Mindfulness is what connects our body, mind and spirit. It gives us more control over our lives and allows us to move through situations more easily. Being mindful is very similar to the act of meditating. The ancient practice of meditating allows you to access your inner voice and expand your consciousness. You begin to dive deeper into your soul and connect with the voice that is buried inside.
Mindfulness is the act of being present and aware, on the other side of the scale is mindlessness. It can look like zoning out, a mental fog, or “going through the motions.” When we are mindful, we are peaceful and grounded. But when we are mindless, we have detached from our body and the realm we are in.
There are different obstacles we are faced with in achieving mindfulness, but once we start realizing what they are, it becomes way easier to recognize and get back on track.
Roadblocks to Consistent Mindfulness:
Stress. This inhibits our ability to be completely present. Stress puts our body into survival mode and in these moments, we are focused on trying to handle what the cause is. To avoid this, we need to develop coping strategies, such as breath work.
Being Tired. When you’re tired, it’s very unlikely that you’re concerned with anything other than keeping your eyes open or finding a comfy bed to lay in. You’re not worried about completing the task at hand with your best effort- you just want to get it done as fast as possible. You’re not thinking. Being conscious requires effort and concentration. Without enough energy, you’re not capable of giving any part of yourself up for that. Taking care of yourself on your journey has to be a priority.
Hunger. This is one of your body’s basic needs. When we are hungry, we tend to make more iffy decisions about things based on the irrationality that it causes. We can’t be present when our mind is on one thing- food.
Activated Emotions. When we allow our emotions to justify reactiveness, overwhelm and breakdowns, we lose sight of what we are saying or doing both to ourselves and others. Moving mindfully through emotions helps curb destructive emotional roller-coasters, as well as gives us perspective to understand why we are feeling the way we are.
Pain. Pain isn’t always manageable. It can amount to basic survival. When we are faced with pain, we are solely overwhelmed with that, regardless of what kind (physical, emotional or mental). There are times when it is necessary to face our pain and understand it- to explore and heal. This way we can familiarize ourselves with it.
Pressure. Being rushed to complete something creates scattered minds, breaking away from the consistent acknowledgement that we find when being mindful. Be sure to plan things when you can and to rest after a pressure-filled day.
Addiction/Impulse. When you are addicted to something, you want to satisfy your desires as soon as possible to get pleasure. It makes you feel good quickly, causing a cycle of dependency. This can look like many things, so be aware of what you’re drawn to that provides instant relief. Be sure to not lose sight of long term goals.
Being Self-Absorbed. Your ego needs outside validation, assurance, praise and has a rigid idea of who and what your are. Your ego only exists in your mind and is a false reality that has been constructed to protect yourself. But due to the limiting constraints of ego-based ideas and decisions, you are sacrificing mindfulness and your highest self.
The first step of being mindful is awareness- being able to notice these obstacles and calling ourselves out on them. You begin to have more control over yourself and your behavior. You are then opened up to a new world. See where you can be more mindful in your daily routine.