— “We meditate to silence the chatter in our minds so as to make space for inspiration." — Molly Larkin
People tend to use the terms meditation and mindfulness interchangeably, but there is a difference. Meditation is when you intentionally set aside time to meditate sitting in one place and practicing your chosen technique.
Mindfulness is giving your undivided attention to what you're doing, as opposed to daydreaming or multi-tasking while doing it. So, mindfulness can entail eating an apple and just eating the apple and nothing else. Jr entails consciously selecting the apple, washing it, looking closely at it, biting into it and noticing the texture, the flavor, the sound it makes as you chew it, and enjoying it with no distractions. That's mindfulness.
In today's hurry-up world, we are often multi-tasking and eating on the run. How often do we eat slowly, consciously, and silently, really paying attention to the food? That would be practicing mindfulness. Both meditation and mindfulness entail focus—an attempt to stop or at least slowdown, the 50,000 random thoughts that may wander through our minds.
— “Don't let a wandering mind control your life. Learn to control your mind through meditation." — Molly Larkin
Mindfulness is moment-to-moment awareness, focusing on what you're doing, and trying to keep your mind from wandering. It's purposefully paying attention to things we normally never give a moment's thought to—things we often do while multitasking.
The fact is, multitasking is not as productive as we think. Our brains aren’t equipped for multitasking those tasks that require brainpower. Our short-term memories can only store between five and nine things at once. When you're trying to accomplish two dissimilar tasks, each one requiring some level of consideration and attention, multitasking is counterproductive. When you multitask, you actually don't work faster, your stress level soars, and you're limiting your short-term memory and creativity. It’s fine for simple tasks—I can dust and talk on the phone with the best of them. But multitasking isn't effective for serious work.
Now back to mindfulness:
How often do we daydream or let our minds wander while doing an everyday task such as washing the dishes? What if we didn't let our minds wander, but rather focused on the task at hand, clearing the mind of all other thoughts. That would, indeed, be profoundly restful and relaxing. Earlier, I mentioned practicing mindfulness while eating an apple. In addition to eating, one can mindfully wash the dishes, sweep the floor, make the bed, prepare a meal, listen to music, or eat a meal, and much more.
To mindfully eat an apple, do only the following, without multi-tasking; stay aware of your breathing, your inhales and exhales throughout.
1. Select an apple.
2. Wash it.
3. Dry it.
4. Look at it and give it your undivided attention.
5. What kind of apple is it?
6. Where did it grow?
7. What color is it?
8. What is its shape and size?
9. How does it feel in your hand?
10. What does it smell like?
11. Take a bite and chew slowly.
I. What sound does it make as you chew?
II. What does it feel like in your mouth?
III. Chew slowly and savor the taste.
As you become fully aware of eating the apple, you become fully aware of the present moment. You become more alive.
This is practicing mindfulness.
In The Wind Is My Mother; The Life and Teachings of a Native American Shaman, Bear Heart teaches about the Native American practice of eating in silence, without television or conversation:
"You need to pay attention to your stomach, what you're putting into it and how you're doing it because your stomach is your biggest help. It's where the energy that sustains your life enters your body. You think you save a lot of time by working while you eat, but then you don't understand why you feel tired and have such bad indigestion. No wonder so many, executives have ulcers."
Just focus on the blessing of the food and nourishment you’re receiving. Visualize it going through your body and creating health and well-being. That's mindful eating.
