Today marks 90 consecutive days of dedicated mindfulness practice.
Here is what I learned:
- It takes commitment
Connecting to why you are committing to this practice or new habit or whatever it is helps you keep going when you really don’t want to.
Stating your goal publicly helps add an additional layer of accountability (I don’t want to have to tell everyone I didn’t make it!)
Being in it to be in it and not at the end of it eases the burden of arriving at the finish line. It also helps us think about the ongoing lessons in this practice or habit or situation and what we most hope to get out of it.
2. It is indeed the process.
This aspect helped me the most. When I could look at this commitment the way I view activities I enjoy, it was much easier to be in it. For example, I trail run to BE trail running – not to get out there and get it done. I want to be IN it.
I went trail running last week and I kept thinking about that. It isn’t the end of the trail run that I run for – it is THE trail run – the hills that challenge my legs and lungs to push harder, the sound of the rushing creek that reminds me of the ever-renewing nature of life, the deer that looks at me with part curiosity and part surprise, the whistle of the wind through the pine trees that stirs up memories of my childhood spent exploring my ever-growing thirst for adventure and love for the outdoors, the drops of color from the wildflowers splashed throughout the bushes and brush, the thoughts that flow through my mind as my body glides over the rocky terrain. THIS is why I trail run. It’s not to finish, it’s to BE here, every step, however labored. It is what makes the journey worthwhile and memorable.
3. It doesn’t have to be perfect.
There were a few days I did my ‘morning’ practice right before bed and cut the time by 1/3 – it was more important to do it (be in it) than to do it at the right time, in the right way, for the right amount of time, because it was a commitment to me, time to stop, get quiet and check in with myself.
No matter what this looks like for you – it is vitally important to allow time for this consistently. When we can start to view a daily mindfulness/mindset practice the way we view food – we do have to eat every day – we can begin to see feeding our soul as just as important as feeding our bodies.
It is time to look at our lives, our careers, and our practices through the lens of being in it to BE in it. There is no THERE. There is only HERE. We can choose to make each step of our journey count, identify how we are growing and what we are learning, and magnify the magical moments along the way.
Life is not meant to be perfect and it is it meant to be experienced – fully, messily, and gratefully.
Being in it doesn’t mean resignation. Hold the vision of where you are headed, let go of how it is all going to work out, honor each step on the path, and give thanks for where you are and where you are going.
The more moments you are doing work, relationships, and activities that light you up and bring you alive, the more delicious the being in it will be.
What can you do today to allow yourself to fully be in your life – to embrace it, feel it, learn from it, and appreciate it?
Wishing you delight in the moments that make up your life,
Kori
P.S. Want to clarify your vision for a life you truly want to live and start taking steps to LIVE it right now? Book your free breakthrough session today!