The Power of Being Present

Hi, and welcome to your Daily Mindfulness. You know, some people misunderstand mindfulness and they think it's about zoning out, blissing out, or rising above normal life, but it's actually the exact opposite of those things. It is, rather, an act of full engagement with life. Mindfulness involves deepening our ability to be fully attentive to the present moment, and then continually returning to the present moment if we lose ourselves in our wandering thoughts. And this process of becoming more aware and awake gradually untangles us from being caught in the thoughts that create our anxieties, our worries, and our restless nights.

It unwinds stress and suffering, makes us less reactive and it restores in a calm and importantly, it also gives us the mental space to make wise choices in life. The ones that lead towards us, living a more healthy, happy, and meaningful life. And perhaps, most importantly, research now compellingly points to the fact that happiness is a skill. You know Matt Killingsworth, from Harvard University did the largest study on human happiness that's ever been done. And what he discovered was that happiness is not about getting the big house, the big achievement, the perfect partner.

He found that what makes people most happy was being fully present in the moment. He found, actually that the more present we are in our lives, the happier we are. And conversely, the more our minds wander, the more unhappy we are. You know, mindfulness, therefore, the way I say it is that it's the most intelligent and effective way to cultivate happiness from within and be able to carry it with you wherever you go. It truly is so much power in the practice of being present.

And, you know, as you may have noticed already, although being present in the here and now is a really simple concept, it's not always easy, which is why regular practice is important. And you know, like anything worth having in life, the more you invest the time, the more you'll experience the full benefits of what mindfulness has to offer. And with time and practice, you'll notice that the awareness you cultivate during meditation starts to take up residence inside you like warm sunshine.