How to Change Your Life, Practicing Mindfulness

Would you like to know how to change your life? I can tell you one way that I did that took only a matter of seconds. If you read the title of this post, then you know the answer. It is by practicing mindfulness.

I have been on a quest for, I don’t even know how long, to change my life. It was never what I wanted it to be. There were good days for sure, but there were a lot of bad days too. In fact, there were more bad days than good. Does this sound familiar to you? If you are anything like me then you want your life to change and you want it now, not in some distant future. People often ask, do you want your life to be just like it is twenty years from now. Hell, I don’t even know if I will still be alive twenty years from now and neither do you!

I am a great fan of a Buddhist monk by the name of Thich Nhat Hahn. He writes a great deal about being mindful. Being mindful means being aware of the present moment. When we are aware of the present moment, mindful of it, then we are not in the past nor in the future. Most times when we are having thoughts that bring us down or make us depressed, we are either thinking of past failures or thinking about how things will turn to crap in the future.

When we are simply in the present moment, we have only that moment to live, which by the way, is really the only time you actually have. There is little chance that the present moment is actually as bad as your fears. Even if you are not feeling well or something is going wrong, the thought that you are alive and experiencing that moment should give you some joy. I teach and practice yoga and being mindful is a big part of my practice. To feel the muscles work, the joints work is a marvel! Even when there is some stress involved, it is wonderful just knowing that I can feel such a thing!

I was sitting in meditation one day and came to the realization that this concept of practicing mindfulness was what I was missing. I wanted to change my life, but I was always worrying about the future or thinking about past failures. My life was not changing. When I remember and am practicing mindfulness, the present moment can be a thing of great satisfaction.

Now I know that this sounds simplistic, but if you want to know how to change your life in seconds, this is it! Sure there is more to what it takes to change your life, but this one concept will change it to some degree in seconds.

Let me give you two examples from every humans two most basics instincts, food and sex. Let’s start with food. I know! Just hang on; we’ll get to the fun part in a second.

Most of us eat our meals or snacks without thinking at all. We hardly know what the food we just ate tasted like. The next time you eat, slow down and purposely notice the taste of each bite. Chew slowly and notice how the food feels in your mouth. Be mindful of just how it tastes. This is a great way to practice mindfulness and it is very pleasurable. OK, now to the part you really wanted to hear about.

Sex. How often do you have sex and you are so involved in some fantasy or other that you are hardly aware of your partner? Sadly, they are sometimes little more than a masturbation aid. Practicing mindfulness during sex can be very satisfying! Feel each sensation. Notice your partners subtle hints of what they like. Be aware of your and their breathing and how it increases or decreases during certain parts of your lovemaking.

Once you learn to be aware in these two experiences, you can apply the art of practicing mindfulness to other areas of your life. If you are serious about wanting to change your life, then try this very simple technique. It doesn’t take much and you will certainly find yourself enjoying life much more fully!

I wanted to change my life and this is one way that I found that really works. I can’t say I remember to do it all the time. I would be happy if I remembered to do it forty percent of the time. The thing is, when I do, it makes a huge difference!