I awoke early this morning and after meditation, watched an interview with Mindfulness expert, Jon Kabat-Zinn, “Life is right now.”
In this inspiring talk, Kabat-Zinn says that mindfulness is living your life as if it really mattered and being in the present moment with open hearted presence and kindness with yourself.
It was the statement, “living your life as if it really mattered” that got me.
Am I living my life as if it really matters? Am I treating each moment as if it is the only moment where I can be present and kind and compassionate with myself, because that’s what matters most? That’s what is my greatest expression of love?
He goes on to say, “Mindfulness is a gift. A mystery. We are geniuses, miraculous beings and we ignore most of our beauty and drive ourselves crazy over all these things that are really not all that important. We’re driven by the urgent, miss the important and wind up a lot of the time being unhappy and then look elsewhere for the solution.”
Mindfulness practice is an important part of living as if my life really matters. For each of us, it means getting present and whole with ourselves and loving all of us without judging parts of ourselves as wanting, or less than or other than perfect reflections of who we are within and in the world.
Mindfulness is the art of being present with all of me as I am right now.
In this 7 minute interview Kabat-Zinn makes the case why each of us need to get more lovingly mindful right now.
I happened upon this interview with Buddhist Nun Fang Nhiem when I clicked a link from Zen Flash.
I’m so grateful I clicked!
May your Friday be filled with loving kindness in all you are right now. Happy Now!
Dare Boldly 
I am about to get happy and watch these two videos for my meditation this morning! Thank you for sharing!!
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Oh Goodie Liz! Hope it brings as much peace to you as it did to me!
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I just sat through a talk by Richard Leider, an amazing coach and author who just published Life ReImagined. One story he told was of Matthieu Ricard who through fMRI technology was shown to be the happiest person alive. Happier than the Dalai Lama. When asked his secret he gave a one word answer… practice.
Choose to smile. Consciously replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Meditate. Practice gratitude.
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Our parents always told us that now didn’t they Ian. Practice. Practice. Practice. 🙂
There are studies that show we can raise our happiness set-points just by practicing happiness! Hope you’re well and enjoying your trip.
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With two weeks to go the the big event, it is hard to imagine you having the time to stop and take time out to do this.
I do so admire you.
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Ah Elizabeth. If I don’t take the time to do this, I might just come undone! 🙂
Thank you. Hugs
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Bloody great just saying
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Bloody glad! just saying. 🙂
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Just watched the video and feel very inspired in a quiet way – brilliant. Btw Louise I think you are one who practises mindfulness beautifully.
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so glad you enjoyed the video Julie — I felt the same way at the end of it too. And thank you — it is a moment by moment practice! 🙂 Hugs
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Nice share Louise 🙂
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Glad you liked it Val! Thanks.
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I just discovered Jon’s video series and Love him. Thanks for the inspiration today, Louise. Have a nice weekend!
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Isn’t he amazing? I love his work. Hope your weekend was a relaxing – and fruitful as mine. 🙂
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Hugs Mary. I hear you and know that feeling of just wanting to be somewhere else — always a challenge to be where I’m at when I’m in that place!
May peace find you where you are today and fill your heart with joy.
❤
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Being present is sometimes a hard thing for me. Right now, all I can think about is getting back on the road and out of here. I really need to find my space here, and be happy in it.
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