The Ultimate Guide to Mindful Living (Even If You Can’t Meditate for 5 Minutes)

Photo by Mor Shani on Unsplash

It was May 2019, long before the pandemic. The world is as it was, and I was reading "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan B. Peterson.

This was the moment that I decided to live more purposefully.

To walk through the world with my chin up and shoulders back. Taking it each day at a time, aiming for 1% improvement every day. Where each day is different. Some days I take seven steps forward and then the next, three steps back. Other days, I leap and bound over adversity just to see if you can.

It started with one habit.

I would stack dozens of them over the years.

Mindful living boils down to the things you do regularly, and how much of that time is spent investing in yourself. The things you do with purpose help you develop meaning in life--nirvana, enlightenment.

In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of people interested in mindfulness. Nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults practiced meditation in 2022. Which brings calm, peace, and balance to one's daily life.

Today, I'm going to focus on the one secret to living mindfully.

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The Mindfulness Tip Everyone Misses

The key to meditation is a gentle focus on the breath.

In and out.

Observing the moment when an inhale becomes an exhale.

In and out.

And when your mind wanders, you gently bring it back to your breath. This immediately brings you to the current moment. In stillness.

What I've found in my own practice of mindful living is that stillness is the ultimate state to manifest faster than normal. Knowing I can't change anyone, I put all that energy into developing myself. Knowing people's opinions of me are none of my business, I move like I'll never be forgotten. Even though we all will someday be forgotten.

Whenever I feel lost or anxious, I bring myself to the present moment. I ask, what can I control, and what is outside my control? I focus intensely on the things I can control.

Guided Practice (Meditation Exercise)

Step 1: Sit comfortably

Step 2: Close your eyes

Step 3: Notice breath

Step 4: Gently return attention when wandering

I encourage you to "notice" present-moment details like your senses and thoughts with gentle curiosity.

"Where you go, there you are," - Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Some Reading Recommendations

I couldn't recommend "12 Rules for Life" by Jordan Peterson enough. It gave me several rules to live by that continue to bring order to my chaotic life.

Next, I'd have to introduce you to "How to Master Life: The Science Behind 'The Secret'" by Thomas Troward & James Allen. It's a tough read in parts, and I highly recommend reading this one multiple times until you understand. When you do, it will unlock another level of mindful living.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention "The Art and Business of Online Writing: How to Beat the Game of Capturing and Keeping Attention" by Nicolas Cole.

Quick Recap: The Path Forward

You've learned how important the breath is and how you can use it to bring yourself into the present moment.

Like any habit, start small. Meditate as outlined in the exercise above for 5 minutes. Extend to your desire.

Check out this week's book recommendation to get a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the universe and your place in it.

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