The Artistry of Mindfulness

The Artistry of Mindfulness:  How To Practice The Art Of Being Fully Present

Living mindfully is about embracing a way of life that encourages present moment awareness.  It is as important to our state of well-being as breathing.  I think of it as a daily practice and it has shaped the person that I am.  Meditation is a wonderful way to do this.  I find that spending time in a calming natural setting is one of the best ways to nurture the mind/body/spirit connection.

The Healing Power Of Nature

Walking in nature and focusing your attention on present moment beauty is one of the easiest ways to develop a sense of mindful awareness.  No need to set aside a special time or place for a meditation practice.  Simply focus, breathe and rediscover the playful pleasure of the natural world around you.  This is the easiest way I know of to foster a deeper spiritual connection with ourselves.

The Extraordinarily Ordinary

Mindfulness involves a new way of encountering the world around us.  We must get rid of our accomplishing mindset and awaken our perceptive energy.  Nature photography itself is a form of meditation that doesn't involve sitting in one place.  When we take the time to see the details of the world around us, we foster a natural empathy for all living beings--a deep loving kindness.

Noticing Thoughts And Feelings Without Judgment

The transformative and transcendent quality of the natural world makes it easier to enter a contemplative meditational state of awareness.  The winter season is a perfect time to slow down and enjoy the calming views and colors.  Many times when we are engaging in too many activites at once...we approach life with the mind of a critic...deciding instantly what we think or feel about something.  Mindfulness is not an activity, but rather a way of experiencing life in a different way.  Observing nature is very helpful with this.  When we do so we notice our thoughts and feelings without judgment.  It's the best form of mindful meditation I know.  All you need do is focus on your breathing and look at the view with continued attention to the details.

Hope this will encourage you to explore slowing down and just being present with nature in a new way!