mindfulmarch

Mindful Mondays: The Power Of The List

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Do your list of TO-DOs ever make you feel like this?

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I think the moment I realized I was doing this was when a friend of mine called me out. “There she goes, making her lists again…” It’s just what I do, and no matter how unorganized it may look – for the most part, these things actually do help me. Seeing it all in front of me and having the power to cross something off after it’s completed is my absolute favorite part.

But what happens when the list takes over your entire life? What happens when we become so enthralled in those tiny little pieces of paper?

Today, I’m asking you to ditch the to-do list.

Alright, alright. Don’t all go shrieking in horror and unfollow me. Take your to-do list for the week, or even the month and tack it on the fridge. Leave it in the open, where it doesn’t get lost. (or do, because God, do we love making lists!) But, it doesn’t leave the fridge – got it? (I know you just added a bunch of stuff to it because I told you that you couldn’t touch it… I’ll let it slide for now!). 

I want you to know and accept that you will NEVER get EVERYTHING done.

There will a l w a y s be something to do. Extinguish your guilt!

Now I want you to try condensing your to-do list; even if it’s just for today. Pick the top 3 things that absolutely HAVE to get done. Organize them in order of priority and do your best to get them done.

There is however, one small little catch;  b e    p r e s e n t ! In anything you do today, and especially from that list, take notice in what happens. Notice your frustrations and your advances. Notice your annoyances and your satisfactions. Notice the people you greet, the stress you feel and the relaxation that comes after.

At the end of the day, I want you to express gratitude to yourself for getting the things that you did done, and making a dent into your list. No matter how small, it’s still a dent. Be proud of that!  If there was something you just couldn’t get to; that’s okay. Add it to the top of the next day’s list. Don’t beat yourself up over it. The most important thing you can do is be present, and even if you didn’t get everything done; you were present.

Bottom line;

I know how important tasks and deadlines are. But they shouldn’t consume our entire life. If you’ve got to get something done – do it beautifully.

Mindful March: links and loves

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One of my favorite things to share here on the blog are the things that I am loving at the moment. I figured I would carry that concept over to Mindful March and share with you the places I've found true inspiration in not only creating this course, but diving deeper - and them some!

In researching for the content I’ve written to share with you throughout Mindful March I came across a website called The Mindful Morning by a blogger named Joanne Poon. Joanne has some GREAT Mindful content on her site! The thing that caught my eye, as I am sure will you is this Weekly Mindful Planner. If you sign up on her website you can download yours for free (in black and white AND color). I don’t use it every week, but during those times I’m really looking for some inspiration or a pick me up, I will bust this out and work my way through the week a little more mindfully.

Find The Mindful Morning here;

I also came across Mindful.org which has some pretty awesome meditation and practices centered around mindfulness.

The Little Book of Mindfulness has tons of amazing 10 minutes (or less) prompts to bring in a little more mindfulness to your life. I ordered a few of these to giveaway also throughout the month just to be able to share with you all. I’m loving that it’s pocket sized and I can take it anywhere for a little inspiration!

Speaking of books, The Mindfulness Coloring book is PERFECT for on the go. It’s a pocket size coloring book for adults with images to help support your life being less stressful. Throw this in your bag with a few colored pencils or markers and you’re set for a car, plane or train ride.

I am loving this sweater from Fat Girl Flow. It is the perfect warm & comfy oversized sweater to get me through the remainder of Spring and cool nights. I also can’t wait to wear it as we sit around the fire this summer. I found Corissa on Instagram and she has been nothing but a true inspiration! Her work against fat shaming and body acceptance is simply amazing and I am truly grateful to have such an amazing person to look to for support & motivation!

Find the sweater and her website here.

If you follow me on social media, it’s no surprise that my family has been loving Hello Fresh!

I’ll be posting an in depth review of our Hello Fresh experience soon! If you’re interested in trying, I’ve got a coupon code for $40 off of your first box!

Use the code HQNLTJ at checkout for $40 off of your first box!

This stuff works beautifully! I am truly fascinated by how this hides my ends and makes my hair soft and smooth! I WILL GROW MY HAIR OUT DAMNIT! ^_^

Meet my new HOLY GRAIL go-to eye palette. Usually by the weekend I’m craving something more bold and dramatic. BUT for those days where I need to look put together and am in a rush, this just makes sense. All the colors are so blendable!

THIS CD! (I know, I'm late to the party, don't judge!) Click to purchase!

THIS CD! (I know, I'm late to the party, don't judge!) Click to purchase!

I should probably warn you that this palette is for those ‘no make-up” makeup looks. You can get some smoke out of it, but not much! So if you’re looking for something that’s going to pack a punch; this isn’t it.

