Introduction

How many of us have made our first cup of tea this morning without worrying about our pending bills or our future? How many of us have looked up from our phone screen, even if for just a moment, and been awed by the splendor of the sky? How many of us have, after a long day at work, gazed at the faces of our parents or our children with great tenderness, as if we were seeing them for the first time? Most of us, most likely, haven’t. So caught up are we in the daily humdrum of life that we lose sight of the miracles that are right under our nose. 

Don’t Postpone your Happiness!

We often feel that we will be able to truly enjoy our life when our external circumstances change – when we are enrolled in our dream college, when our business flourishes, or when the right partner appears. Yet, the present is all we truly have. Living well is an art. And to excel at any artistic practice, we need to commit to it and show up every day. When we mindfully tend to our present in our fast-paced world, our future slowly blossoms into a fragrant garden. 

How to Fortify your Spirit?

Slow down, breathe, and pay attention. Meditation does not only mean closing our eyes and focusing on our breath for a couple of minutes every morning before throwing ourselves in the drama of our lives. To live mindfully requires us to move through life with awareness. Pay attention to the little things that light up your spirit throughout the day. Then, squeeze these small rituals consistently in your busy life. If, for instance, you find solace in going for a solitary walk in nature, try to schedule a fifteen-minute walk every Friday evening and commit to it. The ‘how’ matters.  When you go for that walk, leave behind your troubles and immerse yourself fully in nature: gaze at the sky, enjoy the refreshing breeze on your face, feel the solidity of the earth underneath your feet. Slowing down is a priceless gift that we can give ourselves in our stressful world. When you make your first cup of tea or coffee in the morning, take the time to savour its aroma, sip slowly, feel the warmth of the cup seeping into your hands. When we tend to the little things in life, the big things end up taking care of themselves.

Conclusion

Honour Your Breath. As you have now reached the end of this article, just close your eyes for a moment and breathe – breathe deeper than you have, maybe, all day and embrace your aliveness.