Happiest minds use mindfulness

In this fast-paced, hyperconnected world that we live in, it's quite easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of constant distractions that surround us. Our attention is fractured into countless pieces, leaving us detached from the precious present moment. The vibrant tapestry of life that unfolds before us, gets ignored. Let's explore the idea of mindfulness, a powerful act that enables us to experience the richness that every moment has to offer.

Think about it for a moment. How often do you find yourself addictively scrolling down your social media pages, thinking hard about something the control of which is much beyond your grip, or being busy overfilling the granary of your selfie-heavy gallery in your phone, oblivious to the people and the experiences right in front of your eyes? In our perpetual busyness, we frequently overlook the little joys and the profound moments that grace our daily lives.

But mindfulness is not merely an act of observation. It's all about fully participating in the symphony of life. When we are fully conscious and mindful, we engage with intention, bringing an ardent sense of purpose to our actions. We savour each bite of food and relish flavours & textures that dance upon our tongues, let our hearts reverberate with the joyous sounds of life from innumerable sources, and consume the fascinating nuances unfurling at that moment through our eyes.

Mindfulness empowers us to transform the visibly non-existent into life, and the ordinary into extraordinary, allowing us to extract meaning and beauty from regular existence. A life lived not being aware and conscious of innumerable nuggets of sensory and cerebral experiences that it offers, would be a life partly lived.

Besides the fulfilment and delight factors, mindfulness carries a lot of value in terms of tangible and intangible benefits. Our well-being is certainly compromised when we are trapped in a cycle of rumination and worry, plagued by thoughts of either the past or the future. But a mindful concentration on the moment we live in would open the gates for fresh ideas and perspectives to send the worries to exile and enable us to appreciate people and situations. When we approach life with an open heart and an attentive mind, we gain knowledge that is priceless, do observations that work for us, and get those peerless people closer to us.

At a functional level too, observing and mindful people make valuable things happen and engineer to avert unpleasant and unwanted situations. Examples of how an alert person avoids a mishap through the apt use of reflex action or the big idea of a "completely-involved-in-the-moment" person in a meeting generating a huge metamorphosis in the business or social scenario, galore.

On the other hand, losses incurred due to our lack of mindfulness are manifold. Relationships tend to suffer as our distracted minds fail to connect with those precious people in our lives. We miss the subtle nuances of conversations, the twinkle in someone's eyes, the unique and striking behavioural patterns of individuals, and the subtle cues that the situation throws at us. We simply forfeit the chance to truly see and be seen, to hear and be heard.

By being mindful, we not only become keen observers of our own thoughts and emotions but acquire the capability to notice the rise and fall of our internal experiences without getting entangled in them. Mindfulness allows us to take a breather and consciously choose our responses and words, rather than being driven by habits and impulses.

Let us reclaim the art of being totally and willingly involved with the present. Let us feel the warmth of the sunlight, the mesmerising sound of rain, the aroma of food lovingly prepared, the laughter of children playing, the sales pitch of hawkers on our streets, the fascinating ways people behave, and the enchanting words of the extraordinary storytellers in our lives. Happiest minds use mindfulness.

In the words of the modern-day English philosopher, Alan Watts, " The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." Let's join the rejuvenating dance of mindfulness and truly live life.