Using products from this brand of greatly improved the integrity of my hair! I’ve probably mentioned this before, but I am still so impressed!

This playlist on Spotify!

 

Crispy Chicken Parmigiana Salad; so tasty! Click for recipe!

Crispy Chicken Parmigiana Salad; so tasty! Click for recipe!

and last but not least; THIS CRISPY CAULIFLOWER RECIPE!

Practice Gratitude

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Gratitude meditations could very well be the most powerful and rewarding exercise that we can practice. The ability to develop an attitude of gratitude creates serenity, happiness and bliss. Experiencing a sense of gratitude makes us feel good and the art meditation helps us to a state of deep mindful relaxation.

You can choose to incorporate gratitude into your meditation, or prior to your meditation take a few moments of Pranayama (breath) as you visualize all of the things you are grateful for in life.

When you are ready, lie down in Savasana (corpse pose) or sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Allow your muscles to relax by tensing every muscle within your body and letting go. Feel a sense of relaxation wash all throughout your body.

Let go of your thoughts and begin your breathing exercise.  

Would you like to hear me  read this to you? Click here!

Become aware of your natural breath, become aware of your natural and spontaneous breath that moves in and out of your body without any effort. The natural breath that flows in through both nostrils. Notice the feeling of the breath as it comes in and out of your nostrils.

There is a sense of coolness as you inhale the breath. Follow this feeling into your nose, your sinuses, the back of your throat, into your lungs.

There is a sense of warmth as you exhale the breath. Feel this warmth on your upper lip as you breathe out.

Your natural breath flows through both nostrils during the inhale and exhale.

Allow this breath to become longer and slower. Take a long slow inhalation, followed by a longer slower exhalation.

Now make your exhale even slower – notice the slight pause after your exhale. Slow inhale, even slower exhale, and pause. Feel the urge to breath in bubble up inside of you. When you need to inhale, please do so making sure you take a long slow inhale, and a longer and slower exhale pausing after the exhale before you take in your next breath.

Please continue breathing this way for a few more breaths.

Now, go back to the natural easy breath; releasing any control over the inhale or the exhale.

Without any control over the breath, begin to visualize the things in life you are most thankful for. This could be a person, a place you visit frequently, or a material object. Simply focus your attention onto whatever pops up in your mind, and when you’re ready move on to the next. 

 

For more resources on Gratitude Meditations check out these websites;

http://www.gratefulness.org/resource/how-to-practice-gratitude/

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11776/5-yoga-meditation-techniques-to-help-you-practice-gratitude.html

 

Zen Coloring + Giveaway (closed)

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You’re probably starting to see books such as Creative Coloring Mandalas popping up everywhere. They aren’t new; but they are the new craze! In fact, they’ve been around for quite a long time. I remember going to Borders book store while in middle school and going in ‘halfsies’ on a book that my friends and I would make copies of and color during sleepovers. I didn’t understand back then what I was doing. I just thought I was making gorgeous works of art that didn’t come from a coloring book for a 5 year old.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. I’ve got all these responsibilities and you want me to color? I’ve been there before. The first time I was re-introduced to coloring was in a yoga class where we were given homework. Simple; mindful things to do each week between practices. Then she handed out a coloring page and explained the art of adult coloring – and instructions for completing our ‘yoga homework’. When I picked up the page I thought, “Yeah right! I’ve got work, teacher training, homework from that, classes AND a life. I’ll get right on that.” I think it was partly my initial thought on it, but when I finally remembered to pick it up, I sat down to watch a TV show and brought out my trusty old Crayola markers. Immediately I wished I had found time sooner to do it. It was so relaxing to color. Ultimately it took me 3 days to complete mine. I would just start wherever I left off the night before. What I learned was it didn’t matter how much I did, but in just doing some I felt more at ease.

Here is the finished product from my yoga homework!

Here is the finished product from my yoga homework!

So, what is it that makes coloring so relaxing? Well, researchers say it ultimately takes us back to a time in our minds before we had to worry about making ends meet.

Before we had to worry about what bills we had and how we were getting those paid.
Before we had to worry about schedules and the only true cares we had in the world were when dinner was, and what time you had to be home by.

It does not require the talent of painting, drawing or really any sense of creativity.

Ultimately, this form of zen coloring is the perfect way to step back from the stress of everyday life, be imaginative when you haven’t a creative bone in your body and just relax! The meditative benefits of putting pen (or in this case marker/colored pencil) to paper that offer an opportunity to channel anxiety into a nourishing creative accomplishment.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go color! Print the attachment in your email (if you subscribed) or download your own. Spend some time working on it and post a picture of your finished project. 2 winners will win a Zen color book of their own!