In today’s world, people often seem singularly focused on themselves. Whether it’s getting cornered by someone who can only talk about themselves, or contending with an entitled person who believes they deserve special treatment, a me-centric attitude prevails. People are concerned primarily with satisfying their own selfish needs.
But there’s another aspect to being me-centric that’s less about entitlement and a lack of concern for others. This other aspect relates to focusing on yourself in order to serve your higher self. Yes, you self-centeredly consider your thoughts and feelings while moving through your day, but you do so as a way to reflect on and refine yourself — to live more purposefully and authentically.
Even so, if you walk around in a me-centric bubble, there can be so much that you miss. This is where practicing Mindfulness comes in. A Mindfulness practice — or practicing being in the present moment and having an awareness of what you’re experiencing in the moment — will enhance your bandwidth to include other people beyond just yourself. Mindfulness puts you in touch with your authentic self and helps you know that the love and care you show yourself transfers to love and care for others as well.
Living Mindfully helps you to be the best version our yourself. Through Mindfulness, you self-centeredly work on yourself in a way that’s virtuous. When you ground yourself in the present moment, you make choices that reflect your authentic values and priorities.
Authenticity is especially important in this me-centric age because it allows you to live as you were meant to live: honestly, naturally, and in the flow of who you really are. Intentional authenticity liberates you from your emotional baggage through self-reflection and self-care. You ask yourself fundamental questions, such as, “What do I really care about?” or “How can I act in a way that would make me proud of myself?”
Practicing Mindfulness doesn’t always entail sitting in isolated meditation. It can take several different forms. Here are some ways to try:
1. Practice “life gazing.” Life gazing is an eyes-open meditation where you consciously observe everything you see with acceptance and non-judgment. You become more aware and perceptive of the many layers, details, and nuances of everyday living when you gaze at life with new, present-moment eyes.
2. Focus on your breath. Close your eyes and put your awareness onto your breath. Take a few deep breaths in and out. If your mind wanders, bring it back to the sensation of your lungs filling with air and then releasing the air. Be aware that you’re in the moment of “now,” and that there’s no need to rush out of it.
3. Silently repeat a mantra. A mantra is a positive and affirmative phrase or sentence. You might say to yourself, “I’m aware in the moment,” or “Let go.” Your mantra connects you to your spiritual equilibrium and you can remain in that state. It also helps you become aware of what disrupts it so you can teach yourself not to allow it.
4. Walk in nature. Being aware of the sounds, smells, and colors surrounding you in the outdoors can help you feel a part of your surroundings and experience a sense of non-separation. It will give you an expansiveness and feeling that you’re breathing along with all that’s around you.
5. Revel in the world’s oneness. Through Mindfulness, you recognize your connection to the world’s oneness. As you aspire to become more aware and authentic, you become more in touch with your benevolent nature. You understand that what you do through your thoughts and actions has an effect on everyone on the planet.
Mindfulness gives you the ability to attain your higher, more purpose-driven authentic self. It allows you to counteract the self-centered “lower self” of the me-centric age by embodying the best version of yourself.
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Ora Nadrich isa pioneering Mindfulness expert, international keynote speaker and coach, and the founder and president of the Institute for Transformational Thinking. A sought-after expert in the fields of Mindfulness, transformational thinking and self-discovery, she is the author of Says Who? How One Simple Question Can Change the Way You Think Forever, and Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity, named “one of the 100 Best Mindfulness Books of All Time” by BookAuthority, and Mindfulness and Mysticism: Connecting Present Moment Awareness with Higher States of Consciousness. Her new book is Time to Awaken: Changing the World with Conscious Awareness. Learn more at oranadrich.com.
