Sue, for example, still plays bridge with friends. But now, she no longer frets about everything on her plate. Instead she devotes herself entirely to the pleasure of the company at hand and the game itself. "I enjoy that time completely now, participate in it and don't spoil it by giving it half my energy," she explains.
Earle also encourages his clients to take time to nourish themselves with healthy lifestyle choices and physical and mental pursuits they enjoy without feeling guilty. Sue found that the half-hour to herself that her life coach prescribed each day was a struggle at first. How could she take that much time "off" when there were so many other tasks to take care of? She soon realized, though, that the rejuvenation and energy she gleaned from this personal time allowed her not only to be happier but also to give more to her husband and daughters.
The impact of these small steps has been significant. "I'm letting myself be me more, not what people think I should be. I feel like I've accomplished something," she says. In short, Sue has become engaged -- in a life that's now of her own choosing and creation.
Learn to live in the moment -- now
In a nutshell, mindfulness is learning to nonjudgmentally pay attention to the present moment, to what is happening within and around you and to your body and mind at any particular moment. It is a way of cultivating an awareness of your emotions without getting lost in the feelings themselves. Experts urge those who are just starting to practise mindfulness to be aware of the different sensations they are experiencing at the time without rationalizing or thinking about them.
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