Mindfulness.  The ability to bring your attention to the present.  A state of mind that correlates strongly with a greater sense of well being.  Also a quality I find very challenging to bring to my daily life for even a few minutes at a time.

I’ve been trying to find out why it’s so hard to be mindful for more than those minutes when I have hours of the day when I’m objectively not actually doing anything.

www.cent.com

Two words, I’m embarrassed to admit. My iPhone.  I’m forever flicking through the socials on it, turning it on to see what I’ve missed message or call wise, checking the weather…  I could go on and on.  It’s embarrassing and it’s wrong but I can’t help myself.  I put myself on periodic bans for certain times of the day and for certain activities but I always find my screen time creeping up gradually after a few days of being ‘good’.

Ironically, I did have to use my phone to take this photo but this was a moment of mindfulness that I managed over the weekend which I’m very proud of.  We were at the zoo with some friends and the boys were playing together on this old 4×4.  The weather was glorious and the game was very vocal, creative and fun.

My friend and I couldn’t quite follow the details of what the boys were discussing but I remember that we were all fully engaged in what was before us. The boys in their play and the adults just enjoying a moment of sun, happiness, and contentment.  Just looking at the photo brings back those happy, uplifting and positive feelings.

So I guess while my phone is a barrier to my leading a more mindful life, it also helps me record those precious moments.  I think this whole mindfulness thing is why I Instagram as much as I do.

It’s often my least exciting photos that were taken at my most mindful moments.

How good are you at being mindful on a daily basis?

If you are on Instagram, what makes you share certain photos?  The way they look or the way you felt as you took the photo?