If you find yourself simply going through the motions of every day life- wake up, shower, get dressed, go to work, eat, watch TV, sleep, repeat….- you may that you are not fully appreciating life or getting the most out of every day.
When we run on autopilot, we don’t just get caught up in our routine, we also get caught up in our thoughts. This may result in a lack of motivation, feeling bored or out of touch in our relationships, feeling negative, despondent or stuck and it may also impact our ability to make positive changes in our lives.
“In today’s rush we all think too much, seek too much and forget about the joy of just Being”- Eckhart Tolle
Here are 3 simple daily rituals that you can practice each day to help create a state of mindfulness, a state of being present in the moment, which is the basis for all true happiness….
1.) Morning Ritual
Most of us are guilty of grabbing our phones first thing in the morning. Studies have shown that getting caught up on reading emails or our Facebook feed first thing in the morning can effect our mood and also hamper productivity.
Instead of spending the morning stressed about the day ahead, take some time to pause, reflect and just breathe. It will only take a few minutes and will set a positive tone for the rest of the day.
Take 3-5 deep, mindful breaths. As you inhale imagine a beautiful white light rising up through your body. Imagine the white light being comforting, nurturing and loving. As you exhale, let go of any stresses or worries and repeat to yourself a positive mantra such as, “I know I am loved and protected” or “I am going to have a beautiful day.”
2.) Afternoon Ritual:
By the afternoon most of us are beginning to feel tired, stressed or a little weary, especially if we have not had a chance to stop and eat lunch. It can be all to easy to slip into autopilot here and get stuck in all the things that happened this morning and all the things you need to do before the day is through.
Take just a few minutes and write down 7 things that you are grateful for on a piece of paper. When we tap into gratitude, we align with the present moment and step into the vibrational space of peace and joy.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home and a stranger into a friend”- Melody Beattie
3.) Evening Ritual:
Most of us have the habit of just switching on the TV, having a glass of wine, eating or surfing the web in order to wind down. Instead of getting sucked into this repetitive behaviour each night, use this time to find that inner stillness.
Meditating, even for just 10 minutes would be beneficial but if you are not into mediating, do something creative like painting, knitting, reading or listening to music. By focusing on the task at hand and finding that stillness, you create a sense of joy, awareness and serenity.
As you can see, it is easy to bring mindfulness into your every day life. Set yourself the goal of doing these rituals for the next seven days and see how they change your life.
“Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes,” – Thich Nhat Hanh
