Real World Exercise: Mindful Walking

Being mindful in the real world is our ultimate goal.  Walking is a great way to practice being present.  You focus on what is around you as you are walking.  You consciously remain aware of all aspects of walking from your feet to what is around you.  When you notice that your mind has switched to auto-pilot, then you gently guide it back to the activity of walking.

Real-world exercises are great ways to integrate your practices into your day-to-day life.  It’s one thing to sit and meditate and feel calm, but it would be beneficial if we could bring those skills into our everyday life, especially when times are challenging.

Pick an activity that you already do and convert it into a mindful activity.  It may be challenging at first because you have been doing these things on auto-pilot for many years.  Bringing mindfulness into your daily activities helps in all aspects of your life as you open yourself up to complete awareness.  This moves you away from auto-pilot.  You shift from being reactive to being proactive.  You are now in control of your life.