Without a doubt, evolution and modern life have changed the way we use our physical bodies. Many of the elements that we incorporate in to our personal training and yoga sessions are to correct negative-for-our-physical-body activities such as sitting, driving, and staring at computer screens for hours on end.
The impact doesn’t stop there. We are using our brains differently too. Long attention spans and reading novels have been replaced with short articles and news feeds. There are dings and bells for all sorts of reminders and communications, many of which are just not that important. Yet we give them the same weight as face to face conversations and phone calls – at least I do.
And that’s to say nothing of the thousands of impressions that flash before us – some of which we don’t even know we see. Google itself has admitted that 56% of ads on the internet are never even “in view” – defined as being on screen for one second or more. Advertisers pay for illusory “impressions” of these ads though they’re not seen (The Week).
All this boils down to feeling as though we live in a state of constant distraction. Just as with our physical bodies, the things we practice with our minds become, well, how are minds are.
Devoting time to our careers and giving proper care to our families – I know I can speak for Jeremy and I – we want to be more focused. More clear. Our creativity and efficiency ultimately depend on it.
Mindfulness is a powerful buzz word these days. Time Magazine and 60 minutes have both recently highlighted the importance of the practice. John Kabat-Zinn has become the face of mindfulness in America, and was the key source for both of these media outlets. My favorite part of his interview on 60 minutes was when he said (my paraphrase here): Being mindful is not something to add to your to do list. It is just a way of being.
I enjoyed the TED talk below. I hope you will too!
