The ever-increasing presence of technology in our lives is making us want to be more mindful, according to a trend forecast for 2014:
Mindful Living: Consumers are developing a quasi-Zen desire to experience everything in a more present, conscious way. Once the domain of the spiritual set, mindful living is filtering into the mainstream, with more people drawn to the idea of shutting out distractions and focusing on the moment.
That is, as we rely more on technology—specifically, mobile technology—the near-constant distraction makes us want to push away the tech and just have some peace and quiet, gosh darn it! Or, as a trends analyst puts it, we want to “find a balance and lead more mindful, in-the-moment lives.”
A few weeks ago, Your Plan For Health offered a webinar on improving health through spiritual wellness that suggested several ways to be “in the moment,” such as meditation, engaging in meaningful conversation, listening with compassion, and performing service to others. Walking a labyrinth, such as the one in our own Chadwick Arboretum is another pleasant way to focus on the “now.”
Chadwick Arboretum. Click to find a labyrinth near you.
Some upcoming health and wellness classes at the university will follow the mindfulness trend, with options such as healing yoga, spontaneous meditation, and mindfulness for stress relief. Some are offered at the Integrative Medicine Clinic, and others at Martha Morehouse Medical Plaza.
If you prefer your quiet contemplation in written form, here are some suggestions from the webinar:
Walking a Sacred Path: Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Practice
Spirituality: Living our Connectedness
Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain and Illness
Religion, Spirituality and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications
