The Art of Mindful Living….

You can access this podcast episode here: https://youtu.be/LqvgWdJnguw

When you think about the words mindful living, what comes to your mind? What images appear in your head when these words are connected?

I am sure there are different meanings of the words mindful living; however, when I think of living consciously, I think of three core words contentment, connection, and gratitude. I believe these words are the core of creating a life of mindfulness. 

I describe mindful living as the art of being present as you take time to connect and have a sense of gratitude for everything in that moment (people, place & activity). We often rush to get somewhere else instead of slowing down & tuning into the current moment. In 2007 my life was altered by a traumatic event that made me become familiar with the lifestyle of living consciously and taking nothing for granted.

After my youngest daughter passed away, I was angry, hurt, and felt a tremendous void in my life. I was unaware that during my journey, I was dealing with PTSD and GAD (generalized anxiety disorder). But in 2011, I began to take steps to change the trajectory of my life. I decided to seek professional help for my daughter and me to heal during that time. Meditation, along with my personal spiritual beliefs, help me dig deep within to realize the importance of living mindfully.

So now I want to share three ideas on how you can manifest the art of mindful living in your life.

The first step to the art of living a conscious life of awareness is contentment.

Contentment: understanding where you are in life is exactly where you are supposed to be.

The second step is connectivity or staying connected.

Connectivity: understanding every intricate detail in the moment is interconnected and creates a synergy of flow. ( every element is working in the environment to reach an ultimate goal)

The last step is the gift of acknowledgement or gratitude.

Acknowledgement or Gratitude: When we understand everything is interconnected & flowing in synchronicity then we will feel grateful for every detail in the moment. (everything has a purpose & place in the moment)

Also if you are a writer and need assistance in your writing journey click the link to check out our writing services: https://theinspirationalcorner.net/writing-services/

Self Care Essentials: Finding Your Zen…

“What you seek is seeking you.” ~Rumi

In the last month or so my life has been filled with the unknown, I have found myself looking for answers in this unfamiliar place. However, I have learned the answers lie in between the moments of letting go. This entire year I learned the importance of letting go and detachment from things I can’t control. When I let go there is a moment of peace that comes with detaching myself from the outcome. I have learned to be more in tune with my mind, heart and soul.

These moments of zen have taught me the importance of releasing the struggle and embracing the ease. I have spent my entire life in survival mode, trying to stay afloat so the pressures of life would not overtake me. As I was struggling to stay afloat  I found myself drowning from the pressure of trying to keep it all together. I realize now that this facade kept me from becoming free, free from thriving to my fullest potential.

However, when I decided to stop fighting the flow of life things began to fall into place. I was able see things more clearly and implement self-care into my life. Self-care has taught me how to be present in the moment. It has also taught me how to be still, let go and flow in uncomfortable situations. Self-care has been a great teacher in showing me how to reconnect with my true essence.

So, below I have listed self-care essentials to help you find your zen and tap into the peace of mind you deserve.

1.Tea, Anyone? : Green tea and other teas have been linked to having many health benefits. I often drink tea to calm myself when I feel overwhelmed and full of anxiety. My favorite tea is Yogi Tea, this tea has a variety of teas that you can choose from to suit your needs. I often use the bedtime and ginger tea. Another great benefit is they add inspirational quotes on the tea bag label.

2. Candles: Candles can reduce your stress by adding some aromatherapy to your day. Here is a list of the best organic candles on the market Organic Candles

3. Music: Music is a great way to cultivate some calm in your everyday life. BMG Channel on YouTube is a great channel to listen to it has a variety of music for studying, relaxing etc.

4. Whoosah: Meditation is a great way to bring calm into your mind. The Calm App is an app I have used for years. It has various programs to help you get into your calm.

5. Selah: Taking time to hit pause in your life is a way to stop and listen to your inner self. Pause help you clear the noise, clear the clutter & reconnect with yourself.

So, which self-care essential will you use this holiday season ?, share your thoughts in the comment section!

The Joy of Solitude….

Long holiday weekends are warrant for spending time in solitude. This weekend was no exception. After spending the last two months suffering from exhaustion all I wanted to do is simply nothing. I can honestly confess I am tired of going hard; doing more to get more to be more.

