relaxation.
Here are some examples of positive moments:
• Someone sends you a thank you email
• Someone smiles at you
• Someone helps you accomplish a task
• You’re eating lunch (You have food!)
• You’re walking down the hallway (Your legs work!)
• Your manager/supervisor gives you a compliment
• You solve a problem
• You receive news that makes you happy
• You notice a beautiful bird, flower or sunrise
• You have a conversation with a co-worker about something fun you’re planning
• A meeting gets cancelled and you have time to get work done
• You have a moment of validation (Hey I really know my stuff!)
• You’ve helped someone else
We can retrain our brains to acknowledge the positive moments in our day. This will reduce stress and build resilience.
