“Being on a spiritual path is actually being on a path of unlearning and remembering, because ultimately whenever we are out of alignment with love it’s because we’ve forgot about who we truly are, that each of us in our own unique ways has the mindful being within us. It’s not just words, it’s the truth. It’s why we are here.” – Gabby Bernstein
Yoga festivals and retreats—and even just yoga classes—allow us to escape the ordinary and embrace a deeper layer of ourselves. But what happens when the festival or class ends, we go back to our normal routines and begin to slip into old destructive habits? In this talk from Wanderlust’s Speakeasy, life coach, motivational speaker, kundalini yogi and author, Gabby Bernstein, explores what we can do to bring mindfulness into our everyday lives. Here are her six milestones to integrate positivity and rediscover our power within:
Be Present
All too often we focus on the future while disregarding the present. We plan ahead, look forward, and forget to think about the now. According to Gabby, mornings are the best for setting intentions. By choosing to step forward consciously into the day, we can better appreciate each moment as it comes. So get on your mat, sit on your meditation cushion, or stop wherever you are, and breathe deeply. Surrender to the moment and feel the world flowing around and through you.
Banish Idle Thoughts
If you want to live a mindful life, start by recognizing the magnitude of your thinking. How often have you entered a room only to be met with a feeling of tension, or excitement, or nervous energy? As living, breathing human beings, we give off both positive and negative vibrations. If you can feel the emotions of others, just imagine what those internal feelings are doing to yourself.
There is a reason why meditation has been proven to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and boost immunity; it’s because our thoughts physically affect our well-being. By witnessing our feelings, looking at them, turning them over and understanding that fear is the root of most of them, we can make them less scary. Instead of pushing them aside as something silly or unworthy of notice, embrace them and show yourself some love.
Inform Your Energy with Positivity
Each day is a chance at a new beginning. When you step out of your door each morning, appreciate the little things. Embrace gratitude. If we are willing to meet the challenges of life with a positive outlook, or at least as an opportunity for personal growth, no challenge needs to be a negative. Put love into all you do and love will come to you. By walking through life mindfully, we can elevate ourselves and raise our vibrational energy. Light breeds light. Think about what you are giving off? Is it helpful? Is it kind? If it’s not, maybe identify why you feel that way and choose to change.
Choose Happiness
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of self-pity. When things don’t go our way, we pout and cry and lower ourselves down when we need to be lifting back up. It is not always easy to choose happiness, especially when it feels like the whole world is out to drag us down. But happiness doesn’t always mean that everything is butterflies and rainbows. It can mean treating yourself with compassion, understanding that things can be hard but still meeting the challenge with a brave face and a kind hand. Be a lightworker for yourself and your light of positivity will spread to others.
Up Your Comeback Rate
Don’t expect perfection. Continually choosing happiness is hard, so rather than focusing on failures, Gabby encourages students to focus on bouncing back. Instead of beating yourself up when you feel like you’re slipping, rejoice in the fact that you have the power to pull yourself back up. The faster you do this, the easier it will become. Witness your feelings and change them—the faster the better.
Choose Daily Right Actions
It’s one thing to come to a festival, yoga retreat, or class and make the right choices, but it’s another thing entirely to take those choices home and let them be part of your daily life. Being mindful isn’t just something to do when it is easy, when you’re surrounded by people who build you up and share your outlook; it’s a plan for every day we venture out into the world.
The more you take right actions, the more you can own your spiritual practice and understand what it means to you.
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“It’s not expecting yourself to always be in that [positive] spiritual practice…it’s about recognizing that the world is our classroom, people are assignments and every single day we show up to school and love more, and grow more.” – Gabby Bernstein
How do you bring mindfulness into your daily life? Let us know in the comments below.
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Featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday as one of the next generation thought leaders, Gabrielle Bernstein is making her mark. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of the books Miracles Now and May Cause Miracles. Her earlier titles include Add More~ing to Your Life: A Hip Guide to Happiness and Spirit Junkie: A Radical Road to Self-Love and Miracles (published by Random House.) Gabrielle is also the founder of the social networking site HerFuture.com for women to inspire, empower and connect. Learn more at gabbyb.tv.
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