To be mindful is to live in the present, to heighten awareness, and celebrate all the passionate colors of life. In silence and stillness, the Buddha taught that a pure life begins with this simple, radical choice to notice what is happening right now.

Mindfulness begins in small moments: the breath, the step, the choice to be here.

“As my awareness increases, my control over my own being increases,” observed trainer Will Schutz. With every breath of awareness, we reclaim a little more of our energy, our clarity, our capacity to respond instead of react.

A state of awareness, and a central part of Buddhist meditation practice, vipassana is pure observation. Awareness means watchfulness. All activities, even automatic breathing and walking, are honored with conscious attention and focus. Mindfulness becomes a deliberate choice to be sensitive, open, and fully present to this moment.

“Anything done with focus, awareness, or mindfulness is a meditation,” explained musician David Harp, whose book The Three Minute Meditator (1996) introduced the joy of meditation through simple daily acts of mindfulness.

“Observe what is with undivided awareness,” advised martial arts hero Bruce Lee, who, like the Buddha, believed that thinking is one of the senses. When we observe our thoughts instead of chasing them, we begin to see our minds with new compassion and curiosity.

Mindfulness is an exercise of silent, deep self-observation that quiets the chaos of life. Begin by finding a safe, comfortable place to practice. Sit quietly, close your eyes, and gently scan your body. Notice where you are holding tension, and invite those places to soften.

Pay attention to your breath. Focus on your breathing until you are aware of the thoughts that come into your mind. Positive or negative, view these thoughts as passing sensations, then let them go. Feel the wonderful colors of being able to release what you do not need.

With silence, the beauty of spirit can emerge. Defenses soften, and we begin to take what comes with compassion and calmness. In this quiet space, we tune into the wisdom that dwells in the heart and remember that we are more than our worries, more than our fears.

“When we expand our awareness, strengthen our center, clarify our purpose, and make conscious choices, we move toward deeper connection with our spiritual self,” explained writer Molly Young Brown. Each moment of mindfulness is a step on that path, a small, shining act of pure life.

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