Happy surprise post day! I felt like writing this extra blog post this week because something prompted me to think about mindfulness in a different way and I wanted to share my thoughts. Also, these are just my thoughts and opinions on the matter and I am not a professional.
Meditation and mindfulness has been a powerful tool in my own life as well as other people I know. It has helped me become a happier and more focused individual. One of my favorite things to do is stretch outside in the mornings, either listening to classical music or the birds chirping. It is an activity that makes me feel very present and in touch with the different elements, specifically air and earth. The earth helps me feel grounded and strong, while the delicate breeze seems to flow with me while I’m transitioning to another pose. I would even argue that this simple activity makes me feel more present than meditation, and after I am done with my practice, I feel more rewarded.
This has led me to consider the question: Is there other mindful activities people could do to fit their own lifestyle in replacement of meditation? Despite countless arguments that meditation is the best form of mindfulness and being present, I would say yes. There are different types of learners(kinesthetic, auditory, and visual) so why couldn’t there be different mindful activities that work better for some than they do for others?
In my attempt to find information on this topic I came across an article by the blog Mindful that had some interesting things to say about meditation. In the article, 10 Things We Know About the Science of Meditation, the authors(Jeremy Adam Smith, Jill Suttie, Hooria Jazaieri, MFT, and Kira M. Newman) claim, “Some seem to believe mindfulness practice will invariably induce a sense of peace and calm. While this can be the experience for many, it is not the experience for all. At times, sitting quietly with oneself can be a difficult—even painful—experience.” Although in this quote they are referring to how trauma can negatively affect someone’s meditation experience, I still think that it has something to say about how mindful practices should be unique to the person conducting them. However, I was unable to find a lot of research on this topic and in the same article, another quote said, “In this new domain of research, there is still a lot we do not understand,” which explains why it was challenging to find evidence to support this theory.
Overall, I think that meditation is a remarkable medicine that can ease the mind. More so, these thoughts have prompted me to expand my view on mindfulness. I think since we are all unique, maybe our present practice should be too. Along with meditation I find that stretching and reading outside with my cat are ways I enjoy being mindful and happy. Always feel free to share your favorite ways to be present and destress in the comments of this post or dm me on instagram.
Works Cited
Smith, Jeremy Adam, et al. “10 Things We Know About the Science of Meditation.” Mindful, 9 Mar. 2021, www.mindful.org/10-things-we-know-about-the-science-of-meditation/.
