Mindful Awareness is like time standing still. Time actually doesn’t stop but time becomes irrelevant. Well more like that moment becomes important. Nothing else matters in the moment. The pendulum reduces its speed and is not moving as furiously. The mind slows. It truly is like a scene from The Matrix. (ummm note to self go watch that movie again it was awesome! Not to mention the eye candy.)
Lately my head has been all over the place. I just wanted to crawl up into a dark quiet corner and literally go all cave woman. Sit and do nothing, no socialising and well make my world stop. Yeah pretty much my meditation practice was up to pot and so was my diet for that matter. And if I think about it I already was living in my cave, not spending time doing what I really wanted to do or being with who I really wanted to spend time with. (ummmm note to self maybe the cave woman thing should be a red flag to actually practice seeing those I love spending time with more?).
When I get into my doldrums time unfortunately seems to speed up and my mindfulness activities almost become non-existence. I am either thinking too much about what is happening next week, worrying about tomorrow so to speak or feeling guilty about something I did or didn’t do yesterday. Time literally starts moving way to fast and I get nothing done despite a growing list of tasks that need completing. I move from a place of centred and mindfulness to a place of frazzled and more frazzled. I even started grunting at people the other day. Like who does that? Yeah a grumpy frazzled cave woman who doesn’t want to do anything but feel sorry for herself.
Anyway thanks to a couple of great friends and perhaps a change in attitude I seem to be feeling more mindful and today time is seemingly irrelevant. I thought I might share with you some ways this has transpired for me and make a few notes for myself for future reference.
Here are some ideas on how you might be able to make time irrelevant:
Lately my head has been all over the place. I just wanted to crawl up into a dark quiet corner and literally go all cave woman. Sit and do nothing, no socialising and well make my world stop. Yeah pretty much my meditation practice was up to pot and so was my diet for that matter. And if I think about it I already was living in my cave, not spending time doing what I really wanted to do or being with who I really wanted to spend time with. (ummmm note to self maybe the cave woman thing should be a red flag to actually practice seeing those I love spending time with more?).
When I get into my doldrums time unfortunately seems to speed up and my mindfulness activities almost become non-existence. I am either thinking too much about what is happening next week, worrying about tomorrow so to speak or feeling guilty about something I did or didn’t do yesterday. Time literally starts moving way to fast and I get nothing done despite a growing list of tasks that need completing. I move from a place of centred and mindfulness to a place of frazzled and more frazzled. I even started grunting at people the other day. Like who does that? Yeah a grumpy frazzled cave woman who doesn’t want to do anything but feel sorry for herself.
Anyway thanks to a couple of great friends and perhaps a change in attitude I seem to be feeling more mindful and today time is seemingly irrelevant. I thought I might share with you some ways this has transpired for me and make a few notes for myself for future reference.
Here are some ideas on how you might be able to make time irrelevant:
- Go for a walk – walk with friends, take the dog for a walk, walk in nature, it doesn’t matter just go for a walk. Breathe in the fresh air, in fact walk until you are puffing in that fresh air. Work the heart rate up a bit and can just feel the muscles asking for a small reprieve. Then turn around and go back in the other direction to head home.
- Sleep in and sleep well – in fact get a good night’s sleep, stay in bed purposefully, stay in your pyjamas, snooze in the afternoon just do what feels good. Never underestimate the power of sleep though. When the mind is in a state of constant flux sleep seems to be the first thing that suffers. It might be necessary to employ one of the other methods of mindfulness before sleep happens but sleep is important to helping time stand still. If you are finding your sleep habits are poor then please speak to your doctor or therapist about methods to help with sleeping better. (ummm note to self this could make a great article on how you overcome poor sleep habits). Regardless make sleep part of the mindful awareness routine.
- Make a Chai (or coffee) Date with someone who matters – Relationships are important in the mindfulness scheme of things. Our friends, lovers and even families can have a huge impact on our state of mindfulness whether good or bad so choose carefully. I have found taking time to just see my close friends, you know the ones, the ones where no matter how much time you spend apart you can always pick up right where you left off and nothing matters friends, well spending time with them makes time seem irrelevant. Chai and chats and giggles and fart sessions help me move closer to slowing down my mind. Socialising with those that matter, the non-judgemental, open and honest, caring individuals are a must to add to your list.
- Garden – I experienced my first “time stood still moment” in the garden so I am adding this to the list. Just watering the garden, weeding, digging, planting or acknowledge the cycles of life that occur in the garden has a massive impact on slowing down time. When I don’t spend time in the garden I know I am a grumpy sausage. Just 10 minutes a day makes all the difference for my mental health. Of course we are all different but go on try it. What have you got to loose? You might end up with dirt under your fingers or on the soles of your feet but you might also connect with your soul.
- Really Look at Someone – This kind of goes with the third point. Next time you are in the company of that friend who matters or perhaps when you are with your lover look them in the eye and just hold their gaze for a moment. You do not even have to speak to tell them your love them, you only have to say it with your eyes but if you feel like verbalising it do it. Say those words “I love you”. Feel the love travelling from your heart to your eyes (and lips) and crossing that space between you and entering their eyes. Whoa just wait for it…time will stand still for sure.
- Reading a book
- Petting my animal
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Taking a hot bath
- Sipping tea or a really really good glass of wine out on my back patio
- Having a Massage
- Giving a Massage
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