Sometimes I feel like we've started to use the term "mindfulness" so much we start to gloss over it - which you have to admit is a little ironic, given that that's the exact opposite of its intent.
Think about it - the last time you saw something that said "be present," did you actually pause, take a step back, and savor the moment you were in? Kudos if you did, but if you're like most of us, you probably just kept scrolling.
So how do you bridge the gap between a reminder to be mindful, and actually getting out of autopilot and changing your orientation toward what you're doing right now? A small trick of mine is to quickly run through the 5 W's (maybe there were some life lessons you learned in elementary school, after all.)
Who
are you? Gently return to your sense of self. Is what you're doing right now aligned with who you are? Does it reflect your values and priorities? Are you using your strengths? Do you have the space to bring forth your uniquely best self?
What
are you doing? Are you rushing through what you're doing and on to the next? Or are you actively savoring and engaging in the activity at hand?
Where
are you? What's your environment like? What's the weather like? How might it be affecting your mood or situation?
When
are you living? Are you in the past or future? Or are you actively experiencing the moment you're presently in?
Why
are you doing what you're doing? What purpose and perspective can you bring to your current task at hand? What intention did you have for your day or your week you can return to in this moment right now?
At the end of the day, mindfulness is simply about where we choose to bring our focus. Can you take 30 seconds the next time you’re reminded to take a breath, notice, and make your next move a more thoughtful response.
