A few years ago during my master's program, we read a book called the "The Power of Being Mindful." I am not sure what class it was in, but the book was about Living Mindfully, or being aware and being in the moment. As a education major, the discussions centered around how to teach our students to be mindful, but it was also one of the books and topics that stuck. We, as a society in general, are multi-taskers. As I am typing this, I have my my computer open to four programs, listening to music, checking my text messages as they come in, and drinking a diet coke. Am I being mindful of all of those tasks at once? Can I be truly mindful of any one of them?
I was watching my daughter tonight watching her Tinker bell Movie. She was completely in the moment, completely mindful of the movie. Her focus was intent. She would not be distracted or swayed. Sometimes, childlike simplicity is the best way to be mindful.
I need to be mindful more often. This afternoon, one of my TA's was talking to me, and I noticed an email and starting reading it at the same time. I finished the email and looked up as she was finishing her comment and was looking at me expectantly, waiting for a response. I had to say "I am so sorry... I was reading this email." My student sitting at the table with us working on Math said "Oh...Burn Mrs Baade..." I should have given her my full attention.
How often do we really live mindfully?
Living mindfully goes hand in hand with living with a purpose. I was created to have purpose and know my purpose. Without living mindfully, I might miss my purpose, but if I am mindful of the wrong things, I may also miss my purpose. Knowing and being mindful of my purpose can help simplify and streamline my life. It also focuses my life. My effort and energy will become concentrated on what is important. "You become effective by being selective." Aimless direction and over committing to things that are not part of my purpose will only pull me down.
"You Lord give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in You." Isaiah 26:3
Point to Ponder from Purpose Driven Life: "You not put on this earth to be remembered. You were put on earth to do your part to make a difference for eternity. What would your friends and family say is your driving force in life?
1 comment:
Point to ponder was convicting and thought-provoking. Thanks!
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