Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. – Chinese Proverb
Ever heard of mindful living? It’s become quite popular in recent years thanks to countless scientific research studies showing its benefits. The truth is, mindfulness practice has been around for centuries thanks to spiritual teacher Gautama Buddha, who founded Buddhism.
The basis of mindfulness is being aware of what’s happening in the present moment without judging it or wishing it were different. While the practice offers many benefits, you need to consistently keep at it to reap the rewards.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” – Buddha
Your only reality is THIS MOMENT, right here, right now. The past is an illusion. The future hasn’t arrived. The only thing that’s real is what’s happening right now.
“What a liberation to realize that the “voice in my head” is not who I am. Who am I then? The one who sees that.” – Eckhart Tolle
A negative thought is harmless unless you believe it. Thoughts come and go all the time. It’s natural. Suffering occurs when we attach ourselves to our thoughts. The reality is, our thoughts don’t really mean anything and they’re not who we are. When you take a step and observe your thoughts from a distance, you realize that if you’re observing them, then they can’t be you.
“The best fighter is never angry.” – Lao Tzu
You will not be punished for your anger, you will punished by it. We all get angry from time to time, but acting on this anger rarely results in something positive. It’s easy to get angry, but true courage involves doing something productive about it. When you realize that the present moment is all we have, you’ll come to understand that life is too short to spend time being upset and angry.
“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Everything is created twice, first in your mind and then in your life. Our brains are powerful instruments and they create the world around us. And the truth is that you won’t act unless your brain knows what you’re doing. So have your plans and goals in place, and then take action.
“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” – Buddha
We ourselves must walk the path. Life comes with many challenges and adversities for everyone, but the one thing with have control over is how much effort and willpower we put into something. We can’t attach our happiness or success towards outside objects. It all lies within us.
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” – Dr. Seuss
To strongly believe in something, and not live it, is dishonest. Don’t bend to what “society” wants you to be. Don’t change who you are so other people will accept you. It’s important to be authentic and follow your heart. Characterize yourself by your actions and you will never be fooled by other people’s words.
“Those who have failed to work toward the truth have missed the purpose of living.” – Buddha
The right path and the easy path are rarely the same path. You’ll eventually come to realize that struggle is what makes you grow, and it’s always worth it. While every step may be tough, it will lead you to where you want to go. Just because something seems difficult doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. In fact, it’s all the more reason to chase your goals.
“Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you need? Because this is the experience you are having at the moment.” – Eckhart Tolle
If you want the benefits of something in life, you have to also want the costs. So many people ask themselves questions like “what am I passionate about?” to find their purpose in life. However, a better question is “what is worth suffering for?” This will help you find what you truly want to do, and your life will be more fulfilling because of it.
“You must learn to let go. Release the stress. You were never in control anyway.”– Steve Maraboli
Over-committing is the antithesis of living a peaceful, mindful life. So many of us have a massive to-do lists filled with tasks that we couldn’t possibly finish in one day. We have to abandon the idea that there is honor in being busy. However, sometimes it can be more rewarding to focus on one task at a time and mindfully be absorbed by it. We also need time to rest and appreciate the beauty of life.
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