When I lived overseas I cherished life in slow motion. Since I’ve been back in the U.S. life on autopilot is the norm. I constantly battle with this insane concept. So, I decided for the next 30 days I will spend time replenishing my mind, body and spirit.

I will take intentional time to slow down and be present in the moment. It is refreshing to be still, marinating in life’s precious moments. Below, I made a list of  ways you can replenish yourself.

1. Read your favorite novel.

2. Take a lavender epsom salt bath.

3. Unplug from social media for a day, week, month or year.

4. Take a walk without your phone.

5. Sleep.

6. Meditate.

7. Get creative and color.

8. Go to the beach.

9. Watch a sunrise.

10. Watch a sunset.

11. Go to a bookstore.

12. Staycation; reserve a hotel room in your local town.

13. Binge watch your favorite Amazon Prime show or Netflix episodes.

14. Stay in your house all day.

15. Cook your favorite meal.

16. Listen to your favorite music streaming station.

17. Aromatherapy; buy some aromatherapy candles & burn them in your house.

These are just a few ways you can replenish your mind, body and spirit. I dare you to make your own list and spend a day, week or month in replenishment. How are you going to replenish yourself this summer?

 

 

 

Hygge for the Holidays…..

Slowing down……such a foreign concept to me for several years until I settled down in the south. As a single mom slowing down is a challenge everyday because there is always something to do on the checklist. However, in the last two years I have been challenged to slow down and really embrace the present moment. The present moment is crystallized by focusing on the now. The “now” moments are the moments we can never gain back. If this is true, then why do we rush through one event to the next?

Lately, I have been intrigued with going a lot slower in my everyday life. It has made a big difference in my mindset. Although, the holidays are here I am truly embracing slow motion. In my pursuit of this new lifestyle I have came across the word hygge (hoo-gah) practiced by the Danish culture. This lifestyle is a Danish concept that has been popping up everywhere I go. I can’t remember exactly where I heard it but I have been researching a little deeper about this concept. For a long time there was no formal definition for this word however, more Americans have become aware of this concept.

The holidays is great time to practice this Danish concept especially since Thanksgiving and Christmas is right around the corner. I don’t believe in putting concepts in a box so you have the power to rearrange it the way it fits your life. For example, hygge to me is drinking hot cocoa, tea or wine during the winter months, watching a movie, reading a book and spending some quality time with my daughter.

No matter what concept, tradition or non-tradition you practice slowing down and enjoying the moment should be apart of your daily regiment.

Here is a book I am currently reading check it out in Stylicia’s Reads.

Creating A Life You Love…

I spent years playing the game of comparison wishing my life would magically change. I was not aware of the fact that I had the power to change my life. The choice lied within one simple decision that I needed to make. 

Below is a list of ways you can create the life you love.

1. Be grateful.

2. Create a routine.

3. Break your routine.

4. Write down your goals.

5. Write down your dreams.

6. Be intentional.

7. Make a list of what you love to do.

8. Start doing what you love.

9. Be fearless.

10. Be kind.

11. Love more.

12. Be spontaneous.

13. Make yourself a priority.

14. Implement a self-care routine.

15. Be productive not busy.

16. Meditate.

17. Pray.

18. Read more.

19. Smile more.

20. Look for serendipitous moments.

21. Be confident.

22. Spend money on things you love.

23. Make new friends.

24. Spend time with your loved ones.

25. Celebrate your life.

26. Say No often.

27. Don’t  explain yourself to others.

28. Stop seeking validation.

29. Mind your own business.

30. Cultivate a sacred space for yourself.

31. Be mysterious.

32. Travel more.

33. Laugh Often.

34. Delete some people & things in your life.

35. Add some things & people in your life.

 

 

The Lost Art of Conversation

 

Somewhere lost in a timeless warp, where meaningful words use to be more appealing than texting or holding a conversation through the computer. Technology has made us lazy as we use social media and texting as a way to hold conversations when these things truly hinder the art of conversation.

I remember living in a world where you would talk on the porch to family and friends for hours savoring the moments. In this new millennium technology has handicapped us from learning how to evoke meaningful conversations. I believe social media has disabled our younger generation because they lose themselves in social media without becoming social within the world around them. The biggest question to ask is how can we get back to the beautiful art of conversation with a social media and text induced world?

