Take time to experience 'The Moment' as you slow down your life

When I was younger, I would often find myself in my backyard watching the wind blow in the trees. Laying in the grass, I could feel each blade pricking my skin while simultaneously providing a soft cushion.

I could see the twinkling of the leaves grow into a whoosh as the wind moved through the trees. I could hear each leaf and branch sway with a gentle rustling sound.

And maybe I would be lucky enough to smell some honeysuckle or gardenia carried by the breeze.

This beautiful sensory experience allowed me to take a break from my frenzied days to fully be in the present. Occasionally my mind would drift to a worry or an embarrassing memory but the next gust of wind would bring me back to the trees.

As an adult, I still experience these moments but they are few and far between. Sadly, it can be difficult to notice or even make time for them.

In the rush of a work day or a weekend with seemingly endless chores and activities, I often become lost in my “to do's,” barely noticing the wind.

I imagine I'm not the only one who feels this way. In fact, thanks to my work as a counselor, I know this is a very common experience.

There is a constant barrage of things in our world, vying for our attention. Whether it's work, family, fun events, social media, TV, or anything else, our mental capacity is maxed out.

We are often flying through life without noticing the world around us; trying to meet that next deadline, get to the next practice, or take the perfect picture for Instagram.

So why am I bringing this up? Do we all need to quit our jobs, leave our families, stop having fun, and give up social media? No! Although, a social media break would probably be great for all of us.

In recent years, it’s become more common to hear words such as “depression,” “anxiety,” “trauma,” or even just talking about emotions.

This summer a movie about our emotional lives became the highest grossing animated movie of all time. We are all hoping to figure out what is going on inside of us.

Last year, the National Institute of Health reported 19.1% of U.S. adults had an anxiety disorder and 8.3% of adults had depression.

According to the most recent Healthy Minds Monthly poll by the American Psychiatry Association, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious now than in the previous year.

There are many different reasons for these numbers depending on the individual. But the fact is, there is a large portion of our population struggling with and trying to understand their mental health.

While there are many ways people can improve their mental health, one strategy in particular – mindfulness – has gained popularity in recent years. Mindfulness is the simple act of being aware of the present moment.

This means focusing our attention on the thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations all around us in the moment. It can look like taking a deep breath and feeling the sensation of the air entering your lungs.

It can look like sitting in a coffee shop, noticing all of the sounds, smells, and tastes around you.

And it can look like sitting in your backyard, experiencing the wind blow through the trees. Mindfulness is quite a simple act, and yet it can feel very difficult to find time to do it.

What exactly does mindfulness do? The National Institute of Health says mindfulness helps you focus on the present, allowing you to redirect your attention from past or future experiences that you cannot control, to the present moment.

So, instead of worrying about a deadline or reliving an embarrassing memory, you are able to focus on what is happening right in front of you.

How exactly do you practice mindfulness? Here are a few ideas that might help you incorporate this tool into your life more easily.

• If you are a tea or coffee drinker: As you start to make your beverage of choice, try to notice each little piece of the process. At every step, acknowledge a sensation such as the sound of the liquid pouring, the smell of it brewing, the warmth of the steam as you sip it, and the taste as you drink it.
• If you have pets: Notice the feeling of their fur when you pet them, hear their prancing toes or their purring, and see the intensity with which they follow a scent. You can even take a second to look at the world through their eyes, perhaps.
• If you commute to work: As you are driving, turn the music off. Listen to the hum of your car, feel the AC or the warmth from the sun, notice your thoughts passing along as if they are road signs, and try to catch the scents around you.
• If you like to read the newspaper: As you flip through your favorite local newspaper, listen to the crinkles of the paper, feel the soft texture of each page, and notice the different images, colors, and titles with a more curious eye.

These are just a few ideas of how you can incorporate mindfulness into your life. The essential feature is slowing down for a moment and just noticing the world around you.

So, whether you're a police officer, a stay at home parent, a child, a doctor, or a college student, we can all benefit from taking even just 30 seconds in our day to give ourselves the gift of presence.