Right this moment, would you say that your mind is full? Or that you’re being mindful?
We all know how it feels like when the mind is full. Overflowing with thoughts, running races in the head, the heart beats faster, and shoulders tense up.
Thoughts will always come and go – that’s a fact.
Mindfulness has become popular, but sometimes gets misunderstood as meditation. Meditation is a mindful practice.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.
Simply put, mindfulness is about being present. Being mindful gives us the opportunity to pay attention to what is happening in this very moment – internally and externally.
Mindfulness is not about having a blank mind. It’s an invitation to tune in without any criticism or judgement. It’s an invitation to be. After all, we are human beings, not human doings. And the best part? We can practice mindfulness at any time. Even during a busy day. Without having to sit on a meditation cushion. Or lying on a Reiki table.
But sometimes lying on a Reiki, massage or acupuncture table is just what we need.
Reiki is a mind-body practice that promotes mindfulness through touch. The body is always present. It’s the mind that wanders into the past and into the future – hijacking energy away from where it is needed. Here’s a simple practice to come back to center – and the here and now:
Breathe slowly and deeply into hara - and make the exhales longer than the inhales. Practice this for 10 cycles or longer.
Pair your breath with these words: I. AM. HERE. NOW.
Inhaling to I.
Exhaling to AM.
Inhaling to HERE.
Exhaling to NOW.
May you feel centered, peaceful and calm – today and every day.
About Andrea Deierlein & Thrive Reiki, LLC: Andrea's work specializes in helping people transform the pain of life challenges and daily adversity through the practice of Reiki. She helps people struggling with stress, anxiety and overwhelm, to relax, calm down and breathe again. Focusing on stress management and the mind-body-connection, her clients shift out of survival mode, build focus and resilience. Connect with her on www.thrivereiki.com or follow her on Instagram @andreadeierlein