The greatest way to tap back into the real world is log out from the virtual world. There should be a healthy balance of technology verses real life conversation. Real life conversations teaches us how to socialize with one another, it teaches us how to listen, pause and interpret someones words as well as body language. When we are holding conversations through text or social media we misconstrue what a person may say.

 In order, for us to reconnect to realistic, meaningful & authentic relationships we have to be willing to unplug  from social media and become sociable with the world around us. When we evoke intimate one on one conversations we are more fulfilled and happy in our lives.

The art of conversation can be rekindled in this saturated age of technology by:

1) Unplugging. Taking a digital detox from social media.
2) Reconnect. Making time to reconnect back to real relationships before social media became your primary outlet.
3) Vacate. Get out the house & meet new people.
4) Off Button. Turn off your phone for an hour or so to live in the moment & be mindful of the present.
5) Live in the moment. We miss out on intimate connections with the people we love because we share every moment on social media. Take some time to savor the moment & keep your memories secrete without sharing everything on your social media sites.

Live In The Moment

Life is a constant rollercoaster where we are on fast forward but sometimes we need to put our lives on pause, rewind to the moments we constantly rush through and just slow down. Life is so precious in which we have to learn to embrace each moment because it will dissipate quickly. Life is about making each hour, minute and second count to create a life full of memorable things to look back on in years to come. I have been guilty in not cherishing the moment but rushing to get to the next day just to rush through it all over again however, this year I have been challenged to enjoy life in its present state and appreciate what each moment has to offer as well as teach me. For the last 190 days, I  worked a job I  did not enjoy with a person that made the job more challenging than it had to be but it taught me to never waste another day living in a moment that does not bring me joy. This job gave me the strength to reevaluate myself and my life to the capacity of investing in moments that are worth enjoying. In the real world, some moments can be painful just like the 190 days I had endured at my job however, there were moments that taught me how to let go of the bad things and create the life I love to wake up to everyday. Moments have full of lessons to go along with them even in the most uncomfortable moments. We still must strive to embrace the moment, live in it and make it a moment worth living for because life comes and goes in a flash. I have learned to capture the sweet things in bittersweet moments, hold on to the fun moments and make memorable thoughts of moments that have took my breathe away. It is funny how ugly moments teach you great lessons just like my job did for the last 190 days. I am thankful that my job ends this week as I take the time to reflect, slow down and move forward at my own pace this time. Too often, we rush because we feel rushed to be at a certain place in our life but in reality we are right where we need to be. Living in the moment is simply about not rushing out of the current moment you are in but savoring the moment. I made a vow to myself no longer to rush from moment to moment but let each moment have its place to flourish and process into something beautiful. So I challenge you this week to embrace the moment, slow down, let each moment be processed thoroughly so that maturity can have its time to spring forth. I dare you to Live In The Moment! 

Carpe Diem: Seize The Moment, Seize The Day!

Sometimes we never take time to seize the moments that are precious in life, instead we find ourselves rushing through life from one moment to the next moment. Every moment becomes a speck in our mind leaving empty voids of us rushing through life. 

We begin to rush our life where living in a microwave generation is the norm. No one has patience to take the time to breathe and look into the sky to see the clouds depart as if heaven was reaching out to them. Every sunset and sunrise becomes a blur that seeps into the back of our minds. 

Every day should be cherished and seized with living in the moment. I realize life can be consuming if we allow it to consume us, however we have to be willing to step away from the outside world long enough to silence ourselves.  I believe silence is the most profound thing we can cherish to recollect our thoughts. 

When you begin to seize the day you allow yourself to get caught up in the journey not the destination. Life is made up of many journeys with many lessons, nevertheless we have to be able to step away from the chaos long enough to embrace seizing the day.

According to Webster’s Dictionary carpe diem is best define as the enjoyment of the pleasures without concern for the future. So often, we become stressed with life that we never indulge in the simplicity life offers. 

Enjoying the simple things such as birds chirping in the early am, watching the stars at night or looking at the brightness of the sun have lessons and pleasures attached to them. If we become prone to seizing the moments we will be happier and less stress.

Stress is gained when we are filled with the worries of the past. Carpe diem is much more than a common expression but it is the way to live life. I challenge you to take time to slow your pace, embrace nature and meditate in the stillness. Life is sweeter when we throw off the blues to allow joy to radiate our souls. 

Life is waiting for you patiently to seize the day with pleasure!