A mindful day: A sure way to improve your mood.
A mindful day. “What does that mean and how can I have one?” You may ask.
To be mindful is to be consciously aware. And believe it or not, most of us walk around day after day asleep, functioning only on autopilot. We act without thinking, say things that we don’t mean, and miss so much of the beauty that surrounds us. We worry about the future, we ruminate about the past, and we have no idea what is really happening in the present. We are stuck in a time machine that exists only in our mind.
In order to have a mindful day, we need to slow down long enough to appreciate the things that we have come to take for granted. The big things, the small things, the people in our lives. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life, said, “Familiarity breeds complacency.” I believe this to be true.
We often overlook that which becomes familiar. We assume that it will always be there, and we no longer give it the respect that we gave it when it was new. It may be our relationship. It may be our physical health. It may be something in nature. Everyday miracles are overlooked and lost.
A sense of entitlement replaces gratitude. We come to expect so much without fully appreciating the gifts that lie within us and the treasures that surround us. We get caught up in the minutiae and so often miss the bigger picture.
I challenge you today to open your eyes and really see. Use all of your senses to be mindful. You cannot appreciate something until you notice that it is there. Notice smells, tastes, and the beauty of nature. Notice the kind smile of a stranger, the smell of spring flowers, the sound of your favorite music, the feel of a gentle breeze. Find something positive about everyone you meet. Stop long enough to appreciate the people who are in your life.
Rather than focusing on all of your perceived imperfections, stop long enough to be mindful of what you can do. Can you see? Can you walk? Can you taste? Can you hear? If these things were gone tomorrow, you would miss them. Today I challenge you to notice.
Yes, a mindful day is sure to improve your mood. Don’t wait. What do you see? Are you aware of the endless possibilities?
What is it in your life that has become so familiar that it is difficult to see?
Enjoy your day!
xoxo,
Kristin
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This is me..! I love the new look of your site, and great photo. I have been reading much lately about the physical and chemical changes in the brain and body due to mindfulness, and deliberate gratitude. It actually can help heal adrenal exhaustion, improve immune function, and switch on or off genes that affect response to stress…to mention just the very tip, tip of the iceberg. I have dealt with depression off and on for years and years. I’m working on every avenue I have to change this. Thanks for your great blog.
Thank you for the kind words and all of the great information about mindfulness and deliberate gratitude. It appears that research really backs up the health benefits to such practices. Good stuff! Keep up the good work. Exercise, mindfulness, prayer, meditation, deliberate gratitude, goal accomplishment… are so important.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Will post on my Pinterest. Keep up the great work!
Great! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
This needs to be posted on billboards in every city. So much to be grateful for — and yet??…I love this so much I’m going to read it again. Thank you!!
Thank you for your comments. They are appreciated! We so often take so much for granted, don’t we?
I think many of us become complacent with the everyday things and people around us. It’s good to have a reminder to appreciate all we have.
Yes. Thanks, Anneli. 🙂
Kristin, beautiful post, we do need to count our blessings all day long. I also like your new look!
Thank you, Tina. 🙂
I LOVE the new look of your blog!! I haven’t been on for awhile due to all-consuming graduate school (done end of July!) The email reminder I got for this post caught my eye since the topic is mindfulness. Mindfulness is something that is an on-going process of learning about and practicing for me. Thank you.
Thank you so much! Done in July? Congrats! What a wonderful accomplishment. I hope that you will have some time to relax and enjoy yourself after graduation.
Lovin’ the new digs! More focus, simple, elegant. Excited to see what’s coming down the pike. A new book, huh? Can’t say I didn’t totally see that coming. You’re a shoe-in for bedside reading and daily affirmations. 🙂
Shannon,
Thank you so much for your support and words of encouragement. I have also included a lot of “how to” in the book- like “how to” let go of impulsive explosive reactions. I have taken a lot of therapeutic techniques and written them in very easy to digest ways. I am hoping that this combined with the affirmations and the inspirational stories will benefit a lot of people. Anyway, thank you again for your kind comments. I will keep you posted. In the meantime, you and those kids have a great summer full of “dirt and bugs.” 😉
I’m looking forward to getting my very own signed copy! Cheers, Kristin. You also have a rockin’ summer.
For sure! Thank you. Cheers to you too. 🙂