Noticing Stress and Anchoring Strength

Has your attention ever been captured by something new in an otherwise familiar place? Perhaps moments later you realize it was always there, just overlooked. While walking a familiar route seeking inspiration for this post, the anchor appeared. It was there all along, but the newness in that moment was my awareness. These seemingly random moments while universal are easily missed without attention in the present moment, aka mindfulness.

By design, anchors stabilize objects, keeping them in one place. During mindfulness and meditation practices, anchors, such as the breath or the senses, become stabilizers for paying attention to whatever the moment brings with curiosity and non judgement. Easier said than done, but worthwhile.

Over time, staying present becomes second nature and can change our relationship to stress and the estimated 70,000 thoughts per day frequently rooted in the past or preoccupied with the future. Ironically, the ability to engage and savor the present helps mitigate the stressors of planning for the future and allows for clearer thinking in the short and long term.

Ultimately, mindfulness practice offers powerful health and wellness benefits. When combined with appropriate medical care, present moment awareness aids in a variety of conditions including depression, pain, and anxiety. The ability to relax during rest or while active, to maintain focus and creatively problem solve often improve. Increased self-care and proactive attention to health measures can be life changing.

Real World Practices:

Cultivate attention by genuinely focusing on the person you are with, current task or feeling. Notice any pull to multi-task and let that sensation pass. If random thoughts sneak in, simply recognize them, name them if you would like (worry, boredom etc.) and return focus to the person, task or feeling. Awareness is a close companion to attention. The idea here is that the past is gone, the future is unknown, but this moment is available and how we attend to it makes a world of difference in our experience.

You can also practice by engaging the senses during daily tasks or hobbies. Notice the scent of dishwashing soap, the feel of warm water, the bubbles floating in the air. Outdoors, notice the smell of fresh cut grass, or the sound of leaves crunching under your feet. While playing golf or listening to music, what are four things you see, hear or feel? What grabs your attention and anchors you?

These concepts are found in ancient global traditions and are supported by exponential growth in modern research and neuroscience. Curious? Check out the Testimonials page on this site for articles and contact me for skilled guidance along the way. In the meantime, play, practice and enjoy.