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Some Reminders and Suggestions for Bringing Greater Mindfulness and Focus into One’s
JohnC.Kimbrough
Explorer
Some Reminders and Suggestions for Bringing Greater Mindfulness and Focus into One’s Life
Many times a healthier, happier and more focused mind and life comes just through being more mindful about how to live and what to do each day.
It is so easy in this modern world to become confused about how to live and that combined with the needs and desires of our mind and body, the unhealthy conditioning that we may have experienced in the past, and our own ignorance about how to live, can lead us to a confused or lost state even when we are living in the midst of peace, safety, sensual pleasure, comfort and convenience, and wealth.
The following reminders and suggestions may be of some use to those who wish to cultivate a healthier and more joyful life.
• Practice Hatha Yoga on a daily basis. It is best to do it at the same time and at the same place everyday for at least 30 minutes. Early morning may be best for some, while after work will be the time more convenient for most. Work to make this a daily practice that you can do on your own without the need for a teacher or Yoga class.
• Practice meditation on a daily basis. It is best to do it at the same time and at the same place everyday for at least 20 minutes. The best times are early in the morning or before going to sleep at night. It is highly recommended that one attempt to do such a practice early in the morning before breakfast.
• Take a warm or hot shower – bath on a daily or regular basis. A good time to do it is before or after a Hatha Yoga or meditation practice.
• Spend some time attempting to put your thoughts, feelings and observations down on paper. The best medium for this may be in a personal diary that is written in before going to bed at night. Include in such a diary entry five to ten good things that you experienced that day. If you wish to, you can build on those good things with further observations and thoughts.
• Be mindful about why you eat, what you eat, where you eat, when you eat and your attitude while you eat and to the food that you eat. Avoid heavy meals late at night and snacking frequently.
• Be mindful about your pre and post - sleep habits. Try to go to sleep and get up at regular times. Avoid staying up late and falling asleep in front of the television. Understand that you body requires and has a tendency to a natural and healthy rhythm and that the pervasive availability of technology and the use of it for games and entertainment can interfere with the body’s healthy rhythm and functioning.
• Be mindful about how you use your free time and what kind of leisure activities you engage in. Try not to do too much of one thing or activity such as watching movies and television or playing on the computer.
• Attempt to learn and apply a healthy and skillful set of moral and ethical teachings and behaviors to your mind and life. The ones put forth in The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism or through the Yamas (Universal Vows) and Niyamas (Personal Observances) of Yoga are comprehensive and easy to understand and apply.
• Associate with people who are mindful, healthy and calm. Try to avoid people who are impatient and prone to anger and ill – will. Also avoid people who are habitually condemning and critical of others and the world and who habitually engage in unhealthy actions and activities.
• Attempt to make your attitudes, words and actions to others based on and built around loving - kindness and compassion. This enhances yourself and those that you associate with.
• Be determined and discerning regarding your habits and new approach to life and living. Do not let the ignorant attitudes and words of others and peer pressure keep you from learning, practicing and applying the things above.
©2007 John C. Kimbrough
John is a volunteer teaching Yoga and Buddhism and providing other health and educational resources for men and women in a local provincial prison in Cambodia. He has lived in Asia for twenty years.
Many times a healthier, happier and more focused mind and life comes just through being more mindful about how to live and what to do each day.
It is so easy in this modern world to become confused about how to live and that combined with the needs and desires of our mind and body, the unhealthy conditioning that we may have experienced in the past, and our own ignorance about how to live, can lead us to a confused or lost state even when we are living in the midst of peace, safety, sensual pleasure, comfort and convenience, and wealth.
The following reminders and suggestions may be of some use to those who wish to cultivate a healthier and more joyful life.
• Practice Hatha Yoga on a daily basis. It is best to do it at the same time and at the same place everyday for at least 30 minutes. Early morning may be best for some, while after work will be the time more convenient for most. Work to make this a daily practice that you can do on your own without the need for a teacher or Yoga class.
• Practice meditation on a daily basis. It is best to do it at the same time and at the same place everyday for at least 20 minutes. The best times are early in the morning or before going to sleep at night. It is highly recommended that one attempt to do such a practice early in the morning before breakfast.
• Take a warm or hot shower – bath on a daily or regular basis. A good time to do it is before or after a Hatha Yoga or meditation practice.
• Spend some time attempting to put your thoughts, feelings and observations down on paper. The best medium for this may be in a personal diary that is written in before going to bed at night. Include in such a diary entry five to ten good things that you experienced that day. If you wish to, you can build on those good things with further observations and thoughts.
• Be mindful about why you eat, what you eat, where you eat, when you eat and your attitude while you eat and to the food that you eat. Avoid heavy meals late at night and snacking frequently.
• Be mindful about your pre and post - sleep habits. Try to go to sleep and get up at regular times. Avoid staying up late and falling asleep in front of the television. Understand that you body requires and has a tendency to a natural and healthy rhythm and that the pervasive availability of technology and the use of it for games and entertainment can interfere with the body’s healthy rhythm and functioning.
• Be mindful about how you use your free time and what kind of leisure activities you engage in. Try not to do too much of one thing or activity such as watching movies and television or playing on the computer.
• Attempt to learn and apply a healthy and skillful set of moral and ethical teachings and behaviors to your mind and life. The ones put forth in The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism or through the Yamas (Universal Vows) and Niyamas (Personal Observances) of Yoga are comprehensive and easy to understand and apply.
• Associate with people who are mindful, healthy and calm. Try to avoid people who are impatient and prone to anger and ill – will. Also avoid people who are habitually condemning and critical of others and the world and who habitually engage in unhealthy actions and activities.
• Attempt to make your attitudes, words and actions to others based on and built around loving - kindness and compassion. This enhances yourself and those that you associate with.
• Be determined and discerning regarding your habits and new approach to life and living. Do not let the ignorant attitudes and words of others and peer pressure keep you from learning, practicing and applying the things above.
©2007 John C. Kimbrough
John is a volunteer teaching Yoga and Buddhism and providing other health and educational resources for men and women in a local provincial prison in Cambodia. He has lived in Asia for twenty years.
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