I started meditating 10 years ago when I was in college. There was an email sent out saying that finals are coming up and if you want to relieve some stress you are welcome to go to the library and study meditation. I thought, “What do I have to lose?” I quickly realized that I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I loved meeting every week in that small room, people of all nationalities crowded inside meditating with a lady whose voice was so calm that you wouldn’t believe she came from this planet. I immediately asked him if he believed that the library had books that I could learn more about meditation. That’s when I got the letter Peace Is Every Step by Thich Naht Hanh and was introduced to the practice of meditation, and the rest is history.
Awareness is a state of mind that is achieved by focusing your awareness on the present moment. You start asking yourself the necessary questions like “Am I indeed do I wash the dishes if I’m still playing that embarrassing moment I had yesterday?” or “I indeed hugging my daughter when I think about what I’m going to cook for dinner tonight?” You begin to realize, much to your dismay, that most of your life is lived this way—reflecting on the past or worrying about the future. In an article in the Harvard Gazette, Harvard psychologists Matthew Killingsworth and Daniel Gilbert concluded that people spend about 47% of their waking hours thinking about something other than what they are doing.
Mindfulness teaches us that we are fully alive only when we are present. When you start living mindfully, you become more aware—you become aware of your feelings, the present moment, the place you are. And with that comes the inevitable (and scary) moment when you look around your home and think, “Jeez, I’ve got a lot wrong here!” And yes, that can be very difficult. You see the clutter on the counter. On the dresser. In that small room no one pays any attention. Oh, and worse, if you start to notice, you again be aware of how all this clutter can negatively impact your mental health.
But there is no worry, and awareness is coming change. And awareness comes growth. If you never see what’s wrong with your apartment, you’ll never fix it. If you have never seen what is wrong in your life, you will never fix it. But that initial strong feeling will only last for a short time you Avoid, so the power lies yours hands. As I always say, start anywhere, start somewhere.
It doesn’t matter if every room is full of chaos. Just start with that little closet in your bathroom. Once you complete one task, no matter how small, your confidence will increase. You will feel more in control of not only your home but your life. Extracting something is simple but effective. It has a negative impact on other areas of your life. I truly believe that a dirty apartment equals a dirty mind. What do you think a formal apartment is worth? Yes, you got it, common sense. Controlling your environment actually takes your life back. And what is the best part of all this? That if you have little things, you can focus your attention on the real things add value and joy to your life. You begin to question who and what you allow into your space and power. When you start saying no to things that don’t add value to your life, you start saying yes to the things you do. Say yes today.