Last week we explored how using your strengths can help you feel more engaged in your everyday life. This week, we’re continuing the Engagement Pathway series by exploring how mindfulness can boost our engagement levels.
What is Mindfulness?
Do you ever find yourself mindlessly eating, driving, reading a book and then wonder how you finished or reached your destination? Worse yet, you didn’t reach your destination and you were lost, or you have no idea what you just read? All of these have happened to me. Many times, it’s because our minds are wandering. Where are they wandering? Most of the time, we’re ruminating about the past, worrying about the future, or just drifting.
Mindfulness is the ability to be in the moment, fully aware of each moment and what you’re thinking, feeling, and doing in the here and now. It’s the act of being present for what’s happening in and around you. Studies have found that being mindful can help you to improve your self-awareness, acceptance of yourself and others, your ability to handle stress, and your wellbeing.
Practicing mindfulness involves training your mind to focus on the moment with openness and curiosity for whatever unfolds in the experience – your thoughts, feelings, and the actions of others.
Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Everyday
Here are a few ways I’ve built my mindfulness muscles:
As a coach and leader, it’s critically important that I give my client or employee my full attention. I do this by being curious, and listening to what they are saying, rather than thinking about how I’m going to respond. I’m making eye contact, and watching facial expressions and body language, which gives me clues about how they are really feeling vs. what they are telling me. By being in the moment, and fully aware of the other person, it’s an opportunity for me to be curious and ask curious questions. If I’m on the phone, I’ve learned to detect if they’re smiling, emotional or feeling stressed, by listening very closely to the tone of their voice, and the words they are using. I’m also aware of the signals my intuition is giving me, by paying attention to my own body. You don’t have to be a coach or a leader to do this, flex this muscle with your spouse, kids, friends, or colleagues.
Another way I’ve practiced being mindful is when I’m walking the dogs. I’m watching them play, noticing other things that are happening in the park, listening to the geese chatter, or the sound their wings make when they fly. Instead of just passing someone on the path, I make eye contact, smile, say hello, or comment about the weather, their dog or acknowledge one of their kids. At times, we stop and have a longer conversation.
When I run, I’m paying close attention to how I’m feeling. If I’m breathing heavy, I’m not pacing myself, so I slow down. I pay attention to posture, and how my arms are swinging because I know the position they need to be in, so I don’t use too much energy. I’m paying attention to how my shoulders are positioned, if they’re up to my ears, or if I’m clenching my jaw, I will definitely feel terrible later, and end up at the chiropractor. I’m paying attention to the need to hydrate, if I don’t, I’ll most likely develop a headache. I’m trying hard to stay in the moment to enjoy the run, rather than making it a check-the-box exercise.
What will you do to practice mindfulness and create a habit? I’m going to focus on daily meditation. I’m going to start with two minutes. I’ll sit quietly and bring my awareness to my breath, as I gently scan my body from head to toe and notice, without judging, how I’m really feeling. I’m going to breathe a little more deeply into any parts of my body that feel a little more tense, tight, or sore. Easy enough – right?
Keep going, keep growing…
Related Posts:
How Living a More Engaged Life Can Help You Thrive
Discover Your Strengths and Feel More Creative, Confident, and Engaged
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